ISO TS 19880-1 is Now Available

By Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

The International Organization of Standardization (ISO) has recently published ISO Technical Specification (TS) 19880-1, “Gaseous hydrogen — fueling stations — Part 1: General requirements.” ISO TS 19880-1 is a key specification for hydrogen fueling stations worldwide. The ISO Technical Committee (TC) 197, WG (Working Group) 24 who prepared this document, consists of members from hydrogen suppliers, hydrogen organizations, local and national governments as well as automakers (OEMs), mainly from North America, Europe and Asia.

ISO TS 19880-1 is a first step towards standardizing hydrogen filling stations, which is superseding the guidance developed as the earlier ISO TS 20100, published in 2008.

The scope covers the processes from hydrogen production and delivery to compression, storage and the fueling of a hydrogen fueled vehicle. ISO 19880-1 represents a safety and performance guideline for hydrogen stations and the interface to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) or hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles (HICE). The station safety expectation, in accordance with ISO 19880-1, will give the same level of safety to that of fueling with conventional fuels.

ISO TC 197 WG 24 is co-convened by Jesse Schneider (BMW), and Guy Dang-Nhu (Air Liquide), aided by Nick Hart (ITM Power) as secretary of WG 24.

“The ISO TS 19880-1 is a milestone technical specification that provides general safety and performance guidance for the hydrogen station. It also gives specific recommendations regarding implementation and validation of fueling fuel cell electric vehicle fueling and also provides a means for validation of hydrogen quality control, sampling frequency. The Hydrogen Station Testing Apparatus and Hydrogen Quality Sampling Adapter found therein are examples of some of the key devices referenced to validate the fuel and fueling respectively. The ISO 19880-1 is an important basis for the implementation of hydrogen infrastructures for FCEVs worldwide”- Mr. Schneider stated.

The work planned for the next phase, an International Standard (IS), is on an aggressive schedule and is anticipated / targeted to be published in 2017. The international standard ISO 19880-1 will be especially important for adoption into the EU Alternative Fuels Directive for hydrogen stations in Europe (including the 400 recently announced in Germany and 50 additional in the EU). The Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive is slated to take effect starting in 2017.

To learn more or to purchase ISO/TS 19880-1:2016, Gaseous hydrogen — Fuelling stations — Part 1: General requirements from ISO, please click here.

This Technical Specification may also be purchased from the Compressed Gas Association in the US here.

ISO Component Standards Progress

By Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

In support of the effort to develop ISO 19880-1: Gaseous hydrogen — Fueling stations — Part 1: General described in a related article, a number of component standards are moving forward. Once published, these can be references in ISO 19880-1 and other relevant national and international documents.

ISO/DIS 19880-3, Gaseous hydrogen — Fueling stations — Part 3: Valves, is out for vote and comment. If approved, the document could be published in early 2017.

WG 23, developing ISO/WD 19880-4, Gaseous hydrogen — Fueling stations — Part 4: Compressors, met in Chantilly, VA on July 21 and 22. Experts representing a significant range of applicable compressor technologies participated, resulting in the development of material to fill technical gaps identified previously. A new Working Draft is now under development for further discussion within WG 23.

WG 23 experts meet in Chantilly, Virginia

WG 23 experts meet in Chantilly, Virginia

WG 22, responsible for drafting ISO/WD 19880-5, Gaseous hydrogen — Fueling stations — Part 5: Hoses, met in Chantilly, VA on July 18 and 19. The Working Group spent much of the 2-day meeting evaluating appropriate testing methods and creating a new Working Draft. The document is now being prepared for Committee Draft (CD) circulation.

ISO/TC 197 WG 22 members discuss compressed gaseous hydrogen hoses

ISO/TC 197 WG 22 members discuss compressed gaseous hydrogen hoses

WG 21 met on July 20 in Chantilly, VA to address remaining technical issues in the development of ISO 19880-6, Gaseous hydrogen — Fueling stations — Part 6: Fittings. The document is being prepared as a draft CD for WG 21 members to review prior to submittal to TC 197 for circulation.

WG 21 experts meet in Chantilly to develop testing requirements for fittings.

