Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety

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I-Code Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Proposals: Update #1
Patrick Serfass and Darren Meyers, Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes (HIPOC)

The monograph and hearing schedule for the Public Hearings of the 2006/2007 cycle of the ICC Family of codes is now available online. The monograph includes all of the code changes that will be reviewed at the Public Hearings, September 20-October 1, 2006 in Lake Buena Vista, FL at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. The code hearing schedule provides an estimation of when various code changes will be reviewed. That is, if the codes scheduled early on the schedule take less time than predicted, the later codes will start earlier than scheduled. This is important if you are planning to attend just one portion of the Public Hearings.

Monograph:
http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/2006-
07cycle/ProposedChanges

Hearing schedule:
http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/2006-
07cycle/ProposedChanges/hearing_schedule.pdf

The following are the code changes proposed in various codes that staff of the Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes (HIPOC) has identified as relevant to the hydrogen and fuel cell community. The actual code proposals can be viewed by locating the individual code change in one of the documents available on the monograph page.

1) International Fuel Gas Code-Scoping Changes
Subject Section 2003 Scoping Assignment
2006 Scoping Assignment - Storage of hydrogen 706.4 will be heard by the International Fire Code Committee

2) FG54-06/07 (468Kb PDF)
704.1.2.3.5
Proponent: Guy Tomberlin, Fairfax County, Virginia, representing Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association (VPMIA) and the Virginia Building Code Officials Association (VBCOA)

Summary: Hydrogen piping shall not be located inside in a concealed location.

3) M56-06/07 (125Kb PDF)
502.4 through 502.5.2, 407 (New)
Proponent: Ronald Marts, Telcordia, representing AT&T, SBC, Ameritech, PacBell, Cincinnati Bell, BellSouth, Qwest and Southern New England Tele

Summary: The ventilation requirement for stationary storage battery systems was inadvertently put in the "exhaust" chapter of the IMC instead of the
ventilation chapter.

4) FS37-06/07 (147Kb PDF)
402.4.6, 402.7.1, 403.2, [F]404.3, 410.5.1, 410.5.2, [F]415.6.1.2, [F]415.6.2.2, [F]415.6.3.4.1, [F]415.6.3.5.2, [F]415.7.1, [F]415.7.3, [F]415.8.2.2, 415.8.5.2.1, 415.8.5.2.2, [F]416.2, [F]418.4, [F]418.5, [F]418.6, 706.3.3, 706.3.9, Table 706.3.9, 707.11, 707.13.3, 707.13.4, 712.3, 901.7, 903.2, [F]909.11 (IMC 513.11 & IFC 909.11), 909.20.2, 909.20.6.1, [F]910.3.4, [F]910.4.4, 1021.3, (IFC [B] 1021.3), 1022.2 (IFC [B] 1022.2) 3006.4, 3104.5, 3410.6.16.1 (IEBC [B] 301.6.16.1)
Proponent: Philip Brazil, P.E, Reid Middleton, Inc., representing himself

Summary: The definition of fire barrier was revised last cycle from begin a vertical or horizontal assembly to being a wall assembly and by deleting the provisions for horizontal fire barriers. The purpose of this proposal is to make the necessary revisions to the provisions in those code sections.

5) F53-06/07 (26Kb PDF)
608.1, Table 608.1, 608.5, 608.5.2, 608.6.1, 602 (New)
Proponent: Ronald Marts, Telcordia Technologies, representing AT&T, SBC, Ameritech, PacBell, Cincinnati Bell, Qwest, Southern New England Telephone

Summary: This proposed change adds Lithium Metal Polymer (LMP) batteries to Section 608.

6) F54-06/07 (12Kb PDF)
608.6.3 (New)
Proponent: Lynne M. Kilpatrick, Fire Department, City of Seattle, WA

Summary: The ventilation systems in 608.6.1 and 608.6.2 are required to insure that the concentration of hydrogen does not exceed 1% or present an
explosion hazard.

7) F154-06/07 (468Kb PDF)
2209.4.1 (New)
Proponent: Thomas Joseph, Chair, Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes

Summary: To prevent overpressure of the vehicle fuel system. Overpressure protection of the vehicles is provided by the fueling station system.

8) F155-06/07 (122Kb PDF)
2209.5 (New), 2202.1, 2209.3.2.3, 907.2.24 (New) [IBC [F] 907.2.24 (New)]
Proponent: Thomas Joseph, Chair, Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes

Summary: Current provisions of the code do not address the requirements for indoor attended fast fill systems. Fast fill hydrogen fuel dispensing can be safely accomplished with the requirements added by this new section 2209.5.

9) F156-06/07 (100Kb PDF)
2209.5.1.1(New), Chapter 45; IBC 406.5.2 (New), Chapter 35
Proponent: Thomas Joseph, Chair, Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes

THIS PROPOSAL IS ON THE AGENDA OF THE IFC AND THE IBC GENERAL CODE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES. SEE THE TENTATIVE HEARING ORDERS FOR THESE COMMITTEES.

