Severity
Near-Miss
Leak
Yes
Ignition
No

A hydrogen alarm sounded when hydrogen buildup occurred in an unmanned switching room containing backup lead acid batteries after the exhaust ventilation fans failed to start at the 1% hydrogen trigger level. Failure of the ventilation fans to vent the normal off-gassing hydrogen from the lead acid batteries resulted in the hydrogen concentration in the room increasing to 2%, which triggered the hydrogen alarm. The alarm was automatically sent to an alarm-monitoring company that alerted the local fire department as well as company personnel of the condition. The fire department was dispatched to the scene and, along with company personnel, provided secondary ventilation to lower the hydrogen concentration to normal conditions. Hydrogen leakage from lead acid batteries is normal, and the procedures in place to respond to increased concentrations of hydrogen worked as designed and lowered the concentration of hydrogen gas before it became a potential problem. No injury of personnel or property damage occurred from this event.

The hydrogen alarm worked as designed and the problem was resolved without incident. Normal operations resumed when the primary ventilation fan was changed to run continuously (24 hours/day, 7 days/week). Another safety precaution was added, consisting of a pressure switch to remotely alert personnel if the room ventilation is lost (i.e., ventilation fans stop working).

 

Incident Date
Nov 27, 2009
Equipment
  • Safety Systems
  • Measurement / Sensing Device
  • Ventilation System
  • Exhaust Fan
  • Batteries and Related Equipment
  • Batteries
Damage and Injuries
Probable Cause
When Incident Discovered
Lessons Learned

Redundant safety systems prevented this event from becoming an incident. The 1%-hydrogen-concentration-level-triggered fan was backed up by a 2%-hydrogen-concentration alarm. The alarm is continuously monitored (24/7) by a remote Network Operations Center (NOC).
Since this event, a pressure switch has been added to alarm in case of a fan failure and is also continuously monitored by the remote NOC.
Future standards will require two ventilation fans, one running continuously and the other triggered to start when a 1% hydrogen concentration is reached.

Adequate ventilation of battery charging facilities is addressed in the Lessons Learned Corner on this website.

Key:

  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire
Hydrogen Incident Summaries by Equipment and Primary Cause/Issue
Equipment / Cause Equipment Design or Selection Component Failure Operational Error Installation or Maintenance Inadequate Gas or Flame Detection Emergency Shutdown Response Other or Unknown
Hydrogen Gas Metal Cylinder or Regulator   3/31/2012
4/30/1995
2/6/2013
4/26/2010 12/31/1969     3/17/1999
11/1/2001
12/23/2003
Piping/Valves 4/4/2002
2/2/2008
5/11/1999
4/20/1987
11/4/1997
12/31/1969
8/19/1986
7/27/1991
12/19/2004
2/6/2008
10/3/2008
4/5/2006
5/1/2007
9/19/2007
10/31/1980
2/7/2009 1/24/1999
2/24/2006
6/8/1998
12/31/1969
2/7/2009

9/1/1992
10/31/1980

10/3/2008  
Tubing/Fittings/Hose   9/23/1999
8/2/2004
8/6/2008
9/19/2007
1/1/1982 9/30/2004
10/7/2005
  10/7/2005  
Compressor   10/5/2009
6/10/2007
8/21/2008
1/15/2019
    10/5/2009 8/21/2008  
Liquid Hydrogen Tank or Delivery Truck 4/27/1989 12/19/2004
1/19/2009
8/6/2004 12/31/1969   1/1/1974 12/17/2004
Pressure Relief Device 7/25/2013
5/4/2012
1/15/2002
1/08/2007
12/31/1969        
Instrument 1/15/2019 3/17/1999
12/31/1969
2/6/2013
    11/13/73    
Hydrogen Generation Equipment 7/27/1999     10/23/2001      
Vehicle or Lift Truck   7/21/2011         2/8/2011
12/9/2010
Fuel Dispenser   8/2/2004
5/1/2007
6/11/2007
9/19/2007
  2/24/2006
1/22/2009
     
Fuel Cell Stack            

5/3/2004
12/9/2010
2/8/2011

Hydrogen Cooled Generator       12/31/1969
2/7/2009
     
Other (floor drain, lab
anaerobic chamber,
heated glassware,
test chamber,
gaseous hydrogen
composite cylinder,
delivery truck)
  11/14/1994
7/21/2011
7/27/1999
6/28/2010
8/21/2008
12/31/1969
3/22/2018
    6/10/2019
  • = No Ignition
  • = Explosion
  • = Fire