Hydrogen Safety Codes and Standards Workshop Proceedings

The National Hydrogen Association held a Hydrogen Safety, Codes and Standards Workshop at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth Texas on Monday, September 30, 2002. The location was chosen to provide an opportunity for the hydrogen industry to learn about the hydrogen proposals to the International Codes under consideration at the ICC Final Action Hearings, held the same week. In addition, the synergy provided an opportunity for code officials and other jurisdictions having authority over the permitting process to learn about hydrogen energy systems, and meet hydrogen safety experts. 

Welcome and Introductions
Karen Miller welcomed everyone to the NHA’s Hydrogen Safety Codes and Standards Workshop, and thanked the participants for being there. She also thanked the sponsors for this workshop: Air Products and Chemicals, BP, ChevronTexaco, Praxair, and the US Department of Energy, Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies. The NHA is the recipient of a 3-year grant with the Department of Energy. This grant requires significant cost share. About half of the cost share comes from NHA member dues. The NHA relies on the generosity of industry sponsors for the other half. In this way, the NHA can keep these workshops free of registration fees. Participants are contributing by spending their company’s resources, including their time, to be here. These expenses may be applied to the required cost-share by filling out a cost-share form documenting expenses and time to participate. Participants were encouraged to do this. 

Because there were a number of first timers to the NHA workshops, Ms. Miller briefly described the National Hydrogen Association - who we are, what we do, and our role in the development of codes and standards for the safe use of hydrogen.

The NHA has a diverse group of members. All are dedicated to commercializing hydrogen energy systems. The development of codes and standards removes significant barriers to commercialization. As hydrogen continues to move toward commercialization, the NHA’s objective is to continue the process of identifying and developing national and international codes and standards necessary for international trade and local permitting. The NHA’s technical goal is to create draft standards for hydrogen systems and components using the expertise of our membership. 

The NHA codes and standards committee is open to all stakeholders who can contribute to the development of hydrogen safety documents. Proceedings are posted on the NHA’s website, and can be accessed within weeks following each workshop at www.HydrogenAssociation.org, or through the NHA’s monthly Hydrogen Safety Report, at www.HydrogenSafety.info.

Purpose and Agenda
Ms. Miller walked through the agenda, noting the workshop was focused on the ICC Final Action Hearings, being held the same week in Ft. Worth. Additional topics were selected to provide participants with a sufficient overview of the various codes and standards being developed for safe use of hydrogen energy systems, both on a National and International level. 

Workshop participants then introduced themselves.

DOE Hydrogen Codes and Standards Coordination Committee Report
Jim Ohi, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, introduced the activities of the Hydrogen Codes and Standards Coordinating Committee (HCSCC). Participants agreed that a more aggressive hydrogen safety education and outreach program is necessary to dispel myths in public perception. Participants also suggested a stronger link between the HCSCC and related activities at DOD. In particular, portable power applications have a significant role in the DOD. Coordination of safety, codes, and standards activities could benefit both military and subsequent commercial applications of these systems.

A growing number of organizations are developing codes and standards for hydrogen energy systems, which may include fuel cells, containers, connectors, refueling stations, safety and infrastructure. Many of these efforts have hydrogen-specific requirements. The NHA works with these organizations to offer experts in hydrogen safety and other specific expertise as required. The HCSCC facilitates interaction between the organizations to speed information transfer and reduce duplication of effort.

Jim also introduced a new multinational organization interested in hydrogen safety. The Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen (PATH) has recently formed. The US, Canada, and Japan are actively involved. PATH will assist other countries with a growing interest in hydrogen form national hydrogen associations of their own.

Matrix Introduction and Discussion
Russ Hewett, National Renewable Energy Laboratory then presented the Matrix, a living database of hydrogen codes and standards, with status and contact information. The data is sorted by application, and is therefore a useful tool in identifying the codes and standards relevant for a particular hydrogen project.

The HCSCC hopes that this matrix will eventually include all known codes and standards activities relevant to each application shown on the matrix. It will include a short description of the document (to help the user determine if it applies), status of the effort, how to order the document once published, and who to contact to get involved or to get more information. 

Presentations on Hydrogen Codes and Standards Activities
Harry Jones of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) presented the hydrogen related activities underway at UL, and offered an opportunity for hydrogen experts to participate.

Greg Chirdon of CSA International announced that CSA is soliciting hydrogen experts to join a group working to modify NGV documents for hydrogen tanks. Interested parties may contact CSA directly at 704-552-5125 or contact Karen Miller at the NHA.

Thomas Joseph of Air Products and Chemicals announced that the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) has recently formed a committee to address transport of metal hydrides.

Karen Miller then briefly described other related activities. The U.S. Fuel Cell Council conducts monthly conference calls to address fuel cell standards, including grid interconnect issues.

