E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 1

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Volume 2 Number 3 P. 8New York supermarket gets five times the refrigeration capacity without increasing energy costs

P. 12 Safety codes for flammable refrigerants under revision

P. 14 College students conceptualize the supermarket of the future

OutlookBalancing All Aspects of the Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industries

Europe’s Propane Refrigeration

ExpansionIs the U.S. far behind?

PAGE 2

2 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 1

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Welcome to our sixth edition of E360 Outlook. In 2014, we set out to create

an industry-wide dialogue that would address the four “E’s” impacting

commercial refrigeration: energy, environment, equipment and economics.

We call this initiative E360 for two reasons: 1) Because it takes a 360-degree view of

these four key concerns, and 2) It invites the participation of the entire channel of

OEMs, wholesalers, end users and contractors.

For this initiative to be successful, we sought each of your diverse perspectives to

shape and drive the conversation. Thankfully, you have answered the call and engaged

in many E360-sponsored events. Here’s a snapshot of your participation to date:

• E360 Forums: nearly 700 attendees have joined our five events across the U.S.;

1,700 watched these sessions on-demand through our YouTube channel.

• E360 Webinars: close to 5,500 of you have attended a live Webinar, with another

2,600 viewing these events on YouTube or on-demand at our website.

• E360 Outlook: we’ve distributed roughly 5,000 printed copies of our first five

editions; an additional 2,600 were downloaded from our website.

The shifting regulatory landscape in the past two years has made this industry

dialogue even more critical as we build consensus on the path forward. We will

continue to seek your insights as the conversation continues and E360 evolves. If

you’re not able to attend any of our events, we encourage you to connect with us

via any of the following methods:

• YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/EmersonClimateTech. Here you’ll find

video playlists from both our E360 Webinars and Forums.

• LinkedIn group: simply log into your LinkedIn profile, search for E360, and join the

group to catch up on recent industry news, information and topics of discussion.

• E360 section of our website: EmersonClimate.com/E360: From this portal you can

download or view previous E360 Outlook editions, archived Webinars and Forum

session presentations.

• Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/emersonclimate and www.facebook.com/

emerson.climate.technologies. Connect with us here for the latest updates and

join the conversations.

And, as always, feel free to reach us through our E360 email address at

e360.climate@emerson.com with questions, ideas and contributions. We all have quite

a bit of work to do to prepare for the road ahead. It’s more important than ever that

we keep the lines of communication open and collaborate toward our common goals.

F I R S T WO R D

Connect to E360 and Continue the Dialogue

by D O N N E W LO N CO N T E N T S

1 First Word BY DON NEWLON

Connect to E360 and continue the dialogue

2 F E ATUR E

Europe’s Propane Refrigeration Proliferation BY ALLEN WICHER

As R-290 becomes more common- place in the E.U., is the U.S. far behind?

8 SU C C E SS S TO RY

Five Times the Capacity Without Increasing Energy Costs

N.Y. supermarket quintuples refriger- ation equipment during store redesign

11 E360 Forum and Industry Events

12 Rajan on … Regulations BY DR. RAJAN RAJENDRAN Safety codes for flammable refrigerants are under revision; HFC phase-down continues

14 Helix Highlight College students conceptualize the

supermarket of the future

17 E360 Webinar Series

18 Contractor Connection BY BOB LABBETT

Bridging the refrigeration gap

20 Product Spotlight Site Supervisor delivers small-format consistency and predictability

Publisher

Emerson Climate Technologies

Managing Editor

Don Newlon

Email Us

Email us at e360.climate@emerson.com

with any comments or suggestions.

We would love to hear from you.

Website

EmersonClimate.com/E360 Don Newlon, Managing Editor, E360 Outlook

V.P./G.M., Refrigeration Marketing, Emerson Climate Technologies

A jet pilot, a surgeon and a contractor walk into a bar … or a commercial kitchen or a supermarket. While this

may sound like an interesting set-up for a joke, it’s actually an accurate description of a product ideation session that was recently held at The Helix Innovation Center.

There’s no question that the current regulatory climate has placed renewed emphasis on product development, creating a sense of urgency around this effort unlike anything our industry has seen in recent history.

In this dynamic environment, it’s easy to look toward new technologies as the only answer — and rightly so. But it’s as important to solve the industry’s challenges by maintaining a clear focus on the development of commercially viable solutions. Simply put, we need to have a

more complete understanding of how our customers will actually deploy, use and get real value from a proposed concept.

To accomplish this, we need to look outside of ourselves and peer through a different lens: through the eyes of the customers.

This means tapping into the breadth of our network of partners who can help us apply new toolsets, technologies and thought processes to our industry’s current challenges. It means looking at other industries that may have already solved a similar problem — leak prevention and detection, for example. It means bringing a jet pilot, a surgeon and a contractor together to look at things from entirely different perspectives.

Our new Helix Innovation Center embodies this outward-looking, customer-first philosophy.

Partnerships with a number of top-tier universities and government agencies as well as neighboring resources — such as the University of Dayton and the Wright

Brothers Institute — have helped us build a strong foundation for our partner network. We’re also seeing vast potential in online contributors and through industrial communities that share kindred challenges.

The model for this type of ideation is unique to our industry: first define the problem and then deploy as many (or more) opinions from outside our organization as there are on the inside.

By utilizing the real-world “playgrounds” at The Helix — our supermarket, commercial kitchen, residential home and data center — we’re able to take new ideas, rapidly prototype them, and test their technical and commercial viability in days, even hours in some cases. Before we launch a solution into the market, we can verify its benefits to the industry, including: equipment performance, servicing requirements, and environmental and economic value.

So what’s the punch-line to the above set-up? We hope you’ll bring your biggest challenges to The Helix and find out for yourself: Emerson.com/TheHelix.

