Where Do I Begin? A Primer for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Codes and Standards
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association
This Primer was created to help orient professionals that are new to the realm of hydrogen and fuel cells codes & standards to better understand where to begin. This Primer may also be useful for professionals in countries that do not have hydrogen-specific requirements in place. In this case, it is important to understand the regulatory framework and approval processes in place for the production, storage, and use of fuel gases or flammable gases.
Much information on U.S. and international codes and standards development has been published previously in the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Safety Report; however it may be confusing for newcomers to find the information in a logical order. Therefore, this Primer is divided into sections based on the type of information frequently requested, with appropriate links for additional information.
What are Codes & Standards?
There are many types of documents of interest to those of us involved in developing codes and standards, but how do they differ? This article provides basic information on the definitions of codes, standards, regulations, technical specifications, technical reports, information reports, and recommended practices. Learn more >>
Why are they needed?
For the past 50 years, gaseous hydrogen has been used in large quantities as a feedstock in the petroleum refining, chemical and synthetic fuels industries. Examples include making ammonia for fertilizer and removing sulfur in petroleum refining for such products as “reformulated” gasoline. Hydrogen is also used in the food processing, semi-conductor, glass and steel industries, as well as by electric utilities as a coolant for large turbine generators.
 Existing industrial safety rules, regulations, consensus standards and codes relating to the transporting and utilization of hydrogen are adequate for today’s small markets. The use of hydrogen has resulted in an admirable safety record. However, in the case of widespread usage of hydrogen for future emerging applications, today’s safety rules, consensus standards, codes, etc. may not be adequate. Systematic efforts by local/state/Federal government entities, producers of hydrogen products (e.g., automotive industry, etc.), codes and standards organizations, users and others must be devoted to:
- identifying safety-related issues associated with the production and use of hydrogen-fueled systems; and
- developing or updating and then validating regulations, codes and standards relating to the safe transportation, use and servicing of hydrogen-fueled systems.
Traditionally, hydrogen has been used extensively in the petrochemical and chemical industries and in smaller quantities in the electronics, steel-producing, glass-making, and food hydrogenation industries. In energy applications, the only significant use of hydrogen has appeared in space programs. This is about to change given the promise that hydrogen brings as an efficient energy carrier and an energetic fuel with minimal environmental impact. Systems are being developed that: produce hydrogen from primary energy sources such as sunlight, wind power, biomass, hydroelectric, and fossil fuels; for hydrogen use in energy applications for the home and office heating, generation of electricity; and for transportation.
Because of this growing application for hydrogen energy, efforts are underway to create consensus standards for domestic and international use, develop enforceable building, fire, mechanical, plumbing, and other building code provisions, and to harmonize, to a practical extent, requirements from different countries to facilitate international trade.
Widespread hydrogen use requires that safety be intrinsic to all processes and systems. To develop a hydrogen infrastructure that has the public’s confidence in its safety and convenience, an industry consensus on safety issues is required. This includes the development of compatible standards and formats (e.g., the same couplings for dispensing the same form of fuel). Product certification protocols are also required.
Codes and standards development is occurring in advance of, or in parallel with applications for hydrogen energy and hydrogen-fueled systems. Codes and standards development must be coordinated with technology development so that the technologies can be sited as they enter commercial or pre-commercial deployment phases. Efforts also need to be devoted to R&D to validate proposed requirements.
Hydrogen energy safety is based on three primary elements: regulatory requirements, capability of safety technology, and the systematic application of equipment and procedures to minimize risks. Industry currently implements many successful proprietary methodologies for safely handling large amounts of hydrogen. There are several codes and standards specifically for hydrogen that are under construction at all levels of government in many countries. There are many efforts underway to standardize hydrogen system components for safety in a variety of potential commercial hydrogen market applications.
Who is involved?
