The Ammonia Ice Rink Question Arena Watch（氨溜冰场问题领域的手表）.pdf

THE AMMONIA QUESTION FOR ICE RINKS RISKS REWARDS Industry Expert Report By John Burley Ammonia Refrigerant and U.S. Safety Standards The interest in ammonia -based refrigeration systems has experienced resurgence in recent years as the nation has been focused on the adverse environmental impact of freon, a trade name associated with the halocarbon industry. Contributing further has been the enactment of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the strength of the U.S. dollar. These two factors are great incentives for outside companies to sell to the U.S. market. Outside companies often do not meet U.S. safety standards and frequently recommend ammonia type systems that result in safety code violations. This translates to non-code compliant structures, additional construction costs and unplanned refrigeration system modifications. Changing a refrigeration system built for ammonia to a halocarbon system is complicated and costly. In addition our own comments, we urge you to read through the two attached design manuals from the IIAR ( International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration) entitled “Ammonia Machinery Room Design” and “Ammonia Machinery Room Ventilation”. These manuals outline the danger of ammonia refrigerant use and the importance of following all design guidelines. The stringent design guidelines in these booklets are produced by advocacy group, designed to promote ammonia use. To encourage the use of ammonia, they minimize design guidelines and associated dangers . Seemingly less expensive in start-up and operational costs, long-term, it is not. What risk does the architect of record take? Non-code compliant design issues remain unchallenged by local officials, however, once the complex obtains its final certificate of occupancy, this does not diminish the liability for the designers of record for the complex, which carry a seven year