Looking Through a Different Lens to Solve Problems

By Bill Bosway

Group Vice President Emerson Climate Technologies

2 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 3

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2 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 3

As R-290 based refrigeration becomes more commonplace in the E.U., is the U.S. far behind?

By Allen Wicher Director of Marketing

Emerson Climate Technologies

Europe’s Propane Refrigeration Proliferation

defotoberg/Shutterstock.com

4 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 5

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TThe use of propane (R-290) as a

refrigerant in commercial refriger-

ation is the subject of much debate

in the U.S. Its A3, flammable classification

conjures up negative connotations in the

minds of operators, technicians and public

officials alike — beliefs that when examined

closer are largely unfounded. But in Europe,

the use of R-290 based equipment is well

into its second decade and continues to

play a big role. Some leading retailers

are even making it a cornerstone of their

refrigeration portfolio. How this may

influence R-290 perceptions and its

subsequent adoption in the U.S. remains to

be seen. We can, however, evaluate R-290’s

early adoption in Europe and speculate

on its path toward commercialization

in the U.S.

Environmental and energy efficiency

drive R-290 adoption in the E.U.

When it comes to adherence to environ-

mentally sound practices, the European

Union (E.U.) and its member countries

have consistently been ahead of the

curve. The E.U.’s F-gas regulations were

among the world’s first actions to

phase down hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)

refrigerants in favor of low global warming

potential (GWP) natural alternatives.

At the same time, consumer, OEM and

retailer preferences for sustainable goods

and eco-friendly systems contributed to

driving compliance with these regulations.

It’s no surprise then that Europe has

led the way in the adoption of natural

refrigerants in commercial refrigeration —

including R-290.

From an environmental perspective,

R-290 is among an elite class of viable

green alternatives to many of the

industry’s most common high-GWP

refrigerants. It’s a naturally occurring

hydrocarbon (HC) with a GWP of 3 and 0

ozone depletion potential (ODP). R-290

is a highly refined grade of the fossil fuel

propane, and although flammable,

In Europe, the use of R-290 based equipment is well into its second decade and continues to play a big role.

Characteristics:

• Naturally occurring, hydrocarbon

• GWP = 3, ODP = 0

• Readily available and affordable

• EPA-approved in commercial refrigeration applications

• High-efficiency, high-performance, reliable

• Flammable, A3 classification

• Safe to use when proper protocols are followed

• Globally mandated charge limit of 150g

Commercial refrigeration applications:

• Reach-in bottle coolers

• Reach-in freezers and refrigerators

• Integrated display cases

• Ice machines (in current EPA SNAP proposal)

• Under countertop

• Beverage dispensers

Challenges to wider adoption:

• Classified A3 Flammable Refrigerant

• Not a “drop-in” refrigerant; equipment and components must be designed for R-290

• Globally mandated low-charge limits of 150g restrict application range

• Difficulty getting approved in fire and building codes

• Lack of trained and certified technicians

• Absence of product and safety training

R-290: Separating fact from fiction

R-404A and R-290 EER Comparisonit is non-toxic in nature.

R-290’s green potential doesn’t

stop there. Its excellent thermodynamic

properties — such as pressure, low back

pressure, volumetric capacity, capacity

and coefficient of performance — are very

similar to R-22, even outperforming it in

certain parameters. In Emerson Climate

Technologies’ test labs and published studies

alike, R-290 consistently outperforms

R-404A in energy efficiencies.

For more than 15 years, retailers

in Europe have included R-290 based

equipment as part of their refrigeration

portfolio. Those who sought to meet

environmental objectives and establish

green market positions began field trials

and deployed R-290 chillers before the

regulatory actions to limit HFCs were in

place. Estimates vary about the degree

of R-290 proliferation, but according to a

2014 study on HC refrigerants in Europe,

nearly 0.5 million plug-in supermarket

cabinets were in the European supermarket

arena alone at the end of 2013, with many

calling this a conservative estimate. The

same study states that more than

2 million bottle coolers and ice cream

freezers were in use throughout the

European light commercial refrigeration

market at the time research was conducted.

In a region where 150 GWP is the

aspirational standard for green refrigerants,

R-290 allows retailers to comply with

both environmental and energy efficiency

requirements.

A charged issue on both sides of the pond

Adhering to proper R-290 safety protocols

is imperative when considering potential

applications. In the E.U., the 150g charge

limit recommendation set forth by the

International Electrotechnical Commission’s

(IEC) safety standards for the use of

propane is widely accepted. As a result,

Europe has seen a proliferation of R-290

R-290 yields 20%+ better EER efficiency than R-404A

Results from Emerson’s test labs, comparing Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of R-404A to R-290 in medium back pressure (MBP) and low back pressure (LBP), show a significant improvement when using R-290. Testing takes place in a controlled environment designed to simulate typical operating conditions.

4.2

4

6

8

10

2

0

2.7 2.5

5.65.0

3.94.5

3.3 3.0

6.45.7

4.4

1⁄3 HP ¾ HP

-10/130

1⁄3 HP ¾ HP

-40/131

1⁄3 HP ¾ HP

14/131

EER

LBP R-404A vs. R-290EER Comparison

nR-404AnR-290

½ HP 1 HP

45/130

7.14

6

8

10

2

0

7.6 7.6 8.1

4.23.6

8.7

9.4 9.3 9.8

5.14.1

½ HP 1 HP

5/131

½ HP 1 HP

50/131

EER

nR-404AnR-290

MBP R-404A vs. R-290EER Comparison

6 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 7

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based equipment in the light commercial

refrigeration segment.

This small charge limit also curbs

the size of the refrigeration application.

Some E.U. retailers have made attempts to

extend the charge limits to enable larger

applications and further expand their green

footprint. But when charges exceed 150g,

E.U. retailers are subject to the approval

of national, regional and local governance

standards and codes for building occupancy

and fire safety. Achieving this approval

requires a mandatory risk assessment and

third party certification of safe operation —

a potentially lengthy process that can

be costly and difficult for both OEMs

and retailers.

