The Report on Proposals for NFPA 2, the Hydrogen Technologies Code, became publicly available on December 8, 2009. Interested parties can review the draft document and the committee actions on proposals received on the NFPA website at http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=2. You can also download comment forms from this website and submit online comments related to the committee actions on the proposals received. The public comment closing date is March 5, 2010.
The Hydrogen Technologies Committee is continuing their work of filling in appropriate provisions for liquid hydrogen (LH2), Separation Distances, and Hydrogen Explosions. The three Task Groups working on these items are as follows:
NFPA 2 Task Group 9 – LH2
TG9 Scope statement: Task Group #9 - Liquid Hydrogen
Scope: This task group would evaluate existing codes relative to LH2 and address the short-term (A2010) and long-term (beyond A2010) gap analysis for inclusion into NFPA 2 and other standards. Focus will be on differences between liquid hydrogen (LH2) and gaseous hydrogen (GH2) that would necessitate additions and updates to NFPA 2. Use of LH2 would be limited to small-scale generation (for consideration as a reserved chapter) and include storage, loading, unloading, vaporization, and dispensing as GH2 and LH2 at points of use. Responsibilities could include dialogue with the research community, identification of differences w risk implications, definition and development of tables and text.
NFPA 2/NFPA 55 Joint Task Group 6 – Separation Distances
TG6 Scope statement
Joint NFPA Hydrogen Technology Technical Committee (HYD) and Industrial and Medical Gas (IMG) Technical Committee Task Group on Hydrogen Storage System Safety
Task Group #6 - Code Gaps - Separation Distances/Joint IMG
Scope: Validate or revise the existing prescriptive hydrogen separation distances in NFPA 55 using new research and investigate use of risk informed processes.
NFPA 2 Task Group 10 – Hydrogen Explosions
TG10 Scope statement: Task Group #10 - Hydrogen Explosions
Scope: To develop scientifically-based and practical H2 explosion prevention and mitigation measures for inclusion in NFPA 2 and other NFPA documents as appropriate. Assess the impact of code provisions proposed for NFPA 2 and existing provisions in applicable NFPA codes and standards (ie. 52/55/853/45/68/69/86/88A/502/et al.##s) related to the risk of hydrogen explosions.
All three task groups will be meeting in late January at NFPA Headquarters, Quincy, Massachusetts to continue their work. This series of three in person meetings will occur back-to-back.
NFPA 2 Task Groups may include experts outside the Hydrogen Technologies Committee. If you have an interest in contributing to this work, please contact Paul May at pmay@nfpa.org.
