The IIAR has developed a series of standards related to the safe design, installation, operation, and maintenance of ammonia refrigeration systems. For example, IIAR 9-2020 specifies the minimum safety requirements for “existing closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems.”
In the UK and Europe, the use of ammonia refrigeration systems must comply with regulations such as the Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), and standards like EN 378.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has explicit industrial standards for ammonia refrigeration systems. For example, under 29 CFR 1910, systems containing ammonia above a certain threshold (e.g., 10,000 pounds or more) must implement Process Safety Management (PSM) for highly hazardous chemicals.