Are ammonia refrigeration systems safe?
In any mechanical refrigeration system, leaks will occur. This fact is exacerbated when the leaks involve odorless refrigerants as evidenced by the abundant supply of CFCs in the atmosphere today. The inherent safety of ammonia refrigeration is explained in part by ammonia’s characteristic odor, which signals even the smallest leak, at concentrations far lower than any dangerous level. Ammonia’s other physical characteristics such as its density and limited range of flammability, engineering advances for refrigeration systems, and the solid record of well-trained ammonia refrigeration systems operators all contribute to ammonia’s excellent safety record.