Summary: The current language does not address safety issues associated with electrostatic discharges (ESD). Fueling surfaces for hydrogen powered vehicles should be at least as protective regarding ESD issues as those fueling surfaces used for petroleum powered vehicles.

Analysis: Results of review of the proposed standard(s) will be posted on the ICC Website by August 20, 2006.

10) F157-06/07 (94Kb PDF)
2211.7.2, 2211.7.2.1
Proponent: Greg Rogers, South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, representing ICC Joint Fire Service Review Committee

Summary: Consistency with other gas detection requirements in Chapter 22. (See 2208.2.2 and 2209.2.2)

11) F172-06/07 (94Kb PDF)
3003.7.11 through 3003.7.11.2 (New), 3504.2.2 (New), Chapter 45
Proponent: Paul J. Buehler, Jr., Plug Power, Inc.

Summary: Revise outdated material because current International Fire Code and NFPA 55 sections do not deal with the storage of bottled hydrogen out of doors inside cabinets, but rather only consider "naked" cylinders or indoor gas cabinets per Sections 2703.8.6 and 3006.2.3. This amendment is to facilitate the placement of bottled hydrogen in proximity to low powered electrical equipment meeting only the highest standards of the telecommunications industry.

Analysis: Results of review of the proposed standard(s) will be posted on the ICC Website by August 20, 2006.

12) F175-06/07 (88Kb PDF)
3204.3.1.3
Proponent: John C. Dean, The National Association of State Fire Marshals

Summary: There has been considerable discussion on the requirement for, or prohibition of, or restriction on, the use of diking around above-ground LH2 storage. The proposed language captures the intent to prevent liquid hydrogen from entering areas not zoned/rated for flammable gas, and to control the ground-level vapor cloud, to the extent possible, to within areas designed to address a flammable mixture.

13) F191-06/07 (123Kb PDF)
3501.1, 3502.1, 3506 (New), 3201.1, 3204.3.1.1, 2209.3.2.5
Proponent: Larry Fluer, Fluer, Inc., representing Compressed Gas Association

Summary: Part 1. NFPA 55 contains material specific provisions for "bulk" hydrogen systems. The term "bulk" has been added to direct the user to the applicable sections of the Standard. Two new definitions have been added to define "bulk liquefied" and "bulk compressed" gas systems where specific details surrounding such installations can be found.

Part 2. Chapter 32 was intended to be a generic chapter for cryogenic fluids. Material specific hazards were to be placed into the appropriate chapter based on the nature of the material. A code change was introduced into the last code cycle (F216-04/05 Fluer, representing CGA) to F192 ICC PUBLIC HEARING ::: September 2006 relocate the requirements for liquid hydrogen tanks to Chapter 35, however, the necessary correlating changes and references were overlooked and the code change was rejected at the request of the proponent.

The provisions for liquid hydrogen have been proposed to be relocated without change from Chapter 32 to Chapter 35 and placed into a new Section 3506. Section 3506 is the only section in the chapter intended to apply to cryogenic fluids, and hydrogen is the sole cryogenic fluid provided for at this time.

14) F193-06/07 (97Kb PDF)
Table 3504.2.1
Proponent: Paul J. Buehler, Jr., Plug Power, Inc.

Summary: Revise outdated material because current International Fire Code and NFPA 55 sections do not deal with the storage of bottled hydrogen out of doors inside cabinets, but rather only consider "naked" cylinders or indoor gas cabinets per Sections 2703.8.6 and 3006.2.3. This amendment is to facilitate the placement of bottled hydrogen in proximity to low powered electrical equipment meeting only the highest standards of the telecommunications industry.

15) F194-06/07 (118Kb PDF)
3506 (New), 3502.1 (New)
Proponent: Larry Fluer, Fluer, Inc., representing Compressed Gas Association

Summary: METAL HYDRIDE STORAGE SYSTEM. A closed system consisting of a group of components assembled as a package to contain metal-hydrogen compounds for which there exists an equilibrium condition where the hydrogen absorbing metal alloy(s), hydrogen gas, and the metal-hydrogen compound(s) co-exist and where only hydrogen gas is released from the system in normal use.
METAL HYDRIDE. A generic name for compounds composed of metallic element(s) and hydrogen.

16) F229-06/07 (90Kb PDF)
IFGC [F] 706.4 (New)
Proponent: John C. Dean, The National Association of State Fire Marshals

Summary: This differs from anything in existing code in that it stipulates pressure limits, not just quantities of hydrogen gas. Ventilation and alarms are required so that should there be a gas leak, it is detected and there is no chance of asphyxiation. The IEC and NFPA 55 have established 25% of the LFL as the alarm point, and this seems to be consistent with good engineering practice. Proposed changes are based on findings from NASFM's Ad Hoc committee consisting of emergency responders, federal and state authorities, and industry experts all having experience with and/or code enforcement authority over residential and consumer hydrogen facilities.

For more information on International Code Development, visit:
http://www.iccsafe.org/news/pdf/factssheet.pdf

For more information on the 2006/2007 code development procedure, visit:
http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/2006-07cycle/index.html