IEC TC 105 is an international standards body working on a number of standards for fuel cells. The scope of IEC TC 105 is to prepare international standards regarding fuel cell technologies for all FC applications such as FC power plants, FC for transportation such as FC propulsion systems and auxiliary power units and portable FC power generation systems.

Ms. Miller extended an invitation to participants wishing to be an expert member of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to ISO TC 197, to indicate their interest. There is a lot of activity in this organization, particularly with hydrogen generation equipment, hydrides, and tanks for hydrogen, and U.S. expertise is welcome.

The Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) works on issues relating to integrating fuel cells for vehicular applications. Their website is www.SAE.org.

NHA Working Group Reports
Following the overview, participants heard a report on the active NHA working groups.

WG 2 report: The members of NHA WG2 are addressing issues related to hydrides, including expanding acceptance of hydrides in all transportation activities. This group worked with the United States Fuel Cell Council, Department of Transportation, and others to allow small quantities of hydrides to be transported. The group prepared a draft standard for charged metal hydrides, and submitted it to ISO TC 197 as a new work item. Those interested in participating on the development of this international standard are encouraged to contact the NHA.

WG 5 report: This WG works with the SAE fuel cell standards committee on hydrogen safety issues in their efforts. 

WG 7 report: The Scope is to identify maritime unique applications of hydrogen. This is being done in cooperation with the Maritime Hydrogen Technology Development Group as well as other interested standards bodies. The MHTDG produced a report on their findings. The information that MHTDG learned can help the H2 community with this task. Mary-Rose Szoka de Valladaras was acting Chairman of this group, but is no longer associated with DCH. This group may expand to include coordination with other DOD efforts.

Develop Strawman Poll for New Work Items
Karen then described the NHA process for starting new activities in hydrogen codes and standards. The main objective of the NHA C&S Process is to identify areas where codes and standards for the safe use of hydrogen energy systems are needed. The NHA would like to be a coordinator in this process. Only when hydrogen safety issues are not being properly addressed is when the NHA would want to initiate a new activity. Collaboration with other groups such as ISO TC-197, IEC TC-105, NFPA, ICC, SAE and others is essential for true consensus standards. The NHA polls its members on what they perceive to be the issues of highest priority in the 2-5 year time frame. In other words, the NHA’s members choose what will be worked on. Through this process the NHA is able to determine if any hydrogen safety issues are being overlooked. Utilizing the breadth of knowledge contained in our membership allows the NHA to develop a draft document with appropriate technical merit that can be advance through larger standards organizations.

Based on workshop participant interest, recent requests from NHA members, and requests from organizations seeking NHA support for new activities, the following potential new work items were brought forth. Participants had a chance to rank these items by voting on items of highest near-term interest. The following lists the items as ranked by participants:

• Navigate various National and International regulations (DOT, etc.) for Hydrogen storage technologies – including on-board vs. off-board applications
  
  
• Analyze Impacts of Draft Global Technical Regulations
  
  
• Support DER Roadshow
  
  
• CSA support of NGV revisions for H2 tanks
  
  
• DOD Portable power coordination
  
  
• Review NFPA 70 for NEC requirements

Anyone with items to add to the list of potential new work items is encouraged to send them to Karen Miller at kmiller@ttcorp.com prior to October 28. NHA staff will survey membership in November to determine which items to work on in 2003, based on interest. New work groups will be formed for those with sufficient membership participation. A chairman will be sought from membership for each work group. At that point, work-group membership may be expanded to include stakeholders outside the membership.

Proposed Changes to ICC Codes
Darren Meyers of BOCA International explained the process for the ICC Final Action Hearings, and walked through the changes proposed by the ICC Ad Hoc Committee on Hydrogen Gas (AHC-H2G). He showed the proposal heard at the public hearings in April in Pittsburgh, as well as the committee recommendation, assembly action, and any public comments. When the proposals are heard this week by the voting members, a final action on the resolution of the proposals will be taken. The following proposed code changes were offered by the AHC-H2G:

International Fire Code (IFC)

F176-02

F177-02

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

M7-02

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

FG2-02

FG15-02

FG41-02

FG48-02


Discussion of Opportunities to Learn More about Hydrogen Safety Issues
Karen described the Hydrogen Sourcebook, and announced that a new version was just coming out. This useful tool would be described in more detail later in the Workshop.

In addition, the NHA will, as always, feature sessions on hydrogen safety at the annual meeting. The 14th Annual U.S. Hydrogen Meeting and Exposition will be held in Washington, DC on March 4-6, 2003. A call for papers is out, and abstracts are due in mid October.

The NHA is currently discussing an opportunity to co-locate a workshop on hydrogen safety from KnowH2OW, which utilizes decades of experience in working safely with hydrogen by Air Products and Chemicals. If approved, registrants of the NHA meeting would receive very favorable discounts on the workshop, if they chose to attend.

