ISO TC 197 Business Plan - Member Input Needed!
by Karen Hall
Vice President, Technical Operations of the
National Hydrogen Association

Members are requested to comment on the ISO TC 197 Business Plan. It has been posted to the Members Only website. The main objective of a Business Plan of a technical committee is to provide a concise and up-to-date overview in a user-friendly format for interested stakeholders from within and outside the committee of important business, technological, environmental and social trends in the field addressed by the work of the ISO committee. The BP shall provide an analysis of these trends as well as an explanation of the linkages between them and the priority areas in the standards development work of the committee. (Excerpted from ISO/TC 197 Business Plan template: Drafting Instructions -- Introductory Information).

In addition to requesting national and worldwide market information, the Chairman of ISO TC 197, Randy Dey, is asking for feedback on the issue of international standards for industrial applications.

2.1.6 Even though, ISO/TC 197 was created to promote the increased use of hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel, the existing and new industrial applications should no longer be neglected by ISO/TC 197. These applications would certainly benefit from the implementation of international standards to harmonize the state-of-the-art, hence ensuring a safe use of hydrogen. Note to the P-members: Should the TC consider industrial applications right now or set them as low priority items?

3.4 In the industrial applications, the standardization efforts of ISO/TC 197 should enable a better understanding of the relevant safety issues. The work of ISO/TC 197 could therefore lead to a cost reduction and a larger use of these technologies. Note to the P-members: Does the TC want to focus on industrial applications right now or later?

Another area seeking input regards near-term market applications:

2.1.12 With regard to the technologies that will facilitate the progression towards a hydrogen based energy system, fuel cells, internal combustion engines and hydrogen burners are being looked at. However, fuel cells are unquestionably the hydrogen utilization technology that will reach the market in the near term.

NHA members are strongly encouraged to send comments on the draft business plan to Karen Hall at khall@ttcorp.comno later than June 1, so that the comments can be compiled and discussed at the US TAG meeting being held on June 8.