Draft Hydrogen Detection Standard Completes International Review
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association


ISO TC 197 Working Group 13 (WG 13) is developing an International Standard for hydrogen detection apparatus. The document, which has reached the stage of Draft International Standard (DIS), has been distributed for voting and comments, and the deadline is February 15th.

The US Technical Advisory Group (US TAG) has spent significant time reviewing the DIS, which has already incorporated many of the changes requested by the US during previous WG 13 meetings. US experts have engaged the input of national laboratories and hydrogen detector manufacturers in order to provide useful input to the WG 13 as it prepares an International Standard.

Many of the comments received by the US TAG facilitate one of the long-time goals of the WG 13 – to ensure the document is not preferential to one or more sensor technologies, but instead is applicable to all viable technologies that can meet the performance requirements.

The working group plans to meet in Berlin on March 11-12, following receipt of the comments on the DIS. The meeting is to be held in Europe, in an effort to facilitate IEC TC 31 participation.

There is an active agreement for cooperation between ISO TC 197 (Hydrogen Technologies) and IEC TC31 (Equipment for explosive atmospheres). It has been agreed that both technical committees will cooperate "to make an effective and positive contribution to international standardization in matters of common interest."

The National Hydrogen Association would like to thank everyone who took the time to review the Draft International Standard and provide comments. We will keep readers informed of the result of the voting and progress of the document as these are reported by ISO/TC 197.