Role of the National Hydrogen Association in codes and standards activities

Hydrogen is an effective energy carrier whose properties include efficient energy density, biological benignity, renewability, and gee-independent sources of supply. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports a technologically advanced hydrogen program based on an industry-led, cost-share approach. Although the technical challenges are being addressed adequately by this approach there are nontechnical barriers which must be overcome in order to implement a hydrogen energy future. Upcoming demonstrations of hydrogen systems, as well as near-term commercial products, must be demonstrated as safe for the public to accept hydrogen as an energy carrier. The hydrogen community cannot afford even the slightest setback with regard to public perception of hydrogen safety. Industry currently uses many successful proprietary methods for handling large amounts of hydrogen safely. There are efforts underway to standardize the manufacture of hydrogen system components to ensure hydrogen safety in a variety of potential commercial hydrogen market applications. The NHA, with DOE and industry support, is working on many of these efforts, including participation in related international Standards Organization (ISO) hydrogen safety work items. In addition, the NHA provides a forum for gaining expert consensus on hydrogen codes and standards and disseminating it through participation in NHA Codes and Standards Workshops, publication of articles in the NHA Advocate newsletter, and technical presentations at the,Annual U.S. Hydrogen Meeting. As the commercialization of hydrogen systems progresses, the hydrogen community has recognized a need for readily available. empirically based information on prevailing practices, applicable standards. and regulatory codes, in addition. availability of existing hydrogen safety manuals, reports, technical papers, and safety assessments could be used to facilitate regulatory approvals for installing new hydrogen systems or operating demonstrations. The National Hydrogen Association (NHA) is making available a unique hydrogen sourcebook on CD ROM (with hard copy) under cooperative development with DOE, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Natural Resources Canada. and TekTrend international. This sourcebook includes case studies, reference material, and a checklist for safe hydrogen use. It is designed to facilitate understanding of hydrogen safety issues and provides a basis for code officials and developers to identify and resolve safety. concerns. The NHA encourages participation from industry in all hydrogen codes and standards activities. Only with industry consensus, both at a national and an international level, can the hydrogen community overcome the nontechnical barriers to implementing a hydrogen energy future.