NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition® Features Hydrogen Safety Symposium
Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association


NFPA held a special symposium on hydrogen safety in conjunction with the NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition® in Las Vegas, NV. The symposium was held June 6-7, 2005, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center.

This symposium explored the safety issues associated with the refueling and storage infrastructure required for hydrogen vehicles. Presentations included an overview of hydrogen vehicle technology, the general and NFPA regulatory framework for hydrogen, issues associated with fuel cells and their storage, and field experience gained in the design, permitting, and construction of hydrogen energy stations. The Fire Protection Research Foundation sponsored this symposium.

Carl Rivkin, Senior Chemical Engineer with the National Fire Protection Association started the symposium off with a presentation that provided an overview on hydrogen technology and safety. [Download the presentation - 1,926Kb PDF] Topics discussed included the physical properties of hydrogen and its hazards, the general regulatory framework for hydrogen, and NFPA hydrogen codes and standards. Anthony Eggert of the University of California at Davis and Dr. Monterey Gardiner of the California Fuel Cell Partnership discussed the unique safety challenges presented by hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

William Houf and Bob Schefer of Sandia National Laboratories began the second day with their presentation on a combined experimental and modeling program being carried out at Sandia National Laboratories. This program characterizes and predicts the behavior of large-scale hydrogen releases from high-pressure hydrogen storage devices. Andrei Tchouvelev of A.V.Tchouvelev & Associates Inc. followed with a presentation on the results of CFD modeling of hydrogen releases. He also related how the results were applied to determine the appropriate clearance distances for venting of hydrogen storage. The University of California at Davis' Jonathan Weinert then offered his presentation on the real world experience of building a hydrogen refueling station at Los Angeles International Airport. William Chernicoff of the Department of Transportation closed the symposium his presentation concerning new demands the hydrogen economy will place on the transporting of hydrogen and first responder safety.

In addition, the Hydrogen Coordinating Group met on Monday, June 6th.

Kathleen Almand, Executive Director of the Foundation, provided an update on the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation hydrogen technology projects. Chris Moen of Sandia Laboratories discussed risk analysis procedures and how they might be used in code development. Carl Rivkin led a discussion on NFPA hydrogen codes and standards activities, specifically the proposal to the NFPA Standards Council to consolidate all hydrogen safety requirements in a single document.

HYDROGEN Coordinating Group Web Site www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=832&itemID=20951

NFPA general web site
www.nfpa.org

NHA will post information on how to obtain proceedings from these meetings, when available.