It’s also interesting to note that

R-290 adoption varies widely among E.U.

member countries. The U.K., for example, has

a more flexible stance toward R-290, even

approving charges up to 500g for retailers

committed to green refrigeration practices.

Meanwhile, some territories in France

and Italy have yet to employ even light

commercial systems, dispelling the notion

that R-290 based refrigeration equipment

is accepted in all corners of the E.U.

On the other side of the pond in the

U.S., the R-290 picture is quite different.

The U.S. is generally much more hesitant

to view the IEC standard for the 150g

charge limit as a rubber stamp to move

forward with R-290 commercial refrigeration

installations. In the absence of national

R-290 safety standards, even applications

with small charge limits are subject to the

authority of state and local governance, as

well as fire marshal jurisdiction — and these

differ drastically from region to region.

As a result, commercial adoption has

been limited primarily to the most

Some E.U. retailers have worked closely with their OEMs to

develop larger R-290 based refrigeration equipment that

still adheres to the 150g charge limit. Although this helps

accelerate the commercialization process, it does add to

system complexity. One such example of a successful

implementation involved a very prominent retailer who

sought to deploy a large integrated display case design that

could replace their centralized rack system architecture.

The retailer tapped a preferred OEM to develop new

integrated cases based on three individual 150g, R-290

circuits in the same case. The design requires three separate

R-290 compressors, each with its own supporting system

components (fans, valves, piping, etc.). The plan is to

install 10 cases per store in up to 1,000 stores each year.

The retailer also plans on expanding its operations in the

U.S. in the near future.

Major E.U. grocer deploys large R-290 display cases, keeps low refrigerant charge

While there are still many unanswered questions, the U.S. has the benefit of learning from the European model.

established grocers, foodservice outlets

and small format retailers who are

1) willing to absorb the cost required to

achieve requisite safety assessments and

certifications, and 2) seeking to meet

corporate sustainability objectives.

In recent years, the U.S. regulatory

climate has brought R-290 back into industry

and public awareness. First, in 2011 the

EPA listed R-290 as acceptable, subject to

use conditions, for use in certain commercial

refrigeration regulations, keeping the IEC

recommendation for a 150g charge limit.

More recently, the EPA also instituted the

phase-down of R-404A and other common

refrigerants over the next several years. On

a parallel timetable, the DOE has mandated

significant energy reductions in commercial

refrigeration equipment, thereby favoring

the use of systems and refrigerants that

produce high energy efficiencies.

The combination of these two regu-

lations is motivating OEMs and the entire

refrigeration supply chain to try and meet

both objectives in a single design cycle. While

R-290 is one of the few approved refrigerants

capable of satisfying both regulatory actions,

the lack of a national safety standard is still

a barrier toward wider U.S. adoption.

Efforts to establish national standards

are in motion, not only for R-290, but

potentially for a new class of A2L, (mildly

flammable) hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)

refrigerant blends — some of which have

yet to be EPA approved. UL, ASHRAE, ISO

and IEC are all working to develop and

evolve their standards to align with market

trends, some of which may be finalized in

the coming year.

Even with the existing barriers to

R-290 adoption, the EPA approval of R-290

in 2011 prompted some of the larger

foodservice and small format retailers to

work through their OEMs to introduce light

commercial equipment to the market.

And with the promise of a true national

standard, more OEMs are in the process of

developing complete lines of R-290 based

equipment.

Following in the E.U.’s footsteps

The path toward broader commercialization

of R-290 based equipment and wider

adoption in the U.S. is largely dependent

upon the development of national

standards. While there are still many

unanswered questions, the U.S. has the

benefit of learning from the European

model — from the introduction of

environmental regulations and development

of standards to R-290 field trials, countless

installations and wide commercial acceptance.

As the E.U.’s international standards

continue to evolve, the industry is

appealing for the option to increase the

150g refrigerant charge limit to much

higher allowable charges. Should this

become enacted, there’s no question it

will influence the emerging standards

in the U.S., where the possibility of

increasing the charge limit to 300g is

already being discussed. This would

add flexibility to system design and help

transition R-290 to larger commercial

applications.

Finally, it’s important to remember

that there’s no such thing as a perfect

refrigerant. For decades R-22 was

considered ideal until it was discovered

to contribute to holes in the ozone layer.

Its replacement was a class of widely used

HFCs that were later found to have high

global warming potential. And both of

these were man-made compounds. Aside

from its potential flammability, which can

be managed with proper system design

and safe protocols, R-290 is very similar

(or better) in performance to its now-

prohibited predecessors.

One very important question remains

to be answered: will the U.S. refrigeration

industry allow the many benefits of R-290

to outweigh its perceived risks?

8 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 9

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Fallsburg

8 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3

Five Times the Capacity Without Increasing Energy Costs

New York supermarket quintuples refrigeration equipment during store redesign

SU C C E SS S TO RY

Imagine running a supermarket with a full array of refrigeration

equipment for just 10 weeks every year. That’s the annual

challenge faced by Skopps Supermarket, Inc., a family-owned

supermarket in the resort area of Fallsburg, New York.

Skopps operates seasonally, serving summer vacationers and

local residents from June through late August. The store is open

16–18 hours a day when the tourists come to town. For many

years Skopps was located in an older wooden building. By 2015,

however, it was clear the business needed to expand to keep pace

with Fallsburg’s growing population. An all-new 10,000 square foot

store was planned.

