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Passive fire protection barriers are often used to protect structures and equipment from hydrogen jet fires, especially in high-risk or code-driven scenarios.

Are passive fire protection barriers typically provided to protect structures, pipe racks, etc., against hydrogen jet fires?

Each system should be evaluated for exposure of equipment to jet fires. The design team should develop
a plan to mitigate exposure as part of the hazard analysis. Fire barriers, walls, enclosures, and insulation
systems are frequently installed to meet code requirements where separation distances are not
sufficient or where the probability of exposure to a jet fire is high. Barriers are sometimes installed for
high risk exposures such as storage vessels, even if not required by Code rules.

FAQ Category
Submission Year
2023
Month
04

Water deluge systems are uncommon in hydrogen facilities due to the risk of extinguishing flames without stopping leaks, increasing explosion potential.

Is a water deluge a common active fire protection system in hydrogen facilities?

No, this is not a common or preferred approach. Isolating the source of hydrogen is the best safety practice. Water systems could extinguish the flame but allow the gas to continue leaking and result in an explosion if reignited.

FAQ Category
Submission Year
2023
Month
04

Systems for protection of laboratories handling hydrogen

Are sprinkler systems, dry chemical systems, or clean agent system suitable for the protection of laboratories handling hydrogen?

Sprinkler systems and other fire suppression means are prescribed per building and fire codes to limit fire spread to other materials. In the case of a hydrogen leak and fire, it is best practice to isolate the hydrogen source, and let any residual hydrogen gas burn out. Even if the initial fire is extinguished, additional leaking hydrogen may accumulate and ignite with the potential for an explosion. 

FAQ Category
Submission Year
2023
Month
09

ERT-specific training for handling Liquid Hydrogen Fires

We have an onsite Emergency Response Team with a substantial amount of Liquid Hydrogen but haven't found ERT-specific training for handling Liquid Hydrogen Fires. Are you aware of any existing training?

AICHE ELA253 CHS ” Introduction to Hydrogen Safety for First Responders” is a good reference and discusses both LH2 and GH2. LH2 fires are very unusual. LH2 releases usually are GH2 so the fires at either ambient for low flow or the GH2 is a cryo temperature for high flow. Fires from LH2 tanks ignite less frequently than GH2 high-velocity releases. The colder the gas the less potential for ignition. The guidelines for managing a hydrogen fire is to eliminate the source of the fire before putting
the fire out while keeping equipment exposed to higher temperatures cool.

FAQ Category
Submission Year
2024
Month
01
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