Karen also described the DOE Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadshow. Code officials may request information on a multitude of DER technologies, including a module on hydrogen fuel, and one on fuel cells.

The NHA, in addition to offering Hydrogen Safety, Codes and Standards Workshops twice per year, also offers a free electronic newsletter, the Hydrogen Safety Report, published on or about the 15th of each month. Interested parties may register to receive monthly email notification when each new issue is posted. Websites that specifically address hydrogen safety issues are:

· DOE: www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen

· NHA: www.HydrogenAssociation.org

· Safety Report: www.HydrogenSafety.info

Hydrogen Energy Systems – Technologies and Uses
Karen then gave a brief overview of hydrogen energy systems, utilizing work compiled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, DOE, and the Hydrogen Sourcebook.

Historical and Current Uses of Hydrogen
For the past 50 years, gaseous hydrogen has been used in large quantities as a feedstock in the petroleum refining, chemical and synthetic fuels industries. Examples include making ammonia for fertilizer and removing sulfur in petroleum refining for such products as “reformulated” gasoline. Hydrogen is also used in the food processing, semi-conductor, glass and steel industries, as well as by electric utilities as a coolant for large turbine generators.

Surprisingly, hydrogen is already being used as an energy resource in modest amounts in the United States and other industrialized countries around the world. But more importantly, hydrogen is one of our “fuels of the future” for buildings and transportation applications. 

Existing safety rules, regulations, consensus standards and codes relating to the transporting and utilization of hydrogen are adequate for today’s small markets. The use of hydrogen has resulted in an admirable safety record. However, in the case of widespread usage of hydrogen for future emerging applications, today’s safety rules, consensus standards, codes, etc. may not be adequate. Systematic efforts by local/state/Federal government entities, producers of hydrogen products (e.g., automotive industry, etc.), codes and standards organizations, users and others must be devoted to:

1. identifying safety-related issues associated with the production and use of hydrogen-fueled systems; and
   
   
2. developing or updating and then validating regulations, codes and standards relating to the safe transportation, use and servicing of hydrogen-fueled systems.

Traditionally, hydrogen has been used extensively in the petrochemical and chemical industries and in smaller quantities in the electronics, steel-producing , glass-making, and food hydrogenation industries. In energy applications, the only significant use of hydrogen has appeared in space programs. This is about to change given the promise that hydrogen brings as an efficient energy carrier and an energetic fuel with minimal environmental impact. Systems are being developed that: produce hydrogen from primary energy sources such as sunlight, wind power, biomass, hydroelectric, and fossil fuels; for hydrogen use in energy applications for the home and office heating, generation of electricity; and for transportation.

Key Properties of Hydrogen Relating to Fires and Explosions
The most widely recognized hazard in handling hydrogen is that of unwanted combustion. Factors affecting its flammability and combustion include:

• Lean and rich flammability limits
  
  
• Minimum ignition energy
  
  
• Flame temperature

The participants then had a chance to ask questions. As nearly half the audience was comprised of hydrogen industry, and the other half, code officials, it gave an opportunity for open dialog on the coming hydrogen energy economy. Of particular interest was the opportunity to transport hydrogen in existing natural gas pipelines, provided materials compatibility and material degradation concerns are addressed.

North American Experiences Siting Hydrogen Energy Systems
Karen showed participants the Beta-version of the latest version of the Hydrogen Sourcebook. It is a CD-ROM database of North American experiences siting hydrogen energy systems, and is a useful tool for project managers to work with their code officials on permitting and siting of hydrogen energy technologies. It is equipped with a variety of search options and loaded with useful case studies, references, hydrogen safety data, and a summary of codes, standards, and regulations. Erling Nyborg of Tisec, Inc., indicated that copies may be purchased through Tisec at www.Tisec.com.

Summary 
The number of hydrogen-related codes and standards activities is indicative of the growing interest in the development of safety and performance requirements for hydrogen energy systems. This week’s focus is the ICC Final Action Hearings. Participants were encouraged to take part.

Karen reminded participants that the Hydrogen Safety Report, the NHA’s electronic hydrogen codes and standards newsletter is free. Any interested party is encouraged to sign up for monthly electronic notification. Thanks to a grant from DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NHA Workshop proceedings are now available online! Proceedings from this workshop will be available in about 2 weeks time.

Karen also reminded participants to turn in their in-kind cost-share forms. And finally, the NHA’s 14th Annual U.S. Hydrogen Meeting: Energy Security Through Hydrogen, is accepting abstracts. Please see www.HydrogenConference.org for additional information. Karen then thanked participants for attending, and thanked the sponsors, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastracture, Air Products and Chemicals, BP, and ChevronTexaco. In addition, she thanked Praxair for the donation of hats with the label “Rocket Scientist”, to reward code officials and participants who spent the day learning enough about hydrogen safety to proudly proclaim the title!