Location and tradition made reliability critical

As the design of the new store evolved, refrigeration and AC

challenges were a key consideration for contractor Steve

Eschenberg of Eschenberg Temperature Control. Reliability was

a major concern because the supermarket carries high-quality

refrigerated meats, poultry and seafood. Any system failure

could create the potential for significant financial loss. Because

Skopps is in a rural area, concerns about the local power grid

meant the system would have to work safely with a backup

generator to prevent downtime during hot weather. Skopps’

owner couldn’t afford to risk equipment loss or damage because

of power failure.

The store’s location — 60 miles from the nearest supply house —

was another factor that called for dependable equipment.

The system also had to be quiet enough to comply with local

noise restrictions, because the new store was located close to

a vacation home community. And since Skopps is closed nearly

nine months of the year, equipment placement was an important

factor in deterring theft and vandalism.

Finally, the new location would have approximately five times

the refrigeration equipment as the old store. The store owner

had a strong desire for the new equipment to be as efficient as

possible to keep operating costs under control.

A fast-track job

Eschenberg Temperature Control didn’t have a lot of time to

get the refrigeration and AC up and running in the new building.

Steve Eschenberg had his first meeting with the store owner

in late February of 2015. The new store had to be ready to open

by late June.

Eschenberg quickly determined that Skopps couldn’t risk

a centralized system. “If we used a central plant, a single fault

could impact the whole system,” he said. “We needed to make

it modular to limit losses if there was a breakdown.” Space

limitations in the new steel building also meant there was no

place for a machine room.

Ultimately, Eschenberg worked with Emerson Climate

Technologies and Meier Supply Company to design a multiple

condensing unit system that met the refrigeration challenge.

The system was designed around 18 Copeland Scroll™ X-Line

Series Outdoor Condensing Units mounted high on the

supermarket’s exterior wall closest to the majority of the

refrigeration devices. A pair of 15-ton Copeland Scroll roof

units provided the building’s AC needs.

“The XJs were perfect because they’re quiet, efficient, have

a lot of interchangeability with a good stock of service parts, and most important,

they’re reliable.”

— Steve Eschenberg, Eschenberg Temperature Control

Eighteen wall-mounted, X-Line outdoor condensing units provide quiet, efficient refrigeration for the entire supermarket.

10 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 11

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“This was the only way to go,” Eschenberg said. “The XJs

were perfect because they’re quiet, efficient, have a lot of

interchangeability with a good stock of service parts, and most

important, they’re reliable.”

Despite Skopps’ distance from the nearest supply center,

Eschenberg was confident because the system’s interchangeability

would allow him to manage most issues with his own supply of

spare parts and fuses. “Basically, anything but the compressor is

interchangeable,” he said.

The rapid turnaround time made the job tricky, because

multiple crews had to work simultaneously during the assembly

and installation. Fortunately, the system’s layout allowed for short

wiring and piping runs. Eschenberg was able to mount the units

on the building’s exterior in mid-May and began wiring and piping

in early June, finishing in time for the new supermarket’s opening

in late June.

Substantial energy savings makes a happy customer

In its first season of operation, the new system provided consistent

and reliable refrigeration and control for the supermarket’s meat

and fish cutting rooms, deli, a 34-door freezer, 16' grab-and-go

case, plus produce, dairy, meat, seafood and coolers. The new

store is four times the size of the old and holds five times the

refrigeration equipment. Yet according to the store owner, the new

equipment’s energy efficiency resulted in no increase in energy

costs. Power now accounts for a smaller percentage of his expenses

than at the old store.

There have been no noise complaints from the neighbors,

either. In fact, the units can’t even be heard when customers leave

the supermarket. And because the units are mounted high off the

ground, there were no vandalism issues during the store’s first

winter of 2015–2016. The whole cycle will begin again for the 2016

season when startup and adjustments take place in May.

I N D US T RY E V E N T S

NRA Show 2016 McCormick PlaceChicago, ILMay 21–24show.restaurant.org/Home

ATMOsphere America 2016The Westin Michigan Ave.Chicago, ILJune 16–17atmo.org/events.details. php?eventid=44

FMI Connect 2016McCormick PlaceChicago, IL — June 20–23fmiconnect.net

2016 ASHRAE Annual ConferenceAmerica’s Center Convention Complex and Marriott St. Louis Grand HotelSt. Louis, MO — June 25–29ashraem.confex.com/ashraem/ s16/cfp.cgi

HRAI Annual Meeting and ConferenceHyatt RegencyCalgary, Alberta, CanadaAug. 24–26hrai.ca/events.html FMI Energy and Store Development ConferenceSheraton New OrleansNew Orleans, LA — Sept. 11–14 http://www.fmi.org/forms/ meeting/Microsite/ESD2016

COMFORTECH 2016Pennsylvania Convention CenterPhiladelphia, PA — Sept. 20–22comfortechshow.com/ct16/ Public/Enter.aspx

World Energy Engineering CongressWashington Convention Center, Hall DWashington, DC — Sept. 21–23energycongress.com

Emerson Climate Technologies is excited to take our educational

platform on the road; we’ll be coming to Newark and Tucson

next. Once again, this daylong event will feature prominent

industry authorities as well as Emerson’s own internal experts.

Our Atlanta E360 Forum, held this past February, offered timely

discussions on top-of-mind industry concerns. More than 130

foodservice and retail leaders gathered and conversed about our

shifting industry.

The E360 Forums give attendees an opportunity to participate

in the conversations shaping the commercial refrigeration industry.

We hope to see you at an E360 Forum in the future.

E360 Forum Schedule

Newark, NJ Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel Aug. 24, 2016

Tucson, AZ The Westin La Paloma Oct. 12, 2016

What was the most meaningful takeaway from today?

The biggest takeaway for me is the boiling

down of the EPA and DOE regulations and how they’re

going to impact our industry over the next five years.”

— Mike Nohle, refrigeration division manager,

Meier Supply Company

How do you think today’s discussions will influence you

and/or your company?

