New Lessons Learned Database of Incidents Available
by Patrick Davis, U.S. Department of Energy

DOE has sponsored the development of a Hydrogen Incidents Database - the "grand opening" of this database will be announced next Tuesday, May 16, at our Annual Program Review. You may visit the database at: www.h2incidents.org.

DOE hopes that the hydrogen community will consider using this resource as a place to share safety related experiences so that we all may learn from our individual experiences. While proud of this website, DOE downplays its involvement and sponsorship (no DOE or PNL logos) - it is our vision that this will become a community resource. However, we acknowledge and very much appreciate the hard work of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in putting this together - particularly the work of Matthew Elliott and Bruce Kinzey.

Some features of the website:

  • Web-based, completely "open to the public" and non-password protected
  • The website is opening with 42 incidents in the database, mostly gathered from open literature sources, a few from DOE experience. We have identified another 60 we will be adding over the next couple of months.
  • Specific information about incidents regarding persons, companies, dates or locations is NOT provided. This is intended to encourage the contribution of incident information.
  • A focus of the website is "lessons learned" - each incident describes "lessons learned," where available. Detailed incident reports, pictures, video will be available when available.
  • Incidents are searchable by keyword or category

Wait ... there's more!
We have also recently opened a "Safety Bibliography" database which provides information on hydrogen safety publications, articles and papers. It's available at:www.hydrogen.energy.gov/biblio_database.html or through the safety section of our www.hydrogen.energy.gov site. This site will also be announced next week.

Almost 300 entries are currently available - in many cases the actual paper is provided by download at the site. Where protected by copyright, information or a link is provided to where you may obtain it.

Many thanks to Jim Ohi and others at the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory for putting this together!! Of course, we encourage all to
contribute to this growing database by submitting suggested entries (see "suggested additions" section on the main page of the site).

NFPA Update
by Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

The NFPA Vehicular Alternative Fuel (VAF) Technical Committee (TC) met at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California on May 9th & 10th. This was the Report on Proposals planning meeting for the current revision cycle of NFPA 52. The last time this TC met was November 2004 to review public comments on the new edition of NFPA 52.

The TC reviewed the new scope changes to several TCs which were implemented to clarify responsibilities where significant overlap was possible. A key difference for the VAF is the reassignment of responsibility for hydrogen refueling station bulk storage systems to the Industrial and Medical Gas Committee to address in NFPA 55. Following implementation of these changes into NFPA 55, separation distances and other requirements for hydrogen refueling station storage systems (defined broadly), will be as contained in NFPA 55. It was also noted that proposed changes to separation distances should be coordinated with OSHA, which has a federal regulation on separation distances based on the old NFPA 50A and NFPA 50B.

The NFPA Standards Council has approved a proposal to establish a new Hydrogen Technology Technical Committee to address the safe storage, use, and handling of hydrogen. The TCs that currently cover various aspects of this topic will continue to have primary responsibility for their subject areas and their existing documents. The Hydrogen Technology TC would be comprised of representatives of these existing NFPA TCs and others, as appropriate, to consolidate and coordinate the material into one cohesive code mainly through the use of extracts from the existing documents.

The VAF TC also developed a list of key issues to address in the 2008 edition of NFPA 52, and appointed task groups to act on the key issues as well as development of a proposal on addressing the scope change.

NFPA Technical Committee Document Proposal Form (29Kb PDF)

It is important to note that proposals for NFPA can be submitted until November 22, 2006. The next meeting will be held on mid January 2007 to address the Report on Proposals. You may visit the NFPA website at www.nfpa.org.

