Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems
ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee 15

ASHRAE SSPC15 has not sponsored any programs in the 2025 Winter Conference in Orlando. 

Flammable Refrigerants.

ASHRAE organized a multi-disciplinary task group to investigate low-global warming potential alternative refrigerants.  

In collaboration with this MTG.LowGWP, ASHRAE SSPC15 sponsored research projects to assess the risk of using flammable refrigerants. Addenda to the 2019 and 2022 editions of ASHRAE Standard 15 were published based on the outcomes of these research projects.  

The MTG.LowGWP summarizes these research projects here. Project reports can be purchased from the ASHRAE Bookstore.  

Further research projects investigating the use of flammable refrigerants were conducted by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology Institute (AHRTI). The reports of these research projects are available from AHRI.  

In cooperation with the MTG.LowGWP, SSPC15 sponsored a research project RP–1806 to assess the risk of ignition of leaked refrigerant from HVAC&R equipment using flammable refrigerants. The project is ongoing and interim updates are available from the MTG. ASHRAE SSPC15 members serve on the project monitoring subcommittee. 

ASHRAE SSPC34 has sponsored RP–1797, a research project to re-assess the toxicity classification (A and B) of refrigerants in ASHRAE Standard 34. ASHRAE SSPC15 members also serve on its project monitoring subcommittee since changes in ASHRAE Standard 34 affect the use of ASHRAE Standard 15. 

In collaboration with the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), Subcommittee 15.2 is sponsoring a research project to investigate the use of flammable (safety group A3) refrigerants in low-probability systems installed in residential applications. ASHRAE SSPC15 defined this project based on public comments received on the advisory public review of addendum e to the 2022 edition of ASHRAE Standard 15.2. This project has been awarded but work on the project is not yet started.  

On behalf of ASHRAE SSPC15, the ASHRAE Code Interaction Subcommittee (CIS) submits code change proposals to the International Code Council (ICC) to incorporate provisions from ASHRAE Standard 15 and Standard 15.2 in the International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Residential Code (IRC), and International Fire Code (IFC).  

On behalf of ASHRAE SSPC15, CIS submits code change proposals to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to incorporate provisions from ASHRAE Standard 15 and Standard 15.2 in the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC).  

ASHRAE SSPC15 also coordinates with the International Association of All-Natural Refrigeration (IIAR) for requirements applying to industrial refrigeration systems using ammonia (R–717) as the refrigerant. ASHRAE SSPC15 defers to ANSI/IIAR–2 to regulate refrigeration systems using ammonia (R–717) as the refrigerant.  

Representatives from IAPMO and IIAR are voting members of ASHRAE SSPC15.