The discussions we had today influence

everybody day to day because it’s important for us to know

what is changing and how it impacts our daily business so

we can make the right decisions moving forward.”

— Derek Gosselin, system product manager, Hillphoenix

What do the E360 Forum attendees have to say about the event?

“

“

Forum

“The new store is four times the size of the old and holds five times

the refrigeration equipment. Yet the new equipment’s energy efficiency resulted in no increase

in energy costs.”— Joel Lowy, Skopps Supermarket

Reliability was a major concern because the supermarket carries high-quality refrigerated meats, poultry and seafood.

Visit EmersonClimate.com/

E360-Event-Registration to register.

12 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 13

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ASHRAE Standard 34

In the U.S., ASHRAE Standard 34 defines

the flammability and toxicity classification

of refrigerants, with the letters A and B

designating lower and higher toxicity,

and the numbers 1, 2 and 3 denoting the

level of flammability from none, lower

and higher flammability, respectively. For

example, R-290 is classified as A3, meaning

it has lower toxicity and higher flammability.

This standard was recently updated

to include the flammability subclass of

2L for refrigerants that burn slower than

those designated as Class 2. Newer HFO

blends, such as R-1234yf, fall into this

A2L classification.

ASHRAE Standard 15

ASHRAE Standard 15 is the U.S. safety

standard for refrigeration system design,

construction, installation and operation.

It adopts the classifications set forth in

ASHRAE 34, and is under revision in part

due to the inclusion of the A2L classification.

The current standard also prohibits the use

of A3 and B3 refrigerants except where

approved by the authority having

jurisdiction (AHJ). Once Standard 15

is revised, ASHRAE will propose revising

the building model codes in the U.S.

UL standards

UL 1995 is the most recent Underwriters

Laboratory (UL) listing pertaining to

HVACR; it does not address flammable

refrigerants. However, it is being revised

in accordance with the international

standard, IEC 60335-2-40, which is

currently under revision to include the

introduction of A2Ls.

International standards

The International Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC) is in the process

of revising its codes that affect heating

and cooling equipment, commercial

refrigeration appliances, and ice

and ice cream machines, including:

IEC 60335-2-89 and IEC 60335-2-24.

It’s widely anticipated that the standards

around charge limits — for both A3

and A2L refrigerants — will be included

in the IEC’s revisions.

As is the case with the UL adoption of

an existing IEC standard, the international

standards are often the benchmark from

which global safety standards are imple-

mented. The U.S. is no exception to this

rule, although usually with a degree of

deviation from the IEC standards. It’s also

as important to keep in mind that until

national safety standards are both adopted

and accepted in the U.S., A2L and A3

applications may be subject to AHJ.

While exact timing on regulatory

matters is difficult to predict, we expect

some movement in these areas through

2017 due to the urgency of HC and

HFO adoption.

Dr. Rajan Rajendran is one of the most

respected, global authorities on alternative

refrigerants and their applications across

a variety of industries. As Emerson Climate

Technologies’ Vice President, System

Innovation Center and Sustainability,

Rajan helps steer the company’s strategic

direction, research and product development.

Flammable refrigerant alternatives

are becoming increasingly viable as

global environmental regulations

push the HVACR industry toward low-GWP

refrigerants. Naturally occurring hydrocar-

bons (HC) such as propane (R-290) and

a new class of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)

refrigerant blends are among the most

likely flammable refrigerants to be

considered as replacements. Since these

low-GWP options have varying degrees

of flammability, they’re subject to

requisite standards to ensure safe

operating and handling protocols.

In the current industry landscape,

there are a number of organizations that

have developed codes and standards to

manage the safe use of flammable refrig-

erants. Since the majority of today’s safety

standards were developed prior to the

increased emphasis on green refrigerant

alternatives, many are now currently

under revision to include A2L and A3

refrigerants with the intent to evaluate

their potential use with modern equipment,

applications and system architectures.

When dealing with flammable refrigerants,

the following criteria are evaluated to

ensure safe use:

• The lower flammable limit of the

refrigerant

• Amount of charge in equipment

• Risk of refrigerant leak

• Area where a leaked refrigerant could

occur

• Presence of ignition sources

While we can’t predict the extent of the code

changes, we can report on the most relevant

safety standards currently under revision:

Safety codes for flammable refrigerants are under revision; HFC phase-down continues

Evolving safety standards for A2L and A3 refrigerants

R A J A N O N … S TA N DA R DS A N D R EG U L AT I O NS by D R . R A J A N R A J E N D R A N

Reference

1. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/snap_action_factsheet.pdf

New SNAP proposal

The EPA recently issued another SNAP proposal1

regarding the listing status of certain high-GWP

refrigerants deemed as “unacceptable” in specific

applications. Although the new proposal is relatively

smaller in scope, there are a few potential impacts to

be aware of, including:

• Listing of R-290 as an acceptable alternative in commercial ice makers, water

coolers and very low-temperature refrigeration equipment

• Exempting R-290 from the Clean Air Act’s section 608 venting prohibition

• R-404A will be unacceptable in soft-serve, frozen carbonated beverage and slush

machines as of Jan. 1, 2021

• R-404A will be unacceptable in cold storage warehouse by Jan. 1, 2023

Per usual, the EPA will accept public comments to the proposal for 45 days

after publication of the rule in the Federal Register.

14 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 15

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Emerson Climate Technologies recently

hosted the University of Dayton’s

E-week Innovation Challenge at

Emerson’s new Helix Innovation Center.

The entrepreneurial student club EMpwr

and engineering-based KEEN organization

also co-sponsored the challenge. The

theme of this year’s event was The Super-

market of the Future, and students were

asked to brainstorm innovative concepts

that addressed the many challenges and

opportunities facing grocers today, such

as: energy usage, convenience, customer

experience and even aesthetics.