WG 21 experts meet in Chantilly to develop testing requirements for fittings.

FCEV Session at NASFM Annual Conference

By Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

The 2016 National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) Annual Conference was held July 19-21 in Albuquerque, NM. H2USA, a public-private partnership created to promote the commercial introduction and widespread adoption of hydrogen fueled fuel cell electric vehicles across America; worked with NASFM to organize a one-hour session on fuel cell electric vehicle deployment, entitled Preparing for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure.

This one-hour session featured presentations on the market perspective regarding roll-out of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and the supporting hydrogen infrastructure; as well as a Codes & Standards Overview – focusing on the hydrogen fueling infrastructure requirements.

The session was attended by about 60 State Fire Marshals, certification personnel, suppliers, code enforcement personnel, and other interested parties. The information was well-received, with participants indicating openness to use NFPA 2 for hydrogen technology permitting. There was also interest expressed regarding certification and listing for hydrogen components such as hydrogen fuel dispenser hoses.

Further information on H2USA was provided in the form of a one-page brochure to facilitate continued dialogue.

For further information on H2USA, please visit www.h2usa.org.

NFPA Update

By Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

The NFPA deadline for Public Input on NFPA 2: Hydrogen Technologies Code, and NFPA 55: Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code, has passed.

FCHEA’s Hydrogen Codes Task Force, operating under direction from the Transportation Working Group, submitted input on topics such as the addition of a “booth concept” for repair garages, outdoor defueling requirements, separation distances, venting requirements, and many areas of clarification or harmonization with other published requirements. Specific proposals are currently under review by FCHEA members.

The Technical Committees responsible for these codes will hold a joint meeting in Alexandria, VA the week of August 22nd. The Technical Committees will review over 350 public inputs on NFPA 2 and over 80 public inputs on NFPA 55. Many of the latter are likely to impact NFPA 2 insofar as they relate to text extracted from NFPA 55 into NFPA 2. FCHEA staff will present any FCHEA concerns identified or endorsements received at this meeting.

In addition to reviewing the public input, the Technical Committees will review results of task group activities and have the opportunity to develop First Revision draft text.

The First Draft Report will be posted on the NFPA website no later than March 1, 2017. The closing date for Public Comments on the First Draft Report is May 10, 2017.

SAE Publishes New Recommended Practice to Aid Emergency Responders

By Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

SAE J2990/1_201606 - Gaseous Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicle First and Second Responder Recommended Practice has been published.

The scope of this new document is as follows (reference SAE website):

Electric and alternative fueled vehicles present different hazards for first and second responders than conventional gasoline internal combustion engines. Hydrogen vehicles (H2V) including Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) involved in incidents may present unique hazards associated with the fuel storage and high voltage systems.

The electrical hazards associated with the high voltage systems of hybrid-electric vehicles and FCVs are already addressed in the parent document, SAE J2990. This Recommended Practice therefore addresses electric issues by reference to SAE J2990 and supplements SAE J2990 to address the potential consequences associated with hydrogen vehicle incidents and suggest common procedures to help protect emergency responders, tow and/or recovery, storage, repair, and salvage personnel after an incident has occurred. Industry design standards and tools were studied and where appropriate, suggested for responsible organizations to implement.

For further details, or to purchase this Recommended Practice, please visit http://standards.sae.org/j2990/1_201606/.

Connecticut Amendment Paves the Way for FCEV and BEVs

By Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

Public Act Number 16-135 went into effect on July 1st, paving the way for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

The Act defines several types of electric vehicles, and requires the Department of Motor Vehicle to collect data on numbers of these vehicles registered in the State of Connecticut, no later than January 1, 2018, with the data updated every six months.

It also defines terms for electric utility rates, and clarifies that an owner of a home vehicle charging station is not defined as a “utility”, and sets some requirements for owners of public vehicle charging stations.

The revised regulation also allows vehicles fueled by hydrogen to be parked under grade level, and exempts vehicles which are “in compliance with all applicable federal codes and standards for light duty passenger use” from placarding requirements.

The Act may be accessed online at www.cga.ct.gov/2016/act/pa/2016PA-00135-R00HB-05510-PA.htm.