Call for Presenters for Fuel Cell Seminar Workshop
by Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

The National Hydrogen Association has proposed a 2006 Fuel Cell Seminar Hydrogen Workshop entitled "Hydrogen Energy Technologies - Safety, Installations, and Permitting" in conjunction with the 2006 Fuel Cell Seminar in Hawaii. This workshop is aimed at technical individuals who would like to learn more about hydrogen energy technologies and the application of codes and standards that relate to them. The course will also be helpful to individuals involved in permitting hydrogen energy systems. National Hydrogen Association member experts and featured speakers will present technical data and case studies. Specific workshop goals include:

  • To provide the status of key hydrogen standards, including hydrogen fuel, hydrides, electrolysers, and storage and dispensing equipment;
     
  • To provide an insight into the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute's fuel cell test facility with a focus on safety systems, permitting required and operation;
     
  • To describe the ever-changing US model codes that pertain to hydrogen energy technologies, including fuel cells; and
     
  • To provide technical resources the audience can use beyond this workshop to keep abreast of changes in this evolving area.

Three speakers are currently scheduled. We currently have space in the schedule for two additional speakers. If you would like to increase the value to your organization of your participation in the 2006 Fuel Cell Seminar by presenting at this workshop, please send your proposed title and speaker contact details to Karen Hall.

New UL Standard Proposed
by Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

Underwriters Laboratory has proposed a First Edition of the Standard for Hydrogen Generators Using Water Reaction. UL 2264B covers water reaction-type gaseous hydrogen generators intended for indoor and outdoor, commercial, industrial and residential use, but not to hydrogen generators intended for vehicular-based propulsion.

It was decided at recent STP 2264 meetings that the STP (Standards Technical Panel) will cover three separate standards, UL 2264A for Water Electrolysis, UL 2264B for Water Reaction, and UL 2264C for Fuel-Processing. In addition, it was noted that because currently there are no other efforts by another standards development organization regarding Water Reaction technology, UL 2264B, will be a UL-only Standard.

A draft standard for the First Edition of the Standard for Hydrogen Generators Using Water Reaction, UL 2264B, was sent to the STP for preliminary technical review on September 19, 2005. As a result of the input received during the preliminary review, UL has updated the draft and is now proposing UL 2264B as an ANSI standard.

STP BALLOTS DUE AND ALL COMMENTS DUE: May 29, 2006.

ISO TC 197 Standard Published
by Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

Debbie Angerman at CGA has informed the NHA that ISO 17268, Compressed hydrogen surface vehicle refuelling connection devices has been published. You may purchase it through CGA at the following website: www.cganet.com. Click on Publications and ISO. As you may know, this is an ISO standard through WG5 based on SAE J2600. 

NGV2 Document in Review and Comment Stage
by Karen Hall, National Hydrogen Association

Industry has an opportunity to review and comment on proposed revisions dated May 2006, and labeled "For Review and Comment Only," to American National Standard for Pressure Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Fuel Containers, NGV2.

This standard contains specifications for the materials, design, manufacture and testing of refillable containers intended for the storage of compressed natural gas for vehicle operation and which are affixed to the vehicle. The standard covers fuel containers of up to 1000 liter capacity and pressures between 165 and 300 Bar (2400 and 4350 psig).

Background
These proposed revisions were adopted by the CSA Joint Technical Advisory Group on Standards for NGV2/HGV2 Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) and Hydrogen Gas Fuel Containers at its April 27, 2006 meeting, for distribution for review and comment. Reasons for the revisions are stated in the "Rationale" statements following the proposals.

Review Period: May 8- May 29, 2006
Your endorsements, comments or criticisms of these revisions are to be made on-line during the above review period. The Technical Advisory Group will receive a compilation of all replies for consideration at its next meeting.

Review & Comment Procedure
Please visit the CSA AMERICA Public Review and Comment Site and you will be directed to the CSA America, Inc. web site Review & Comment home page. 

Follow the directions on the site to download and view the review and comment text. Complete the online form for comment or criticism, as necessary. A rationale statement is required for any suggested revisions or disapproval of the proposed text. Please limit your comments to only the specific proposals contained in the enclosed review and comment text. All comments or criticisms will be considered by the joint technical advisory group at its next meeting.

For additional information, please contact Julie Cairns at CSA America, Inc.