At the kick-off reception, students

gathered at The Helix to learn more about

the parameters of the competition.

Participants were given the option to

work independently or in small groups,

although the event facilitators encouraged

collaboration to raise the team’s collective

IQ. Teams then had one week to come up

with a concept and create a presentation

that would be delivered separately to the

six judges at the adjudication competition.

At stake was prize money for the top three

teams in the amounts of $1,500, $1,000

and $500, respectively.

Participants were judged on their

ability to demonstrate the technical and

financial feasibility of deploying their

concept by 2050. In addition, teams were

instructed to keep KEEN’s three C’s in

mind: curiosity, connections and creating

value. Finally, participants were reminded

to not forget the all-important “wow factor”

when conceptualizing and presenting

their ideas.

Dr. Rajan Rajendran, vice president of

system innovation center and sustainability,

explained at the opening reception that

this event not only showcased the

ingenuity of UD’s engineering students,

but also highlighted the partnership

between Emerson and UD at The Helix.

“One of the dreams we had when

conceptualizing this unique facility was to

be able to host educational events just like

this,” Rajendran said.

Before leaving the opening reception,

students were presented with an exercise

to get their “brain stirring” in motion.

Each team was given 15 minutes to build

the tallest free-standing structure possible

using 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of

tape, one yard of string and one marsh-

mallow (which also had to be placed on

the top of the structure). As expected, the

exercise yielded diverse designs as teams

scrambled to achieve this objective.

The winning concepts

Exactly one week after the opening

reception, the students returned to The

Helix with their poster boards to pitch

their concepts to the judges. It was

immediately apparent from the first

presentations that the teams had not only

clearly understood the challenge but

also had significant insights to contribute.

Among the six judges on the panel

that night was Don Newlon, vice president

and general manager of refrigeration mar-

keting at Emerson Climate Technologies.

Newlon was impressed by how the teams

synthesized the task at hand with their

diverse individual perspectives.

“It was impressive to see how well

the group as a whole responded to the

challenge, and how their unique millennial

mindset produced solutions geared toward

College Students Conceptualize the Supermarket of the Future

H E L I X H I G H L I G H T

E-week challenge calls for a fresh approach and new thinking

16 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 17

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Given the changing HVACR landscape, a new

approach to innovation that involves all links

in the refrigerated equipment value chain is

required. During our recent E360 Webinar, we high-

lighted the inclusive, collaborative approach that is

driving the development of future technologies:

• The current focus of Emerson Climate Technologies’

innovation efforts

• The fundamentals of the innovation process

• The importance of rapid prototyping and testing in

real-world conditions

• Why collaboration is needed to solve today’s

big problems

• The Helix’s supermarket refrigeration and

foodservice modules

• How The Helix’s environmental control room can

simulate virtually any ambient condition

Recently Archived Webinars

Find archived Webinars at EmersonClimate.com/E360-Webinars

Innovation in Refrigeration January 26, 2016

Understanding Leak Detection and Implementing Effective Programs November 3, 2015

EPA Final Refrigerant Ruling: Its Impact on Your Business August 18, 2015

Seven Keys to Servicing CO2 Systems July 14, 2015

Meeting Future Refrigeration Energy Regulations With Today’s Technology Alternatives March 17, 2015

Unlocking the Potential of Embedded Electronics January 26, 2015

Staying Ahead of DOE 2017 Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Energy Efficiency Ratings October 21, 2014

Team 1Ali Al-Saihaty

Team 2 (Honorable Mention)Megan AponteAudrey LaurashLinda Moodie

Team 3 (Second Place)Manjhunath AyyampudurChristopher Wagner

Team 4 (Honorable Mention)Troy BarklayStephen Ripepi

Team 5 (First Place)Nicolas Carducci

Team 6Teresa BradfordColin JoernAndrew Tarutani

Team 7Jay BrandyberryKeaton Cole

Team 8Daniel Curry

Team 9Marc CzulewiczDaniel LenzJackson MalladyLisa MusselmanMichael Zahorec

Team 10 (Honorable Mention)Elise DermodyNathan MansourBrian Sikora

Team 11 Madhumitha EzhilanAshish Gogia

Team 12 (Honorable Mention)Kimberly Gliebe

Team 13 (Honorable Mention)Mary GraebnerWilbur Sharpe

Team 14Drew HasenkampEric Insana

Team 15 (Third Place)Noelle JacobsMichael KellerSarah Stratil

Team 16Jeffrey LecaveSarah RichardKatelin Weitzel

Team 17 (Honorable Mention)Emily McDonaldVictoria WawzyniakJoseph Zielinski

Team 18Asia Roebuck

Team 19Brendan CunninghamJoseph MancewiczMaxmilian Pawlikowski

Team 20 Matthew ConleyClayton Ralston

Participating E-week Teams

consumers and retailers alike,” he said.

After the judges heard each team’s

two-minute pitch, they had the unenviable

task of selecting the top entries. Here are

the winners and a brief description of their

innovative concepts:

First place ($1,500): Nicolas Carducci

All in One — The winning concept featured

a mobile device app that combines a recipe

book, calorie counter, grocery list and food

inventory, all integrated with supermarket

and home food inventory databases for a

streamlined shopping experience. The app

displays nutritional information and expi-

ration dates for the ingredients needed to

make specific recipes, and then determines

which items need to be purchased at the

supermarket. The shopper then uses this

app to order the missing ingredients and

pick up the order at their preferred store

location. The All in One app allows end

users to keep track of caloric intake by

entering the number of servings consumed in

a particular recipe, and even provides push

notifications for food expiration warnings.

Second place ($1,000): Manjhunath Ayyampudur, Christopher Wagner

Carbon Emissions — The first runner-up

team pitched an innovative app that gives

environmentally conscious shoppers a way

to calculate the carbon footprint produced

by their eating habits. By assigning a carbon

equivalent value to each grocery item in

the supermarket, consumers have the

option to choose items that minimize their

carbon footprint.

