For more than a decade, the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program served as the United States’ primary regulatory framework for protecting high-risk chemical facilities from terrorist threats. But on July 28, 2023, Congress allowed CFATS’s statutory authority to expire, effectively shutting down the program overnight. If you work in ammonia refrigeration, chemical manufacturing, energy, distribution, or any sector handling hazardous...

For facilities operating ammonia refrigeration systems, January 1, 2026, is more than a future date on the calendar. It represents a clear line between proactive compliance and regulatory exposure. By that date, existing ammonia refrigeration systems are expected to have completed a Minimum System Safety Evaluation (MSSE) in accordance with IIAR 9. This is not a theoretical expectation or an optional safety exercise. Failing to complete An MSSE is a compliance issue with real implications...