FCHEA Contributes to progress of NFPA Hydrogen Technologies Code.

Press Release Summary:



Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) has submitted 11 public comment proposals to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for 2015 edition of NFPA 2: Hydrogen Technologies Code. Said proposals, which relate to Chapters 10, 12, and 17, clarify existing requirements, ensure harmony with NFPA 853, add language pointing to requirements for parking garages in other NFPA codes, and update code requirements for various checks and tests.



Original Press Release:



US Model Codes Progress



by Karen Hall, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association



FCHEA is pleased to report it has submitted eleven public comment proposals to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for the 2015 edition of NFPA 2: Hydrogen Technologies Code.



The eleven proposals relate to Chapters 10, 12, and 17, and serve to clarify existing requirements, ensure harmony with NFPA 853, add language pointing to requirements for parking garages in other NFPA codes, and update the code requirements for a variety of checks and tests - including temperature and pressure checks.



This work was performed through the FCHEA Hydrogen Codes and Standards Task Force, which is charged by and reports directly to the Transportation Working Group.



The NFPA 2 Committee is scheduled to review and vote on each public comment at the first draft meeting in June. The result will be a report, which will be available to the public. There will then be a follow-on comment/appeal period.



FCHEA is also aware that a number of comments pertaining to hydrogen energy have been submitted to the International Code Council (ICC) for the International Fire Code (IFC) and the International Building Code (IBC). Hearings are scheduled for April 21st - 30th in Dallas, TX. The agenda has not yet been set for this meeting, but that information will be posted on the ICC website prior to the meeting. The schedule is typically posted in March.



The proposals are primarily clean up. For instance in the IBC, hydrogen cut off room, make it a hydrogen gas room, and correlate with NFPA. In the IFC an example will be to adjust language requiring a vehicle to be defueled when it is being worked on.



Much of the work is to try and transition language to NFPA 2 as the reference standard.



New York City is in the process of updating their fire code. This may result in the inclusion of hydrogen language to allow storage and fueling of hydrogen in the city. NYC currently uses the 2003 I-Codes. ICC is working with NYC to accommodate appropriate updates. The changes are subject to an internal review process, with public input likely to take place in the next few months.

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