You are here: Archives > August 2010 > HIPOC Indoor Refueling

HIPOC Indoor Refueling Efforts
Aaron Harris, Chair of the HIPOC Subgroup


The Hydrogen Industry Panel on Codes (HIPOC), a DOE sponsored codes and standards coordinating group, has formed a subgroup to develop code change proposals relating to indoor refueling of hydrogen powered industrial vehicles including fork lifts and “tugs”, HIPOC and the indoor fueling subgroup comprises members consisting of fire marshals, code officials, and representatives from industry. The overall goal of the subgroup is to provide clarity and consistency between the fire codes and NFPA 52 for installation of indoor hydrogen vehicle refueling stations. The subgroup’s short-term goals focus is on proposals for NFPA 52 due by May of 2011 and a longer term focus on the next cycle of ICC code changes and NFPA 55 as required.

In 2008, members of HIPOC and the Hydrogen Technology Committee at the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) assembled detailed code change proposals to the ICC International Fire Code (IFC) for indoor hydrogen fueling. For a variety of reasons the Fire Code Committee voted not to accept those proposed changes to the IFC.

More recently a subgroup of NFPA 2 Working Group 6 and researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have been funded to model the indoor hydrogen release scenario associated with an unlikely but potential thermal relief valve failure mode identified with fueling of hydrogen-powered vehicles. This work leverages previous work by Sandia in hydrogen releases in highway tunnels. Sandia will use a half-scale model of a warehouse to validate computational fluid models and validate the modeling used by CGA and NFPA to develop table 9.4.3.2.1 Minimum Room Volume Based on Maximum Fueling Event (kg). Sandia has developed a half scale model approach using input from industry OEMs. These simulations are planned for August 2010. The HIPOC subgroup will coordinate with the NFPA 2 subgroup as their work progresses and integrate results from Sandia’s modeling.

To ensure that the efforts developed for the 2008 ICC proposals are not lost, the HIPOC subgroup will review the old ICC proposals along with comments from the IFC Committee which recommended their rejection. Based on that review, as well as the NFPA 2 subgroup’s results, the HIPOC subgroup will draft recommendations for the entire Panel’s consideration. Because of the order of approaching due dates, development of potential proposals for NFPA 52 will be the first priority, followed by proposals to ICC and NFPA 55 as appropriate. If HIPOC proposals are accepted by the NFPA- 52 technical committee the subgroup will submit proposals harmonize the language in the related ICC codes.

The long-term goal of the HIPOC subgroup coordination of fire codes (NFPA and IFC) for safe, efficient and consistent installation of indoor refueling stations.