Safety Assessment Requirements for the Approval of a Hydrogen Refueling Station

Menso Molag

Ingrid Heidebrink

Menso.Molag@TNO.NL

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval2

Contents

• HyApproval project

• Stakeholders for HRS Approval

• Interviews of Stakeholders

• Safety requirements of the approving authorities

• Conclusions and recommendations

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval3

Background of the HRS approval

• Demonstration projects: difficult to get approval for a HRS

• Need for Harmonisation of a HRS and HRS approval

• HyApproval: Facilitate the HRS approval

• WP3• Stakeholders?• What safety information is needed?• How is it assessed by the authorities?• How can it be harmonised?

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval4

Stakeholders in the Approval Process

• Industry

• Authorities

• Advisors to the authorities• Labour or industry or environmental inspectorate• Fire Brigade

• Public• Consumers• People living or working in the environment of a HRS

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval5

Interview questionaire

A. Responsibility and liability of stakeholdersB. Required informationC. Occupational and external safety policy concerning HRSD. Assessment criteria HRSE. Applied guidelines and methods to assess consequences and

risksF. Off-site safety and land use planningG. InspectionH. Emergency planningI. Dissemination of HyApproval HandbookJ. Remarks / gaps

Interviews in: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, USA,

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval6

Requirements of the approving authoritiesCommon elements

• Need for H2 specific laws/regulations

• Required permits• Building permit• Environmental permit• Operating permit

• Safety policy• Prevention of accidents • Create a safety zone or safety distance• Optimal preparation of emergency services

• Safety assessment

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval7

Definition of HRS Safety distances

1. Explosion Hazard zones• ATEX [94/9/EC, IEC/EN60079-10,

NFPA 70]• 1st , (2nd ) party risks

2. Safety distances or minimum separation distancesLow probabilty accidents with consequences• Frequency > 3.5 * 10-5 per year• Consequences inside HRS• 1st, 2nd party risks [EIGA DOC 75/07/E]

3. External safety distances:Very low probability, high consequence accident scenarios• Frequency ≤ 3.5 * 10-5 per year• Consequences outside boundary of HRS• 1st, 2nd, 3rd party risks

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval8

Safety Assessment Requirements

• Prescriptive: built according applicable guidelines• All interviewed countries

• Deterministic: no 2nd and 3rd party consequences• Germany, Spain

• Probabilistic: demonstrate acceptable 2nd and 3rd party risks• Netherlands

ICHS 2007Safety Assessment requirements for HRS Approval9

Conclusions and recommendations

• Industry focuss : Built and operate a safe HRS

• Authority focuss: Safe environment of HRS

• Early and good communication between stakeholders

• Draft specific guidelines for design, lay-out and inspection HRS

• HyApproval Handbook is a good start to facilitate HRS approval

• Handbook must be updated• New technology• Reduction of uncertanties in safety assessment• Harmonisation approval process