In December 2017, the state of Ohio adopted it’s new “Fire Code” which happens to be a revised version of the 2015 International Fire Code. In November I posted a “heads-up” article about the “proposed” changes to new AMMONIA REFRIGERATION processes built in Ohio after 12/15/2017 and how their relief system(s) will be allowed to discharge. That posting got a lot of comments and debate as this conflicts with the ANSI/IIAR 2 – Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems (2014). However, the state of Ohio saw fit to require ALL refrigeration processes that contain more than 6.6 pounds of NH3 to meet their newly adopted code. The state code does PERMIT “a variance” of sorts to their requirements as I laid out in the November 2017 article (SAFTENG Members can see it HERE). Here are the state’s new requirements, as of 12/15/2017… (emphasis and tiering of the requirements are by me)
NOTE: the content below is FREE (minus the links, explanations, and notations) on the State of Ohio Website for those who are not SAFTENG members.
NOTE 2: I have contacted the State Fire Marshal’s office regarding a couple of conflicts between the new Fire Code Section 606 and the state’s Mechanical Code as it relates to ammonia refrigeration. As soon as I hear back from this I will UPDATE this posting. UPDATED on 2/21/2018 with the response from OFM…