Hydrogen Industry Panel On Codes (HIPOC) Update Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association
HIPOC is presently very active due to the publication of the Report on Proposals for NFPA 2 and is addressing an outstanding issue from the ICC Public Hearings in October 2009, in order to develop coordinated comments for consideration at the ICC Final Action Hearings in May 2010 in support of the HIPOC position. HIPOC held a web-based meeting on January 13 to advance these and other issues relating to harmonizing requirements.
HIPOC voted to prepare and submit a public comment relating to F175. This proposal was recommended for rejection by the ICC Fire Code Committee because the documents referenced in the proposed change are not yet published standards.
HIPOC also voiced an interest in holding an In-Person meeting in conjunction with the 2010 NHA Hydrogen Conference and Expo. Staff is exploring the options. For more information on the Conference, see related article.
Upcoming Significant Dates:
ICC – Fire Code comment closing: February 8, 2010.
NFPA 2 – Comment Closing Date: March 5, 2010.
NFPA 2 – Report On Comments Meeting: April 19-23, 2010 at NREL in Golden, CO.
NHA 2010 Hydrogen Conference and Expo – May 3-6 in Long Beach, CA.
ICC Meeting: May 14-23, 2010 in Dallas, TX.
NFPA 2 – ROC Posting Date: August 27, 2010
HIPOC makes their discussions available to the hydrogen community by posting approved minutes from HIPOC teleconferences and meetings on the HIPOC page of www.hydrogenandfuelcellsafety.info and by reporting regularly to the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Codes & Standards Coordinating Committee. This provides opportunities for interested parties to contribute to and understand the basis of HIPOC positions in preparation for NFPA and ICC Code Development activities.
The next Web-based meeting for HIPOC is scheduled for February 3, 2010 at 12:00-2:00PM ET (9:00-11:00AM PT). For more information relative to HIPOC activities or to participate in the February meeting, contact Paul May (pmay@nfpa.org) or Karen Hall (hallk@hydrogenassociation.org).
About HIPOC
The Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes (HIPOC), created in February 2006, has the goal of extending, and to the best extent practicable, harmonizing hydrogen code and standard development activities within the ICC and NFPA.
The two primary objectives of the HIPOC are to:
Review current codes applicable to the storage, dispensing, use and handling of hydrogen in and around fixed-facility applications to the degree they apply to the codes developed by the ICC and NFPA.
Develop or facilitate industry-sponsored proposals or positions that revise or otherwise harmonize the appropriate, reasonable and enforceable model health and safety provisions of the International Codes and codes developed by NFPA that affect or relate to the storage, dispensing, use and handling of hydrogen in and around fixed-facility applications, including service stations, parking garages, warehouses, loading areas and similar uses which support vehicular, distributed and portable power applications. Such provisions are to serve as a model for adoption and use by enforcement agencies at all levels of government in the interest of national uniformity.
Organizationally, the Panel is a "virtual" collaborative entity with the staff resources of the ICC, the NFPA and the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) providing only administrative and clerical support to the panel while directing change proposals to the appropriate code and standard development committees at the Panel’s request. A website developed to function as a central clearinghouse of information relative to HIPOC activities has been created by the NHA at the location where the NHFCCSCC website and the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Safety Report are located: (www.hydrogenandfuelcellsafety.info) with links to/from the DOE, ICC, NFPA, NHA and other related websites.
