Refrigeration

Putting the "R" in ASHRAE

ASHRAE was formed as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers by the 1959 merger of American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) founded in 1894 and the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) founded in 1904. With refrigeration literally in its name, ASHRAE offers a wide selection of information and publications concerning refrigeration and refrigerants - from standards and design guides to ASHRAE courses to a monthly column in the ASHRAE Journal, and more. This page is a repository where you can find all refrigeration-related information from ASHRAE.

Refrigeration Technology Committee for Comfort, Process, and Cold Chain encourages the advancement of refrigeration technology and its application. This committee reports to Technology Council. Through its use in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, the refrigeration process is critical to health, comfort, and welfare of humanity.

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Available Refrigeration Resources

Choose any of the links below for more information – purchase is easy using the button associated with each item.

Standards 15 and 34 and other refrigeration materials

ASHRAE Handbook - Refrigeration

ASHRAE Handbook - Fundamentals, Chapter 2

ASHRAE Handbook - Fundamentals, Chapter 29

ASHRAE Handbook - Fundamentals, Chapter 30

ASHRAE Handbook - Fundamentals, Chapter 31

ASHRAE Technical Committee, 3.1, Refrigerants and Secondary Coolants

TC 3.1 WEBSITE

TC 3.1 FAQ 24, Where can I find more design information on a new refrigerant?

TC 3.1 FAQ 46, What research is ASHRAE conducting regarding new refrigerants?

TC 3.1 FAQ 84, Where can I find information on new refrigerants?

Available Courses in the Field of Refrigeration

Instructor-Led: New ASHRAE-Classified Refrigerants to Meet Society's Changing Needs

Instructor-Led: Variable Refrigerant Flow System Design & Application

eLearning: eLearning Courses on Refrigerants

Self-Directed Course: Fundamentals of Refrigeration (I-P)

Practical Guidance for Vaccine Refrigerated Transportation and Storage Abstract (June 28, 2021)

ASHRAE-Endorsed Conferences and Events Covering Refrigeration and Refrigerants

World Refrigeration Day 2024- Temperature Matters

June 26, 2024

World Refrigeration Day celebrates the people and technologies responsible for creating and maintaining the world we live in, a world dependent upon temperature-controlled environments. Centred around June 26, the event is supported globally by industry, professional groups, scientific and engineering associations, as well as by governments and individuals.

Visit the ASHRAE UNEP Portal for additional information and resources.

Free Webinars Hosted By ASHRAE

Futuristic Career in Not-In-Kind Cooling Technologies

Organizers: ASHRAE/IIR
Presented Live: Thursday, June 24, 2021
Speakers: Yunho Hwang, Qian Suxin, Kim Jiyeob, Subramanyaravi Annapragada

View Recording

COVID 19 Vaccine distribution Life-Saving Cold-Chain Careers

Organizers: ASHRAE/CIBSE
Presented Live: Friday, June 25^th, 2021
Speakers: Nawaz Kashif, Stefan Elbel, Chris Repice

View Recording

Refrigerant Designations

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The tables contained on this page list approved refrigerant numbers from ANSI/ASHRAE 34-2022, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, the latest edition of Standard 34. Find listings for more than 160 refrigerants and refrigerant blends, including their number, chemical name, and chemical formula.

Complete List

New Definitions

Cooling, refrigeration, chilling, freezing, cold chain: The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have developed common definitions for these five terms.

NEW DEFINITIONS

Press Release Announcing New Refrigeration Definitions

April 11, 2019 | ASHRAE and IIR Establish New Definitions of Five Refrigeration Keywords

ASHRAE Guide for Sustainable Refrigerated Facilities and Refrigeration Systems

Comprehensive Guidance on Sustainable Refrigerated Facilities

ASHRAE Guide for Sustainable Refrigerated Facilities and Refrigerated Systems is an in-depth resource for the sustainable design of refrigerated product facilities, covering the latest in refrigeration technology selection through the commissioning of refrigerated facilities. With guidance on topics such as logistics, product handling, facility layout and location, heat loads, and refrigeration system design, this is the most comprehensive resource on designing these specialized facilities.

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Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

This Guide was developed through cooperation of ASHRAE and the U.S. Department of Energy, in an effort to promote building energy efficiency. Print copies are available for purchase, but you can download an electronic copy for free.

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ASHRAE Journal Articles on Refrigeration

Refrigeration Applications Column

ASHRAE Journal publishes a monthly column by Andy Pearson on refrigeration and refrigeration applications. Read April's column, Refrigeration Applications: A Design for Life

After an incident or accident there seems to be no end to the people willing to step up and offer an opinion on just where exactly things went wrong. Engineers have a relentless desire to understand things better and I regularly tell my staff that it is smart to learn from your mistakes, but smarter to learn from someone else’s.

Additional Journal articles of interest:

ASHRAE members can download Journal articles for free by logging in with their member credentials.

Refrigeration-Related Press Releases

Aug 27, 2019 - Engineers Without Borders-USA Announces Chill Challenge: Affordable Off-Grid Refrigeration for Developing Countries

Apr 11, 2019 - ASHRAE and IIR Establish New Definitions of Five Refrigeration Keywords

Mar 07, 2017 - Former ASHRAE President Thomas Watson Awarded Institute of Refrigeration’s J&E Hall Gold Medal

Jun 02, 2016 - ASHRAE, AHRI, DOE Partner To Fund Flammable Refrigerant Research

Dec 09, 2015 - Addition Of Subclass 2L Refrigerants Proposed For ASHRAE Refrigerant Safety Standard

Refrigeration Timelines

In 2004, a series of timelines was put together in recognition of the 100th anniversary of ASRE (American Society of Refrigerating Engineers) a predecessor society of ASHRAE. Three timelines span the years 1748-1999. A pdf includes all three. Note: timelines are in reverse chronological order.