A large number of organizations are involved in creating consensus documents in a variety of technical disciplines. Code Development Organizations (CDOs) create requirements for the built environment, including building codes, fire codes, mechanical codes, plumbing codes, etc. Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) create and maintain standards, technical reports, best practices, etc., in the technical discipline for which they have the national or international remit. The best way to understand which organization is responsible for which disciplines is to look at the U.S. National Template and International Template, and the Matrix of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Codes, Standards and Regulations posted at www.fuelcellstandards.com.
United States
In the U.S., the development of the codes and standards necessary for commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell systems is a priority for the U.S. Department of Energy and the hydrogen industry. The U.S. Model Code Development Organizations - the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), both provide processes for public code change proposals. Over the past five years, industry has been working closely with these organizations to include changes to facilitate the approval of hydrogen and fuel cell installations. This takes place through the organizations’ public code change processes. Members of the public may make recommendations on changes to the U.S. model codes, with supporting justification for the changes. The technical committee responsible for maintaining the specific codes then meets to review all the proposed changes, and make a recommendation to the voting members of the Code Development Organization (NFPA or ICC). The public then has a chance to review all the proposals and the committee recommendations, and provide comments in the case of ICC, or exceptions in the form of a notice to make a motion at the annual meeting in the case of the NFPA. Procedures and timelines differ between the ICC and NFPA, Each organization publishes their procedures as well as deadlines for the various code development cycles on their websites:
Local jurisdictions adopt building and fire codes according to their needs, and may adopt a Model Code in its entirety, or develop modifications. There are extensive efforts in the U.S. to identify areas where requirements for hydrogen energy systems may be technically different, and work through the open code development processes to harmonize requirements.
U.S. SDOs are organizations with a remit to develop standards for specific technology areas. For example, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) develops and maintains Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards. The Compressed Gas Association (CGA) develops and publishes technical information, standards, and recommendations for safe and environmentally responsible practices in the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution, and use of industrial gases. There are many U.S. SDOs involved in developing requirements for hydrogen energy systems. Figure 1 (below) shows the U.S. National Template for hydrogen vehicle systems and refueling facilities.
An excellent resource for understanding which organizations are involved, and the progress of these efforts is through the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Codes and Standards Coordinating Committee. This group meets monthly, usually by phone. Minutes of the calls are posted in the NHA’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety Report. These can be reviewed each month as they are posted, or by viewing the pages dedicated to this group. A good introduction to the U.S. national effort can be found at www.hydrogenandfuelcellsafety.info/
archives/2006/apr/minutes_ohiPresentation.ppt . This presentation also contains the full National Template, covering stationary applications for hydrogen and fuel cells as well as transportation and infrastructure.
International
Internationally, there are two main Technical Committees involved developing and maintaining International Standards for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
- IEC/TC 105 is the International Electrotechnical Committee on Fuel Cell Technologies.
- ISO/TC 197 is the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee on Hydrogen Technologies.
A description of the scope of the documents developed by these organizations, as well as the status of the documents and points of contact for each work item is published online at www.fuelcellstandards.com.
The approval process for installation of hydrogen and fuel cell equipment varies between countries. The process may depend on whether the installation is in an industrial or a residential environment, as different authorities have responsibility for the industrial and residential permitting procedures in many countries.
Most countries have regulatory requirements in place for fuel gases. In most cases, hydrogen is not currently covered by existing regulations as a fuel gas; therefore more time may be required for preparing technical information for the permitting authority, and for the review of that information.
Building regulations, codes and standards describe a set of rules which specify an acceptable level of safety for constructed objects, both buildings and non-building structures. Requirements in these documents may be country-specific, and typically deal with issues including:
- Design and construction to ensure structural stability of the building and adjoining buildings;
- Fire safety, means of escape, prevention of internal and external fire spread and access and facilities for the fire services;
- Ventilation;
- Drainage and waste disposal;
- The use of combustion appliances and fuel storage;
- Protection from falling, collision and impact;
- The conservation of fuel and power;
- Access to and use of the building; and
- Electrical safety.
