When a project consists of 430,000 square feet of refrigerated space, conventional wisdom would suggest a cooling system consisting of a large mechanical room with a refrigerant such as ammonia. But the new International Produce Market in Chicago is going against convention. Instead of a mechanical room, there are more than 100 rooftop condensing units. Instead of ammonia, the refrigerant of choice is R-22.

“The year has presented challenges for the industry as a whole and for many of us as individuals. But through it all, we have persevered and remained strong.” Those were the words 2001-02 chairman Steve McLeod used to open the annual conference of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR).

When it comes to CO2, what goes around, comes around. Carbon dioxide as a refrigerant was popular from the late 1800s to the 1930s, before giving way to CFCs. CO2 is now the subject of renewed interest.

At The Rush Fitness Complex, one thing president/ceo Larry Gurney didn’t want was a rush of air from the hvac system. So, planners decided not to try to keep the existing metal ductwork in the former Service Merchandise store in the Knoxville Shopping Center. As part of the $1.5 million retrofit Gurney chose fabric air dispersion systems to distribute even, draft-free airflow onto members.

Morris Eisert’s ascension to the 2002-03 chairmanship of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration began by climbing the podium at an IIAR conference in 1985.

If the 1,400 contractors, technicians, and manufacturer reps who make up the membership of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) of Canada want to adopt a theme for the year ahead, one suggestion focuses on safety.

Michel Lecompte has a way of making a point. He was one of the speakers at the most recent Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) of Canada conference in Winnipeg, MB.

The word “globalize” certainly applies to the compressor sector of the hvacr industry.

A horizontal rotary compressor and low-profile condensing unit for supermarket applications has been introduced by Tecumseh Products Co. The company said the compact refrigeration components were developed to meet the needs of store designers and operating personnel.

A familiar topic in hvacr — remanufacturing — has received a boost from an author who calls it “America’s secret weapon.” The author profiles a compressor company, citing it as an example of correct remanufacturing procedures.