(62d) Promoting the Safe Use of Ammonia for Industrial Refrigeration

The current energy crisis has drawn more attention to the issue of global climate change. Factors affecting global warming include the use of synthetic refrigerants that are harmful because they are less efficient than naturally occurring refrigerants, such as ammonia and they negatively affect the atmosphere when they leak from refrigeration systems.

Ammonia has been used for industrial refrigeration since the mid 1800s because it is the most efficient and least costly refrigerant. Corporations choose to use ammonia in their refrigeration systems except where regulations make its use impractical. However, international agreements have now mandated a reduction in the use of synthetic refrigerants and some countries have forbidden their use altogether.

The United States is one of the last countries to accept naturally occurring refrigerants and reverse the trend toward aggressive regulation of ammonia. We see this trend changing as energy conservation programs become part of the national culture.

The IIAR recognizes its role as the center of technical information about ammonia refrigeration and has increased its programs for safety training, education and advocacy to make the wider use of ammonia more acceptable. These programs include changes in refrigeration system designs to reduce the quantity of ammonia in each refrigeration system, the potential for leaks and the publication of new standards used in mechanical and fire codes.