MINUTES OF THE
SEPTEMBER 2007 TELECONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELLS CODES & STANDARDS COORDINATING COMMITTEE
MEETING DATE: September 5, 2007
MEETING TIME: 1 - 2:30 PM (MST)
1.0 Introductory Remarks – Karen Hall
Karen briefed the group on the status of Russ Hewett. He is convalescing and it is hoped that he can return to work soon.
2.0 Reviewed Anti-Trust Guidelines
Participants were asked to be mindful of the anti-trust guidelines:
Antitrust Guidelines (27Kb PDF)
and
Memo on Antitrust Guidelines (24Kb PDF)
3.0 Reviewed and approved the minutes of the August 2007 teleconference meeting
Tabled until next month.
4.0 Opportunity for DOE/HQ Representative to Provide Latest Information on What’s Going on at DOE – Antonio Ruiz
Antonio Ruiz briefed the group on the International Conference on Hydrogen Safety sponsored by the European Commission in Spain. The US is actively engaged in the conference. NREL and NASFM will participate. Japan, China and other countries will participate in addition to the European Commission countries.
Follow-up to the Atlanta workshops is being developed. DOE is working with NIST on metering work.
The 2008 budget includes earmarks over the level of 2007. The House and Senate will conference shortly. Some programs were started in 2007 due to the low level of earmarks. It is hoped that this work will continue.
Some new solicitations will be necessary for some work that was bid previously because the program plans were out of date.
5.0 Opportunity for John Mough to Provide Status Report on the California Hydrogen Fuels Project’s Efforts to Develop a Hydrogen Fuel Quality Standard – John Mough
Reference: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/dms/hydrogenfuel/HydrogenFuel.htm
John Mough provided an updated web link:
www.cdfa.ca.gov/dms/hydrogenfuel/HydrogenFuelRegulations.pdf
Comments will be considered until later in September. The official public comment period will start after that.
Public meeting to discuss comments - October 29, 2007 at 13:30 at CARB.
Draft 3 is on the web site now.
6.0 Opportunity for Gary Castro to Provide Status Report on the California Hydrogen Fuels Project’s Efforts to Develop a Hydrogen Fuel Dispenser Standard – Gary Castro
Norman Ingram updated the group on the requirements in existence for motor vehicle dispenser standards. Nothing specific for hydrogen has been finalized. Most of the current requirements will be folded into the hydrogen systems.
7.0 Opportunity for Juana Williams to Provide Update Report on the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Efforts to Develop a National Hydrogen Fuel Dispenser Standard – Juana Williams
Juana Williams' report (48Kb PDF)
There are three areas for discussion today:
- NIST Weights & Measures has plans for several workshops.
• Oct. 2-4
• Oct. 30 – Nov. 1
If anyone would be willing to speak at these workshops, please Contact Juana Williams
- Materials test procedures were discussed at a recent workshop. Boulder is developing a new hydrogen testing procedure.
- The US National Workgroup will meet later in the month and will also initiate a web based resource. The meeting will be held on October 3rd and 4th in Gaithersburg at the NIST facility.
The standards being developed at these workshops will be used as the basis for the regulations and enforcement, following field trials.
Proposed changes to international regulations will also be developed following field trials.
Development of these standards, along with training and promulgation, will extend for five years. Continuing updates may be necessary.
See www.nist.gov.
8.0 Report on efforts to improve hydrogen fuelling station permitting processes through web based tools and case studies – Jim Ohi / Russ Hewett
A web based tool is being developed including information on the technologies involved and the permitting process. This would take the form of a reference. The intent is to put this in place before the end of 2007. Some recommendations included looking at National workshops for officials.
The workshops have been very successful. NextEnergy will hold a conference on energy codes and standards. The upcoming NextEnergy conference will include a workshop on this topic on November 27th and November 28th (tentative).
Reports on the Atlanta workshop will be sent to everyone.
9.0 Report on Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes (HIPOC) Activities -- Patrick Serfass / Darren Meyers / Tom Joseph
Patrick Serfass provided an update on the passing of the deadline for ICC submittals. Indoor fueling, updates to the suppression distances table, and electrostatic discharge changes have been submitted. The Joint Fire Service Review Committee and California Codes Officials participated in the review of these submittals.
The NFPA deadline for NFPA 52 and NFPA 55 submittals has passed.
10.0 Report on NFPA Activities (Technical Committees for NFPA 2, NFPA 52, NFPA 55, NFPA 70 and NFPA 853) -- Carl Rivkin
Carl Rivkin did not participate in the call.
An upcoming meeting in San Ramon for NFPA 2 is planned for October 23rd.
An upcoming meeting in Boston on NFPA 850/853 is planned for October 19-23.
11.0 Report on Global Technical Regulations Activity – Nga Nguyen
No report.
12.0 Report on IEC/TC105 Activities and Documents in the “Comments” Stage – Kelvin Hecht
Kelvin Hecht's report (106Kb PDF)
The consensus of the US TAG is to disapprove the IEC Micro Fuel Cell safety standard in consideration of micro fuel cells being used in the vicinity of the mouth and nose of the user. The US TAG believes that more stringent emission standards are necessary in such instances.
Micro fuel cell performance is also open for comments.
The next IEC TC 105 Plenary is the last week in October in Paris.
13.0 Report on ISO/TC197 Activities and Documents in the "Comments" Phase – Debbie Angerman
September 2007 Update - U.S. TAG for ISO/TC 197, Hydrogen technologies:
- Welcome to Glenn Scheffler, GWS Solutions of Tolland and formerly of United Technologies who is the new U.S. TAG Chairman for ISO/TC 197.
- The U.S. TAG Meeting for ISO/TC 197 will be October 3, 2007, 9 AM, at CGA Headquarters in Chantilly, VA. TC/Web capability will also be available.
- ISO/PAS 15594:2004, Airport hydrogen fuelling facility operations is out for Systematic Review until December 17, 2007. U.S. TAG responses are requested by November 17. If anyone is using this document, please contact Karen Hall.
- The electrolyzer standard should be out shortly for review and comment.
14.0 Report on CSA Standards Development Activities and Documents in the "Comments" Phase – James Adams / Julie Cairns
The US Committees are working towards adoption of the International Standards.
15.0 Opportunity for CDOs and SDOs to Report on Their Activities (As Appropriate)
- Report on USFCC Transportation Working Group’s plans for Federal/State infrastructure coordination meeting -- Tony Androsky
Tony was not able to make the call.
- Report on UL Standards Development Activities and Documents in the Comments Phase – Laurie Florence
Laurie Florence reported that comments have been received on the standard for fuel cells for telephone equipment and are being evaluated.
- Report on SAE Activities related to hydrogen and fuel cells – Mike Steele
Jim Ohi reported that the SAE Fuel Cell Committees will be meeting on September 18th and 19th in Troy, Michigan. It is hoped that input can be received on hydrogen fuel inert gases on the 19th.
SAE J2579 on container systems has received DOE funding for validation testing by PowerTech.
- Report on ASME Activities related to hydrogen and fuel cells – John Koehr
Jim Ohi reported on an ASME workshop on hydrogen pipelines. John was not able to make the meeting.
- Other reports
None offered
16.0 OPEN DISCUSSION (And Issues for Future Meetings)
Topics for Focused Discussion at Next In-Person Meeting
Request made: USFCC and NHA codes and standards priorities along with DOE Tech. Team priorities.
US Fuel Cell Council Codes & Standards priority matrix (79Kb PDF)
17.0 Next Meeting
In person Meeting on October 16th, 2007 at the Fuel Cell Seminar Breakfast Meeting (Tentative)
|
