With federal mandates and restrictions placed on fluorocarbons, industries are quickly finding themselves having to change their cooling systems. Ammonia is leading the way as one of the refrigeration gases of choice. Ammonia is highly toxic and combustible, but it’s readily available, has low GWP and ODP values and is a cost effective solution. When used in the refrigeration industry, ammonia can be very effective in keeping food & beverages at the proper temperatures, but it can also pose health risks that cannot go unnoticed.

While ammonia’s distinctive smell makes it relatively easy to initially identify, accurate calibration is needed to ensure life safety. Therefore, real-time monitors are necessary to allow continuous determination of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) necessary to provide proper protection from ammonia. According to the NIOSH pocket guide, protection from low levels of ammonia (up to 250 to 300 ppm) can be as little as a respirator with the appropriate ammonia cartridges. Entries into concentrations above 300 ppm or into unknown concentrations require positive- pressure supplied air or SCBAs. Even higher concentrations require full encapsulation suits (Level A) because of the highly reactive alkaline nature of ammonia gas. At concentrations above 15% (150,000 ppm), the ammonia atmosphere is potentially explosive, all activity should be stopped and all personnel should leave the area. Mixtures involving ammonia contaminated with lubricating oil from the system, however, may have a much broader explosive range. A study conducted to determine the influence of oil on the flammability limits of ammonia found that oil reduced the lower flammability limit as low as 8%, depending on the type and concentration of oil. Accurate, reliable, and continuous fixed and portable ammonia monitors are required to make these decisions.

Choosing the right sensor for your application depends on the expected concentrations, locations, and other factors at your facility. Often, two separate ammonia detectors are required for emergency ventilation control and for machinery room electrical shutdown. A low concentration range detector (e.g. 0 – 250 ppm) can provide suitable resolution and accuracy for initiating emergency ventilation operation. A second high concentration range detector (e.g. 0-10% LEL, or 0 – 15,000 ppm) serves as an input to initiate machinery room electrical shutdowns. The control set-points for each concentration range detector will differ. For example, the ventilation control sensor is set to initiate the emergency ventilation mode at a concentration of 150 ppm. The machinery room electrical shutdown control sensor will disconnect electrical power to the machinery room at a pre-determined concentration, e.g. 15,000 ppm.

Choosing the proper portable gas detection solution is central to protecting Life Safety. The Dräger PAC 8000 single gas detector for Ammonia (NH3) has several key benefits:

Choosing the right sensor for your application depends on the expected concentrations, locations, and other factors at your facility. Often, two separate ammonia detectors are required for emergency ventilation control and for machinery room electrical shutdown. A low concentration range detector (e.g. 0 – 250 ppm) can provide suitable resolution and accuracy for initiating emergency ventilation operation. A second high concentration range detector (e.g. 0-10% LEL, or 0 – 15,000 ppm) serves as an input to initiate machinery room electrical shutdowns. The control set-points for each concentration range detector will differ. For example, the ventilation control sensor is set to initiate the emergency ventilation mode at a concentration of 150 ppm. The machinery room electrical shutdown control sensor will disconnect electrical power to the machinery room at a pre-determined concentration, e.g. 15,000 ppm.