Anhydrous Ammonia FAQs

Anhydrous Ammonia (Ammonia) is a chemical made up of Nitrogen and Hydrogen. It’s commonly used in many industries but more commonly in agriculture and refrigeration. Although large amounts are manufactured every year, it does occur naturally – it can be found in rainwater, our atmosphere, soil and is even produced by humans (it’s an essential chemical for our survival).

Anhydrous Ammonia is very dangerous and is not to be underestimated. This naturally occurring substance is highly toxic and corrosive, and if it encounters water, it can form a more corrosive substance called Ammonium Hydroxide – which can change the pH levels in waterways. This can also attack moist tissue membranes, which are things like our eyes, sinuses, throat, and lungs causing suffocation.

It’s easy to be deterred from Ammonia when all the negative aspects are laid out in a bundle, but Ammonia brings a range of benefits to the industrial refrigeration industry.

Ammonia isn’t a new trend, it was first used for refrigeration in 1876 and the industry has been noticing the benefits since. But what are these? What benefits can Ammonia bring to you and your site?

High Performance & Energy Efficiency

When compared to other options, Ammonia gives users heightened efficiency which brings its own wave of benefits. Some of these include, better heat transfer, greater longevity and all coming at a cheaper price.

Positive Environmental Impact

Ammonia is naturally occurring and one of the most environmentally friendly refrigerants out there. Labelled as a ‘natural’ refrigerant, Ammonia has both GWP (Global Warming Potential) and ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) scores equal to zero.

Self-warning Properties

Despite it’s flaws, Ammonia does have good self-warning properties – you know when there’s even the slightest leak due to it’s distinctive smell.

Ammonia has a strong smell that’s easy to recognise. Unlike other chemicals that can be harmful without us knowing, Ammonia’s stench gives us a heads up before it reaches dangerous levels. This makes it stand out and serve as an early warning system for potential danger. In other words, its strong odour is actually one of its best qualities. The thresholds that people can withstand this gas are subjective but constant exposure can compromise the ability to identify the severity of a concentration.

There’s no evidence to suggest that Ammonia causes any kind of cancer or birth defects – similarly there’s no link to chronic or long-term diseases inflicted due to exposure to Ammonia. Having said that, it’s not advised to intake large amounts of Ammonia too. People who work with Ammonia should inhale no more than 25 parts per million (ppm) in an eight-hour workday.

Most uncontrolled releases of Ammonia are quite minor, and take the form of a very manageable vapour or gas. Outside of any buildings or plants, these releases rapidly disperse and present low to moderate consequences. However, if the gas is released indoors, and there’s not enough ventilation, it can become dangerous, and the concentration can build up to lethal levels. So, it’s important to mitigate these risks with an emergency response capability.

When there’s a major release of Anhydrous Ammonia, it can quickly turn into a dense, heavy gas and spread out into the surrounding atmosphere – which then becomes increasingly dangerous and difficult to control. This is because Anhydrous Ammonia has a high expansion rate and can interact with the air to create a large plume that can expand up to 850 times its original size.

In certain weather conditions (like if there’s a lot of moisture in the air), Anhydrous Ammonia can act differently, and the plume can stay close to the ground for longer.

In the event of an Anhydrous Ammonia emergency, such as a leak or spill, the following actions should be taken:

1. Leave the Vicinity

Due to the toxic nature of Anhydrous Ammonia, all individuals should immediately leave the vicinity of the leak or spill.

2. Contact emergency services

As soon as the area is evacuated, dial the appropriate emergency number for your region to report the incident. Do not forget to also call OOMIAK on 1300 731 699

3. Activate your Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

Every facility using Anhydrous Ammonia should have a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in place. This plan should be implemented immediately upon discovery of a leak or spill.

4. If in doubt activate the emergency stop button

This will remove ignition energy from the plantroom in case a flammable atmosphere could be generated. This may also reduce the impact of the release overall.

5. Cordon off the area

Secure the site and where possible the affected area should be cordoned off to prevent individuals from accidentally entering the dangerous area.

6. Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

If trained personnel need to enter the area for emergency response purposes, they MUST wear the appropriate PPE, including respiratory protection and protective clothing.

7. Ventilate the area

If the incident occurs indoors, use fans or other ventilation systems to disperse the gas if it’s safe to do so.

8. Seek medical attention

If any individual has been exposed to the chemical, seek immediate medical attention. While waiting for medical assistance, remove any contaminated clothing and flush exposed skin and eyes with plenty of water.

Remember, handling Anhydrous Ammonia emergencies requires specific training. Always defer to trained emergency personnel in such situations.

Anhydrous Ammonia is not easily flammable, but it can be in certain air mixtures and heat conditions. This is unlikely to happen in the open air but if Anhydrous Ammonia is confined, it can create flammable atmospheres.

Anhydrous Ammonia can be very toxic and dangerous therefore, any users need to be aware of and implement correct safety procedures. These can include:

• Ensure your plant is AS/NZS 5149 compliant
• Wearing all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – air purifying respirators
• Handling Ammonia within well-ventilated areas that are away from ignition sources
• Being aware and ready to implement an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in the instance of any unplanned leaks
• Regularly maintain all equipment assessing for any leaks or damage

Fixed gas detection and ventilation systems are all vital engineering controls – for these to be impactful they must be designed well and fully functional (talk to Oomiak if you need your system assessed). In addition, safety datasheets (an Ammonia Safety Datasheet can be found below) should be readily accessible, and all workers should be familiar with emergency procedures. 

Although Anhydrous Ammonia occurs naturally, its synthetic production and large-scale use can harm the environment. If it’s not handled properly, Anhydrous Ammonia can cause environmental damage, such as contributing to acid rain when released into the air. However, the impact from refrigeration systems is not significant. Having too much Anhydrous Ammonia in water can cause harmful algal blooms that disrupt aquatic ecosystems. So, it’s important to regulate and manage its use sustainably.

To dispose of Anhydrous Ammonia safely, people should follow local, state, and federal regulations. It should not be released into the environment because it can harm water and soil. To dispose of it safely, people should use an acidic solution to neutralise it. Also, any storage or disposal area should be ready to contain spills and protect the environment.

Oomiak has extensive and reliable resources in place that make us well-equipped to tackle any Ammonia-based project you might have.

This all starts with experienced industrial refrigeration engineers, the Oomiak Engineering Team designs these Ammonia-based systems with safety, efficiency, and reliability front of mind.

Proper maintenance of your Ammonia-based refrigeration plant is important in ensuring that plant is functioning in line with expectations and that risk to personnel, property and stock are kept realistically low.

That’s why at Oomiak our inspections have a strong focus on identifying problems early, making minor adjustments and attending to basic servicing and lubrication needs – remedying the issue well before it turns in to a major problem.

Overlapping all of this is a safety focused mindset to mitigate the risks from using Ammonia.