Third place ($500): Noelle Jacobs, Michael Keller, Sarah Stratil

STC Supermarket — This eco-friendly concept

centers on a three-pronged approach that

combines solar-equipped parking lots,

self-scanning grocery carts and community

food trucks to drive sustainable, technolog-

ically advanced and community-oriented

supermarkets.

In addition to the three winners, six

teams earned an honorable mention distinc-

tion. All in all, the event proved that the spirit

of innovation is alive and well in our collegiate

class. We can all rest assured that the future

of the supermarket industry is in good hands.

Don Newlon, Emerson’s V.P./G.M of refrigeration marketing and Eddy Rojas, University of Dayton’s dean of the School of Engineering present prize money to the challenge winner, Nicolas Carducci.

18 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 19

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E360 Forum panel discussion

The technician shortage was the focus of a spirited panel discussion at our most recent E360 Forum in Atlanta. Panelist Dan Steffen, vice president of AAA Refrigeration, talked about the misperception surrounding what is essentially an extremely viable career opportunity.

“At trade shows, I talk with many peers who don’t want their kids going into this profession,” Steffen said. “The truth is this is a great industry for smart people, and until they find another way to preserve food, this is a recession-proof industry. It’s an opportunity not just for a job, but for a career. We need to change perceptions from within,” he added.

Jim Alexander, chief technical officer at Epic Services, said that one way to attract a new generation of talent into the industry is by better engaging with them on social media. “The industry does not have nearly enough exposure to youths entering the job market. We need to do a better job getting our message out and meet them where they live on social media,” he said.

Ross Fazio, service director of Fazio Mechanical Services, shared that this career opportunity was never presented to him in high school. “When I told my friends I was a refrigeration contractor, they thought I fixed refrigerators. High schools need to do a better job in offering the trades instead of just college,” he said.

Vet2Tech co-founder George Nicholson, whose group connects U.S. military veterans with jobs in the HVACR, commercial food equipment and residential appliance repair industries, said vets coming back into the workforce want more than just a job. “They know they will start as a tech, but they want a career path. We need to show them where they can go with this career and give

them a road map for how to get there,” he said.

Building an industry-wide coalition

While the panel discussion didn’t produce a solution to the growing problem, the panelists all agreed that it will take the concerted effort of the entire HVACR industry to turn the tide. Everyone has skin in the game, from contractors, OEMs, distributors, industry organizations and trade publications.

To be successful, we will need to leverage the collective strength of the entire industry and develop strategies to attract, recruit and retain new technicians to the HVACR industry.

Starting points for executing on this strategy could include:

• Bringing together industry stakeholders to holistically evaluate and address the problem, and determine a plan of action

• Expanding certification opportunities geared specifically toward commercial refrigeration

• Leverage new media to recruit the next generation of entrants into the refrigeration business

• Demonstrate a clear path for career advancement and longevity

We know that the commercial refrigeration trade offers tremendous potential to a new generation of job entrants. But, we need to figure out how to get this message out to the public. It will require the participation of all industry stakeholders to brainstorm new ideas and bring them together in a master plan.

Emerson Climate Technologies is committed to becoming a champion of this effort. Stay tuned for more information in subsequent E360 events and publications.

Pictured: panelists Jermaine Johnson, Mainline Mechanical Services; Ross Fazio, Fazio Mechanical Services; George Nicholson, Vet2Tech; Jim Alexander, Epic Services; Dan Steffen, AAA Refrigeration; Lamont Gill, career and technical education industry veteran; Moderator – Kyle Gargaro, ACHR News

For more than a decade, the lack of qualified technicians in HVACR has been a growing problem in the U.S. While this issue is often attributed to the larger HVACR trade,

refrigeration is where the biggest challenge exists. In fact, if you’re a mechanically inclined entrant seeking technical training in the U.S., you may be hard-pressed to find a vocational school or technical college nearby that specializes in refrigeration.

Recent industry statistics help reveal the extent of the technician shortage. An ACHR News article estimated that more than 27,000 skilled technicians are projected to retire annually. Meanwhile, according to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 15,000 trained HVACR technicians are entering the workforce annually, and the industry is expected to grow 21 percent through 2022. The most conservative estimates indicate the current technician shortage to be roughly 20,000, with that number expected to increase dramatically in the near future.

In annual contractor roundtables hosted by Emerson Climate Technologies, the lack of qualified refrigeration technicians is consistently cited as the number one challenge contracting business owners face. Although different HVAC initiatives have

attempted to address the issue through the years, the situation for refrigeration has not improved. On the positive side, we’re beginning to better understand the roots of the problem and where to focus our efforts.

What is the refrigeration gap?

The refrigeration gap may be defined as follows: a shortage of qualified refrigeration technicians available to service increasingly diverse and complex refrigeration systems and applications, compounded by limited access to training programs offered throughout the nation’s career vocational schools and technical colleges. Adding to this challenge is an industry dealing with continually evolving regulations and emerging technologies.

While most of the nation’s technical schools offer accredita-tion in the AC trade — complete with hands-on training with the industry’s most commonly used equipment — very few of these schools are equipped to support the breadth of equipment and system architectures required to educate refrigeration technicians. Refrigeration technicians must be equipped to deal with a much broader range of refrigerants and application temperatures, as well as myriad system architectures.

CO N T R AC TO R CO N N EC T I O N by B O B L A B B E T T

Bridging the Refrigeration Gap

Industry needs to address the shortage of commercial refrigeration technicians

20 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3 21

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Refrigeration and building controlsSite Supervisor provides control and logging of nearly every aspect of a facility’s refrigeration and building systems.

