No Formal Agreement for Cooperation Exists Between ISO and SAE for Vehicular Fueling Nozzles/Receptacles
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association


Correction of NHA Newsletter dated Oct 16, 2008, Regarding Refuelling Connectors Standard

NHA would like to take this opportunity to correct information that was published in our October issue of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety Newsletter. The ISO/TC 197 Secretariat has declared that contrary to what was announced in October 2008, there is in fact no formal agreement for cooperation between ISO and SAE in the revision of ISO 17268, Compressed hydrogen surface vehicle refuelling connection devices. The main task of the working group is to work on the definition of the requirements for the 70 MPa refuelling connectors and to introduce some changes in the test methods.

Although there are strong links between SAE and ISO/TC 22 (for example, SAE is the US TAG administrator for ISO/TC 22), a formal agreement is lacking between ISO/TC 197 and SAE in the revision of ISO 17268. The lack of such an agreement may have forced the postponement of a planned joint meeting in November. The Joint ISO/TC 197 and ISO/TC 22 WG 5, which is working on the revision of ISO 17268, met instead on Friday, January 23, 2009, in Troy, MI. SAE International Headquarters is also located in Troy, and offered to host this joint meeting; however, the NHA understands that ISO/TC 197 opted to hold the meeting in a nearby hotel instead.

The NHA hopes this unfortunate situation can be officially resolved for the benefit of the work product. In the meantime, we are pleased that both activities have some members in common, making it possible to identify potential technical inconsistencies that could lead to incompatible requirements.