NFPA Update
Paul May, National Fire Protection Association


NFPA 2
The NFPA Hydrogen Technologies Technical Committee has voted to release the document for public review. NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technologies Code, is currently available for public comment. The document can be downloaded for review on the NFPA website, at: http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=2.

The document is also available on the Proposed Documents page at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=163&itemID=19006

NFPA 2 is primarily an extract document, meaning that most NFPA 2 text is extracted from other NFPA documents. The intent is to create a single document for fire prevention matters related to hydrogen for use by designers, permitting authorities and regulators. This draft of NFPA 2 is intended to give public reviewers a good indication of the current content and breadth of NFPA 2. The Technical Committee has prepared a 90% draft of the document for this release; however, it is in the process of detailed technical review for coordination and consistency. The committee has decided to issue this 90%-complete draft for public review while continuing to improve the document—with the express point being made that this is not intended to unintentionally place excessive editorial burden on the public review process. It is anticipated that the coordinated revised draft will be reviewed and acted on during the Report on Proposals (ROP) meeting of the committee, which is expected to take place in August 2009.

Public proposals are due by May 29, 2009. Information on the proposal process and forms can be found at www.nfpa.org.

NFPA 55 and NFPA 52
The NHA reported in the December Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Safety Report that numerous Notices to Make a Motion (NITMAMs) were received for NFPA 52 and one was received for NFPA 55.
NFPA 55, Standard for the Storage, Use, and Handling of Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids in Portable and Stationary Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks, with proposed modifications for the 2009 edition, was submitted for public comment and one NITMAM (Notice of Intent To Make A Motion) was Certified by the NFPA Standards Council. The NITMAM was for the return of the Entire Report to the Committee. This Certified Amending Motion has been withdrawn by the originating submitter. Withdrawal of the motion removes NFPA 55 from consideration at the 2009 NFPA Association Technical Meeting, and NFPA 55 will be submitted to the Council for recommendation on issuance.

NFPA 52, Vehicular Fuel Systems Code, with proposed modifications for the 2009 edition, received eleven Certified Motions, involving Chapters 9 and 14. Ten of the eleven Certified Amending Motions have been withdrawn by the originating submitter.

There is still one remaining Certified Amending Motion on NFPA 52, which will be considered during the NFPA Annual Meeting of June 10-11, 2009. The remaining motion relates to replacing the separation distance table 9.3.1.3 in the NFPA 52 Report on Comments with the version that is adopted in NFPA 55, as the scope of NFPA 55 includes the purview for requirements from the system installation up to the source valve.

If, during the June 2009 meeting, the Association recommends that a portion of a Report be returned to the Technical Committee, any existing text to which the returned portion pertains shall remain standing.