International Standard for Hydrogen Generators Using Fuel Processing Technologies
by Karen Hall
Vice President, Technical Operations of the
National Hydrogen Association

AISO Technical Committee 197: Hydrogen Technologies (ISO/TC 197) has announced circulation of ISO/CD 16110 Hydrogen generators using fuel processing technologies. This committee draft (CD) is circulated for comments until 2 June 2004 with the purpose of reaching consensus on the technical content of the document. National member bodies should therefore carefully study the text and submit all pertinent comments at this stage.

ISO/TC 197 P-members are also invited to submit their comments on the approach suggested by ISO/TC 197 Working Group 9 (WG9): Hydrogen generators using fuel processing technologies. The full technical committee will review these comments at the next ISO/TC 197 plenary meeting.

As indicated in a letter by Mr. Mario Sandoval (501Kb PDF), convener of ISO/TC 197 WG9 (see Annex 1), WG9 recommends that the scope of ISO/CD 16110 be limited to the safety requirements applicable to hydrogen generators using fuel processing technologies. The performance aspects would be defined by ISO/TC 197 WG9 after this CD is approved and incorporated in a separate part of the standard as follows:

ISO 16110-1: Hydrogen generators using fuel processing technologies

* Part 1: Safety

ISO 16110-2: Hydrogen generators using fuel processing technologies

* Part 2: Performance

ISO/TC 197 WG 9 has requested this change in the title to reflect the different uses of a safety standard, typically used for certification, and a performance standard, typically used for market comparison, and not necessary for basic safety certification.

The circulation of ISO/CD 16110 is particularly important for the USA. The UL STP 2264 Gaseous Hydrogen Generating Appliances agreed during meeting held on 28-29 October 2003 that the STP will not develop a domestic U.S. standard and adopt instead ISO 16110 as the U.S. standard entitled “Gaseous Hydrogen Generating Appliances – Fuel Processing.” In accordance with agreement between CSA America and UL, this standard will be co-published by CSA America and UL. The UL STP 2264 will discuss comments to the ISO/CD 16110 prior to and during its next meeting scheduled for the beginning of May.

WG9 intends to meet on 30 June – 1st July in Yokohama, Japan, to address the comments received to the ISO/CD 16110. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the ISO TC 197 Plenary Meeting and the 15th World Hydrogen Energy Conference. WG9 aims to circulate the ISO/DIS 16110 by the third quarter of 2004. WG9 has currently 31 members from the following countries: Argentina (1), Canada (3), France (5), Germany (2), Italy (1), Japan (2), Netherlands (2), Norway (1), USA (14).