Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety

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ICC Hearing Results
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

Baltimore, Maryland

As you know, the Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes (HIPOC) developed several code change proposals for the International Fire Code, and coordinated with other groups to harmonize similar proposals.

HIPOC worked with the Compressed Gas Association and the National Association of State Fire Marshals to agree to proposed code change language for the International Fire Code. These changes harmonize the separation distance requirements for bulk hydrogen storage throughout the US Model Codes, using the methodologies developed by Sandia National Laboratory and industry over the past several years. These coordinated code change proposals were recommended for approval by the International Fire Code Committee during the Public Hearings held in October 2009.

The HIPOC submitted two proposals, F176 and F214, and coordinated proposals with other stakeholder groups. Other proposals relevant for hydrogen technologies include F174, F175, F177, and F215. In advance of the hearings, proponents for the similar proposals developed a strategy for modifying several of them in order to eliminate the need for the others. This provided a clear pathway to achieving the desired results with fewer code changes, and, more importantly, it demonstrated industry consensus in the technical merits of the proposed changes to the code.

Here are the results of the Public Hearings:

F174 – Approved as modified.
F175 – Disapproved. This proposal was from CSA America and sought to reference documents that are not yet published as ANSI-approved standards. The NHA will assist CSA International to further develop a proposal to allow approvals in lieu of listing where the listing standards are still under development.
F176 – Withdrawn by the proponent in favor of F214 and F215.
F177 – Withdrawn by the proponent in favor of F214 and F215.
F214 – Approved as modified.
F215 – Approved as modified.

It is important to understand that this Public Hearing is not the end of the process. There will be a further public review of the results of this hearing. Proposals receiving comments during this stage will be heard at the Final Action Hearings scheduled for October 28 – November 1, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

CORRECTION
Since this article was originally published, we've learned that the ICC Final Action Hearings schedule is not as we thought. The paragraph above should read:

It is important to understand that this Public Hearing is not the end of the process. There will be a further public review of the results of this hearing. Proposals receiving comments during this stage will be heard at the Final Action Hearings scheduled for May 14-23, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. Public Comments are due February 8, 2010.

Here is a revised ICC schedule, provided by the Chair of the IFC Committee:

Revised ICC Hearings Schedule (56Kb PDF)

The exact wording of the modifications will be available from ICC when the Report of the Public Hearing is published, which is expected to occur on December 16, 2009. The NHA will publish a link to the monograph and public comment forms in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety Report when these are available from ICC. In addition, the NHA will review the Final Action Agenda to determine whether public comments are received on the hydrogen-related proposals and work with HIPOC throughout the public comment period and Final Action Hearings, if necessary.