In response to the increasing interest in using Hydrogen as a fuel source, the National Fire Protection Association has released NFPA-2, the Hydrogen Technologies Code. It’s a new document that consolidates all the fire and life safety requirements applicable to generation, installation, storage, piping, use, and handling of hydrogen in compressed gas form or cryogenic liquid form into a single comprehensive resource.
It includes fundamental requirements for hydrogen in both gaseous and liquid phases and contains additional use-specific categories, such as:
- Vehicle fueling facilities
- Systems for fuel cell power and generation
- Applications involving combustion processes and special atmospheres
- Operations in the lab
Among the key topics are indoor fueling, hydrogen fueling stations, backup power, and electrolytic production of hydrogen. The most advanced commercial applications for hydrogen technologies are backup power using polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and forklifts.
The Code is intended to benefit enforcing officials when reviewing permits for occupancies storing, handling or using hydrogen or when inspecting existing facilities.
Annexes include a sample ordinance adopting NFPA 2, an example of Class C furnace operational and maintenance checklist, and supplementary information on explosion hazards and protection in laboratories.
The Code is dated 2011 and already has 1 Errata issued. This document, and all NFPA standards and Codes, are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com. Or feel free to contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com) with your standards requirements and questions.
