The Chair of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration’s (IIAR) Standards Committee, Don Faust, has issued a call for new members to support the committee’s efforts.
According to the IIAR, its Standards Committee “exists to develop and maintain consensus standards that affect the design, installation, maintenance, and operation of refrigeration systems using natural refrigerants.”
The committee focuses on updating and interpreting IIAR standards, such as the recently-revised ANSI/IIAR 3-2022 safety standard for ammonia/NH3 (R717) refrigeration valves and strainers. It also develops ideas and writes new standards to be sponsored by the IIAR.
“[The Standards Committee] exists to develop and maintain consensus standards that affect the design, installation, maintenance, and operation of refrigeration systems using natural refrigerants.”
IIAR
IIAR standards help to establish “both the minimum requirements for industry compliance and advisory information where applicable,” explained the institute. “IIAR standards set the industry [benchmark] and are a must-have technical resource to ensure a safe and efficient industrial refrigeration operating environment.”
The committee also reviews and interacts with other standard-writing organizations that cover ammonia and ammonia-based refrigeration systems, and it works with the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) to help move standards through the ANSI approval process.
All of the major model code bodies defer to IIAR standards when it comes to ammonia safety.
Wide range of stakeholders
The committee consists of stakeholders from around the refrigeration industry, including manufacturers, contractors, end users and other general-interest organizations or individuals.
“The [IIAR] Standards Committee is a great place to volunteer your time,” said Don Faust, Chair of the IIAR Standards Committee. “We have engineers and tradespeople from all the different sectors of our industry coming together to decide how best to promote safety within our industry. Sometimes it can seem like things move at a snail’s pace, but at the end of the year, when you look back on all the things this Committee has accomplished, it’s pretty amazing.”
Members of the Standards Committee meet in person at least once a year, with virtual meetings also taking place “periodically.”
In addition to developing standards for ammonia, the IIAR also develops standards for other natural refrigerants like CO2 (R744) and hydrocarbons.
The organization also hosts a number of other committees, such as an Education Committee and an Energy Sustainability Committee, which focuses on advancing energy conservation, energy efficiency and alternative energies within natural refrigerants.
