United Kingdom Moves Forward on Hydrogen Standards
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association


The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the United Kingdom National Standards Body (NSB). It works with manufacturing and service industries, businesses, governments and consumers to facilitate the production of British, European and international standards.

As a Participating Member (P Member) of ISO/TC 197 (Hydrogen technologies), the UK is expected to actively participate in its work including responding to enquiries on draft documents, new work item proposals and nominating Experts to take part in the detailed drafting work. Shadowing the work of ISO/TC 197 is the responsibility of UK National technical committee PVE/3 (Gas containers). PVE/3 was selected to shadow the work of ISO/TC 197 as initially, the activities of ISO/TC 197 were focussed around hydrogen containers rather than hydrogen as a fuel.

At the 16 January 2008 PVE/3 meeting held at BSI, London, a decision was taken regarding adopting a new approach for shadowing hydrogen technology standards.

Work in ISO/TC 197 has increased and it has become apparent that new arrangements should be considered for shadowing the work in a more efficient manner. It was agreed that a new PVE/3 sub-committee should be formed (entitled Hydrogen technologies, with Ms Hall as Chairman) to be responsible for shadowing the ISO/TC 197 work. If necessary, further groups could be formed to shadow specific areas (e.g. one for each ISO/TC 197 Working Group).

At present, the ISO/TC 197 scope includes standardization in the field of systems and devices for the production, storage, transport, measurement and use of hydrogen.

The active ISO/TC 197 work groups are as follows:

To date, the UK response to ISO/TC 197 matters has been provided (almost exclusively) through the UKHA which operates its own membership and structure. The normal mode of working is that the PVE/3 Secretary would circulate a document and ask for responses. Ms Hall (on behalf of the UKHA) and any other PVE/3 Members would then submit their replies which are collated by the Secretary, if necessary discussed with the PVE/3 Chairman and the UK position agreed and submitted. Often, the only replies received were through the UKHA, since an increasing number of ISO/TC 197 activities have dealt with topics other than gas containers.

With its present structure, the PVE/3 Chairman is formally responsible for agreeing all the UK responses even in areas where he may not be technically qualified to do so. The existing PVE/3 sub-committees (PVE/3/1 (Valve fittings for gas containers), PVE/3/3 Transportable gas containers – Cylinder design, construction and testing at the time of manufacture) and PVE/3/7 (Gas cylinder (receptacle) operations)) all of which have the full, delegated responsibility from PVE/3 to deal with matters within their scope. A similar arrangement, with the same delegated responsibility from PVE/3 to shadow the work of ISO/TC 197 is desired.

The scope of the new PVE/3 sub-committee includes responsibility for for monitoring the work of ISO/TC 197 on behalf of PVE/3, and, when necessary, discuss, agree and submit the UK position and vote regarding any associated areas of work.

All Members of PVE/3 and its sub-committees are to inform the Secretary on or before 27 February 2008 whether they wish to sit on the new sub-committee. If there is no response, a new PVE/3 subcommittee will be formed with Ms Hall as Chairman, Mr Duncombe as Secretary and Mr Lake (in his capacity of PVE/3 Chairman).

It is desired to identify additional hydrogen experts to sit on the new subcommittee. UK experts in hydrogen, gas safety and any of the topics covered by the current ISO/TC 197 scope are encouraged to contact Karen Hall to indicate a willingness to sit on the new subcommittee. Representatives from industry associations, whether national or regional, are strongly encouraged to participate. Ideally new Members should be nominated by a Trade Association but if that is not possible, they can be co-opted.