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Hydrogen One Step Closer to Fueling Pump
by Patrick Serfass
National Hydrogen Association
The International Code Council (ICC) recently reviewed and
acted on several measures concerning hydrogen storage that
will enhance both safety and efficiency at hydrogen fueling
stations.
ICC building and fire safety code officials approved the updated
codes at ICC’s Spring Meeting on May 20 in Overland Park,
Kansas. The specific revisions affecting hydrogen storage
were also supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and backed
by industry representation. NHA lent support to the ICC’s
Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) for Hydrogen Gas during development
of the proposed revisions to ensure that the codes are safe
and effective.
“Having a practical and safe design for hydrogen fueling
stations is pivotal to the eventual broad-scale consumer availability
of hydrogen,” said Jeff Serfass, President of the NHA.
“The ICC’s recognition of these hydrogen storage
options is an important step in the transition to a hydrogen
economy.”
Among the newly approved code provisions affecting hydrogen
in the ICC International Fire Code (IFC) were two new options
for storing hydrogen at fueling stations – one as a liquid
in an insulated container below ground and a second as a pressurized
gas in tanks located on top of the station’s overhead
canopy.
The first option allows for the storage of liquid hydrogen
in an insulated, underground tank. This storage method maximizes
safety by protecting the hydrogen from direct contact with
vehicles and minimizes exposure of the hydrogen tank to possible
vandalism. The storage tank also allows for safe venting of
hydrogen above the ground. Should the hydrogen leak, the non-toxic
fuel vents in its natural gaseous form above station operations,
rising directly into the air.
The second hydrogen storage option allows for the optional
placement of hydrogen generation, compression and storage
equipment on top of refueling station overhead canopies. Overhead
placement enhances safety because the equipment remains removed
from possible vehicular impact. For this design option fire-protected
canopy construction is specified in addition to remotely activated
discharge devices that release the stored hydrogen gas safely
into the air in the event of an emergency.
The voting membership of the ICC also took up issues in Overland
Park regarding a specific hydrogen storage technology: metal
hydrides. Metal hydrides can often store hydrogen in greater
volumes under low pressure and at ambient temperatures compared
to gaseous or liquid storage. The newly proposed code language
to the IFC now mirrors classifications by the U.S. Department
of Transportation and the United Nations, which previously
determined that metal hydride storage systems should be treated
the same as gaseous hydrogen systems. Metal hydride storage
systems have the potential to increase both efficiency and
safety at fueling stations.
These improvements to the IFC can greatly enhance the ability
of urban fueling stations to offer hydrogen as a motor vehicle
fuel. Current regulations require that certain distances must
exist between hydrogen storage and buildings and equipment.
Placement of hydrogen fuel atop the station canopy or below
ground increases efficiency in fueling station design by reducing
the total area or “footprint” legally required to
add hydrogen fueling capability to an existing station. A
review of these separation distances is now underway for consideration
during the next cycle of code revisions.
All building and fire safety inspectors who use ICC’s
family of International Codes will be able to reference these
provisions when the 2004 Supplement to the International Codes
is published later this year. For more information about the
ICC, visit www.iccsafe.org.
Proposed Modifications:
F154 – Gaseous Canopy Top Storage
(approved - 79Kb PDF)
F155 – Underground Liquid Storage
(approved - 90Kb PDF)
F181 – Metal Hydrides (approved
- 66Kb PDF)
FG 48 – Testing, Inspection and Purging
of Hydrogen Piping Systems (approved - 82Kb PDF)
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