• Display case set points

• Suction groups

• Condensers

• Circuits

• Defrost schedules

• Alarms

• Connects to refrigeration

control devices

Refrigeration controller Building controller

• Air handling units

• HVAC zones

• Lighting zones

• Occupancy schedules

• Alarms

• Connects to building

control devices

Today’s convenience store chains and

small-format retailers find themselves

in a rapidly changing landscape. As

consumer preference for freshly prepared

food offerings continues to spill over into

their space, small-format retailers are

adapting their business models to become

more like foodservice providers.

Making this transition without

sacrificing their commitment to convenience

is no small challenge. It means not only

ensuring proper food refrigeration and

preparation protocols, but also creating

and maintaining an inviting in-store

experience for patrons. It means keeping

close watch over every store system and

piece of equipment impacting that

experience — from refrigeration and lighting

to heating and cooling. Because the

reality is, it only takes one bad customer

experience to tarnish your brand.

Enter Site Supervisor, a flexible facility

control platform that allows retailers to

quickly and economically enable monitoring,

optimization and control over key store

systems. As part of Emerson Climate

Technologies’ ecoSYS family, Site Supervisor

manages refrigeration, HVAC, lighting and

other critical equipment and systems while

collecting data on important performance

indicators, including:

• Refrigerated case temperatures

• Energy usage

• HVAC discharge and space temperatures

While this data enables store managers

to quickly respond to issues that may impact

Meet the New Boss

P RO D U C T SP OT L I G H T

Site Supervisor delivers small-format consistency and predictability

7" display

• Performance meter identifies equipment

that is performing out of range

• Detailed floor plans allow the manager

to see an overview of their equipment

portfolio

Site Supervisor builds upon Emerson’s

strong controls legacy, including a flexible

approach that allows customers to add to

their system as needs change. It can even

be configured to integrate with another

manufacturer’s controllers.

Enterprise-wide visibility

To enable enterprise-level visibility, site

management and advanced support services,

the ecoSYS platform offers optional

extended capabilities. Site Supervisor

can be configured to tap the expertise

of Emerson’s ProAct services to support

profitable, efficient operations and quickly

diagnose system issues before they impact

the customer experience.

Site Supervisor can also be connected

to Emerson’s Site Manager software to

help retailers achieve consistency across

their entire network of stores — even push

out specific operational settings from a

central location to ensure uniformity. This

not only relieves store associates of routine

system setting and maintenance tasks, it

also helps streamline service activities by

providing a common operational footprint.

Site Manager can be hosted on the Emerson

cloud or locally at an enterprise level for those

who prefer a locally managed solution.

Site Supervisor is even backwards

compatible with Emerson’s E2 facility

management system.

While the initial release of Site

Supervisor is designed for convenience

stores, restaurants and small-format retail

operations, upcoming releases will support

supermarkets and all types of retail installa-

tions, including the capability to integrate

with existing control systems. This robust

new platform is designed to address many

of today’s — and tomorrow’s — most pressing

concerns in foodservice and food retail.

the customer experience and food safety,

detailed reports can also be accessed

through ProAct™ Services to evaluate trends

and gain deep insights into operations.

Intuitive user interface and key features

Site Supervisor gives store managers and

service technicians visibility to systems

and equipment through an intuitive

interface that displays site controllers in

one place. A responsive design allows this

information to seamlessly scale with the

size of the viewing device, whether that’s

the Site Supervisor’s rugged display or a

web-enabled mobile device.

Four primary screens provide quick

access to facility-wide information: Home,

Inventory (of your equipment list), Scheduler

and Device. Easy access to store system

data keeps relevant information at the

facility manager’s fingertips for improved

efficiencies:

• Refrigeration setpoints and lighting

schedules

• Verification when new equipment is

brought online during installation

• All store equipment visible on one

screen

• Interface design keeps the majority of

functions no more than two clicks away;

Home screen is accessible from any

location in the system

• Option to drill down for more information

as needed

• Setting of alarm thresholds to alert

them of fault conditions

Site Supervisor enables easy access to store system data to keep relevant information at the facility manager’s fingertips.

Responsive design allows information to scale with the size of the viewing device.

Smartphone

10" display

22 E360 Outlook Volume 2 Number 3

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Emerson Climate Technologies Copeland™ Refrigeration and AC CompressorsSidney, OH

Emerson Climate Technologies,

Retail SolutionsFacility ServicesKennesaw, GA

Vilter Manufacturing, LLC Compressors for Industrial Refrigeration and Oil & Gas CompressionCudahy, WI

Fusite Seals, Feedthroughs and Precision Metal ProductsCincinnati, OH

White-Rodgers ThermostatsSt. Louis, MO

Air Comfort Products Ceiling FansSt. Louis, MO

Control Techniques Variable Speed Drives and MotorsEden Prairie, MN

Therm-O-Disc Electronic SensorsMansfield, OH

Control Products Custom Electronic ControlsChanhassen, MN

Design Services NetworkDesign and Testing ServicesSidney, OH

Educational Services HVACR Training ProgramsSidney, OH

InSinkErator Waste Disposal for Residential and Commercial UsesSturtevant, WI

Emerson Climate Technologies1675 West Campbell RoadP.O. Box 669Sidney, OH 45365-0669

PRSRT FIRST CLASSU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT #1315DAYTON, OH

Thank you for reading this edition of E360 Outlook! At Emerson, we believe

the challenges faced by the refrigeration industry cannot be solved in a vacuum.

Only through collaboration and a commitment to innovation will we discover

answers to the difficult questions before us.

We hope the information provided here will spark conversations and open

all of our eyes to new perspectives. But for that to happen, we all need to contribute.

And that starts with you. Feel free to contact us with your feedback, questions

and insights. We look forward to hearing from you.

We’d like to hear your feedback.

The Emerson logo is a trademark and a service mark of Emerson Electric Co. © 2016 Emerson Electric Co.

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