Some buildings may be exempt from these controls such as temporary buildings, buildings not frequented by people (unless close to a building that is), small detached buildings such as garages, garden storage, sheds and huts, and simple extensions such as porches, covered ways and conservatories. However, it is good practice to have an exemption confirmed by the appropriate authority prior to construction.
 In Europe, the principal regulations covering hydrogen facilities arise from the national legislation passed to implement the ATEX Directives and the Pressure Equipment Directive. Their requirements are not specific to hydrogen and would equally apply to any fuel that is capable of generating a flammable atmosphere, for example natural gas or LPG, or equipment that contains a fuel under pressure. For some components of the installation, for example if the hydrogen is produced by internal reformation of natural gas, the requirements of the Gas Appliances Directive may also be applicable.
More detailed information on the applicable European Directives can be found in the Installation Permitting Guide. Please see www.hydrogenandfuelcellsafety.info/2008/dec/ipg.asp for additional information.
Please see www.fuelcellstandards.com for information on international standards and regulations applicable to hydrogen and fuel cells. The site contains details on North American, Pacific Rim, European, and international codes, standards, and regulations; including those already published and those in development.
Resources available in the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Safety Report:
The National Hydrogen Association works closely with the U.S. National Laboratories, National Codes and Standards Development Organizations, and the International Standards Development Organizations to keep interested parties informed about developments in hydrogen and fuel cell requirements. A new electronic newsletter is published monthly. Interested parties may sign up to receive a monthly E-mail announcing when the new issue is posted. The website also has an archives search feature to help you find information on specific work items or topics.
In addition, the site posts minutes from the Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes’ (HIPOC) efforts to harmonize U.S. code requirements for hydrogen energy technologies, and the approved minutes of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Codes and Standards Coordinating Committee. Each of these efforts has dedicated pages on the website, which is located at www.hydrogenandfuelcellstandards.info.
The site also collects technical resources, including information on hydrogen properties; proceedings from workshops, including permitting workshops; case studies; the U.S. National and International Codes & Standards Templates; educational websites; R&D data; links to CDO and SDO websites and activities; and anything else that can be shared to facilitate the development of safety, codes and standards and installation permitting.
How can I get involved in contributing to developing efforts?
There are many opportunities for interested parties to provide input on documents, even if you do not hold a seat on the applicable committee.
Find out more >>
Where can I find Case Studies?
Hydrogen energy technologies are in various stages of commercialization. Technologies are being deployed worldwide to solve issues regarding fuel supply, clean, quiet power, uninterruptible power, and a variety of other applications. Increasingly, permitting officials are faced with reviewing a project that involves hydrogen energy equipment. In many cases, it is desirable to have information regarding similar projects that have been successfully deployed in other regions.
A growing number of resources are available to fill this information need. Find out more >>
In addition, there are several European Case Studies included in the Installation Permitting Guide, described above.
 How do I keep track of all these efforts?
The NHA recognizes that most companies cannot dedicate the resources necessary to participate in every code and standard activity. It is even difficult to identify what activities are most important for your industry or product. That is why the NHA has a robust codes and standards program. It is also why the U.S. Department of Energy, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has created the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Codes and Standards Coordination Committee. Together, we will help provide the tools and information you need to determine where to spend your resources. Please take a few moments each month to review the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety Report.
Scan the “Documents for Review” section periodically to review ongoing efforts and provide comments. In this way, your concerns can be noted and brought to the appropriate code or standard activity. Review the posted minutes of the monthly National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Codes and Standards Coordinating Committee meetings. And please take a moment to review the hydrogen and fuel cell codes and standards Matrix, maintained by Kelvin Hecht and located at www.fuelcellstandards.com/Matrix.htm. Feedback is important to allow us to keep helping you. Remember we all need to work together. Safety is not proprietary, and the documents don’t write themselves!
What if my Country does not yet have codes and standards for hydrogen energy systems?
The Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen (PATH) is committed to assisting member countries in working through these issues. This Primer article can serve as a starting point to engage PATH members in identifying their specific needs to ensure hydrogen energy systems can be safely deployed in all member countries. For more information on PATH, please see www.hpath.org.
|
