Engineering Calculations for PSM and RMP

This course provides a practical foundation in the engineering calculations that underpin regulatory compliance for industrial refrigeration systems. Participants will learn how to estimate refrigerant inventory, design safety relief and ventilation systems, perform mass and energy balances, and model atmospheric dispersion for off-site consequence analysis. Whether you're managing an existing PSM/RMP program or designing new systems, this course ensures you can confidently support documentation and decision-making with sound engineering principles.

If you answer “no,” to one or more of these questions, this course is for you:

• Do you have a sound estimate of the total inventory of refrigerant in your industrial ammonia refrigeration system? 
• Have you properly documented the basis of design for your safety relief vent system(s)?
• Have you prepared mass and energy balances for the parts of your refrigeration systems constructed after May 1992?
• Do you have established methods for estimating the quantity of refrigerant lost by your system in the event of a leak?
• Do you understand the fundamental principles of the atmospheric dispersion modeling required by RMP?

• PSM coordinators and EHS professionals responsible for regulatory compliance.
• Refrigeration engineers, supervisors, and experienced operators involved in ammonia systems.
• Consulting engineers and design professionals working on industrial refrigeration projects.

This course is part of the Process Safety Management Professional Certificate. Increase your knowledge and effectiveness at managing PSM/RMP programs for your ammonia refrigerated facility, while earning a recognized credential. Course can be taken individually as well.

Attendees participating in this course will be able to earn a digital badge as evidence of the knowledge they obtained during the course. Digital badges are micro-credentials that can be earned by successfully passing a final quiz administered online after completing the course. Click here for information on digital badges.

Overview of engineering calculations to support PSM and RMP

Refrigerant inventory calculations

Safety-relief systems design and design basis

Machinery room ventilation system design and design basis

Incidents and release quantity estimation

Mass and energy balances

Dispersion modeling for off-site consequence analysis

Marc Claas

Marc Claas is an Associate Researcher with the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, specializing in industrial refrigeration since 2009. He focuses on system maintenance, safe operation, troubleshooting, and regulatory compliance, with a growing interest in emerging cooling technologies. Marc has led online operator training programs and brings extensive field experience in Process Safety Management (PSM), including audits and Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs). He also investigates energy efficiency and operational improvements in refrigeration systems. Marc holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Platteville and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Thermal Sciences from UW-Madison. He is an active member of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration.

Todd Jekel

Todd Jekel, PhD, PE is the Assistant Director of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium (IRC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he leads applied research and technical outreach in industrial refrigeration. His work focuses on system and component modeling, refrigeration load and energy calculations, accumulator design, and safety relief vent systems. Dr. Jekel has contributed to the development and instruction of several web-based and in-person courses for refrigeration professionals, covering topics such as ammonia refrigeration, process safety, and energy efficiency. He holds degrees from Calvin College and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition to his academic and research roles, he is an active member of ASHRAE and the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), serving on multiple technical committees. Dr. Jekel is recognized for his expertise in vessel design, oil separation, and dehumidification strategies for cold storage facilities.

Douglas Reindl

Douglas Reindl, PhD, PE is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a Program Director at the Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He brings extensive expertise in mechanical systems, with a particular focus on industrial ammonia refrigeration. As the founding director of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, Dr. Reindl is dedicated to advancing the safety, efficiency, and reliability of refrigeration infrastructure. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and both MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from UW–Madison. A registered professional engineer in Wisconsin, Dr. Reindl is widely recognized for his leadership in refrigeration education and applied research.