About the Institute of Refrigeration

Refrigeration and air conditioning play a vital part in the lives of everyone in the modern world.  If you work in these fields you can demonstrate your professionalism by becoming a member of the IOR.   It is an independent organisation, run for refrigeration and air conditioning professionals by refrigeration and air conditioning professionals.

The IOR is a central meeting point for people from all over the world to promote, improve and learn more about refrigeration and air conditioning.

Membership benefits 

• Free access to quality, practical information and updates through a range of Technical Guidance Notes.
• Annual Data-CD full of technical information including Refrigerant Codes of Practice, Guidance notes, REAL Zero guidelines, and catalogue of 10 years of technical papers
• Independent updates on legislation, standards and Government consultations.
• Certified Continuing Professional Development opportunities.
• Advance notice and reduced-rates for IOR seminars and events.
• Newsletters and technical papers in regular mailings
• Networking meetings with others who have the same business and professional interests at local branch meetings, annual dinners, conferences and free evening seminars.
• Use of MInstR or AMInstR after your name to demonstrate that you are a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning professional

Find out how you can join now and start accessing these benefits.

View a promotional presentation about the Institute

Vision and objectives

• To be the forum for all those involved professionally in Refrigeration Science and Engineering
• To promote the technical advancement of refrigeration in all its applications, in relation both to the perfection of its methods and the minimisation of its effects on the environment.
• To encourage the extension of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump services for the benefit of the community.
• To promote means of communication for exchange of expertise and interchange of views, and to communicate knowledge of refrigeration and its communal benefits to the outside world.
• To encourage invention and research in all matters relating to the science and practice of refrigeration.

Governance

The IOR is registered with the Charity Commission as an educational and scientific body (reg no 250 081). It is governed by an elected Council of Members who act as Charity Trustees, and has a permanent staff of five based in offices in Carshalton.

• The current President of the IOR is Dr Andy Pearson. A full list of Council members is available follow this link.
• The IOR Constitution was revised most recently in November 2011. You can view a copy here.
• For a list of Committees, their membership and information about any vacancies follow this link.

Member Conduct

The Institute of Refrigeration has a Code of Conduct adopted by its membership and members are expected to order their conduct in accordance with this Code.  For more details and the procedure for queries related to member conduct see the IOR Code of Conduct.

History and heritage

The Institute was founded in 1899 as the Cold Storage and Ice Association and was the first national society of mechanical refrigeration in the world. In 1944 qualified membership was introduced in order to raise the status of the association and of those engaged in the science and practice of refrigeration, and the present name of the Institute of Refrigeration was adopted.