International Journal of Refrigeration 29 (2006) 1–2

www.elsevier.com/locate/ijrefrig

The First International Congress of Refrigeration was

held in Paris in 1908, the year during which helium was

liquefied for the first time; many national refrigeration

associations and also the organization that gave rise to the

IIR in 1920 were also set up in 1908.

So 2008 will be the IIR’s centenary year, but instead of

celebrations taking place in Paris only, as was the case for

the IIR’s 90th birthday in 1998, the IIR plans to go global for

the occasion: the Executive Committee of the IIR approved

this approach in June 2005.

The year 2008 must not be just another commemoration:

it must provide an opportunity to raise awareness, on a

global scale, concerning the value of refrigeration in terms

of the health and well-being of humanity, and the need to

have at our disposal greater means in order to address the

environmental challenges our planet is facing: these

challenges will radically change the way we design

refrigerating equipment. New regulations governing

refrigerants are in the pipeline, particularly in Europe. The

price of oil, and therefore of energy, has risen as was the

case during previous oil crises, but this time, the price hike

would appear to be lasting.

These factors compel us to implement technological

Le premier Congres International du Froid a eu lieu a

Paris en 1908, annee de liquefaction de l’helium; c’est aussi

l’annee de creation de nombreuses associations nationales

du froid et l’embryon de ce qui deviendra en 1920 l’Institut

International du Froid.

Aussi, 2008 doit devenir le 100e anniversaire de l’Institut

International du Froid (IIF), mais, contrairement aux

precedents anniversaires (1998.), celui-ci doit devenir

non seulement un evenement parisien, mais aussi, voire

surtout, un evenement mondial, comme l’a decide le Comite

Executif de l’IIF en juin dernier.

2008 ne doit pas etre une commemoration de plus: ce

doit etre l’occasion d’une prise de conscience mondiale de

l’utilite du froid pour la sante et le bien-etre de l’humanite,

et de la necessite de moyens accrus pour repondre aux defis

environnementaux de notre planete: ils vont changer

radicalement notre maniere de concevoir les installations

frigorifiques. De nouvelles reglementations sur les frigor-

igenes se preparent, notamment en Europe. Le prix du

petrole, et donc de l’energie, a grimpe comme lors des

precedents chocs petroliers, mais cette fois-ci durablement.

Autant de facteurs qui imposent des changements

technologiques rapides pour aborder la decennie a venir.

0140-7007/$35.00 q 2005 Elsevier Ltd and IIR.

doi:10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2005.11.001

IIR news Nouvelles de l’IIF

Let’s get ready for the IIR’scentenary

Preparons le 100e anniversaire !

changes rapidly in order to meet the challenges we will face

in the decade to come.

Refrigeration is more than ever necessary for humanity

and its use will continue to expand; however, the way in

which this development occurs needs to change. This trend

provides us with additional reasons to reaffirm the value of

our national associations and the IIR.

This centenary should provide an opportunity to seek out

the IIR’s roots in order to better prepare the future.

The IIR intends to stage several joint centenary

celebrations with the French Refrigeration Association

(Association Francaise du Froid) and features include: a

joint conference in Paris in June 2008; a book on the history

of refrigeration; display materials for an exhibition on the

history of refrigeration; presentation of cutting-edge sectors;

a mobile exhibition calling in on French teaching establish-

ments in the refrigeration field.Much of this material could be used (and translated

where necessary) during the events to be held in other

countries during 2008. The IIR will serve as a hub.

We need to start getting ready for these events now, and

will be happy to receive proposals and offers of assistance.

As we begin 2006, we must give thought to the major

challenges awaiting us and also get ready for 2008, a

veritable Refrigeration Year worldwide.

Le froid est plus que jamais necessaire pour l’humanite

et son utilisation continuera a croıtre, mais ce developpe-

ment devra se faire autrement. Autant de raisons pour

reaffirmer fortement l’utilite de nos associations nationales

et de l’IIF.

Cet anniversaire doit etre l’occasion de retrouver ses

racines pour mieux se projeter vers l’avenir.

Avec l’Association Francaise du Froid, plusieurs actions

sont deja en cours d’elaboration pour le 100e anniversaire:

un colloque commun a Paris en juin 2008; un livre sur

l’histoire du froid; des documents d’exposition de cette

histoire, mais aussi de presentation des differents secteurs

en evolution; une exposition itinerante dans les etablisse-

ments d’enseignement francais.Nombre de ces materiaux pourront servir, moyennant les

traductions eventuelles, lors de divers evenements a creer,

dans les autres pays, dans le courant de l’annee 2008. L’IIF

s’en fera le relais.

Il est necessaire de preparer, des maintenant, ces

evenements, et nous attendons toutes les propositions et

bonnes volontes.

En abordant l’annee 2006, nous devons penser aux defis

majeurs qui nous attendent, et preparer pour 2008 une

veritable Annee du Froid dans le monde entier.

IIR News / International Journal of Refrigeration 29 (2006) 1–22