Analysis and Comparison of Hydrogen Generators Safety Measures According to International Regulations, Codes and Standards (RCS)

Climate change has prompted the international community to invest heavily in renewable energy sources in order to gradually replace fossil fuels. Whilst energy systems will be increasingly based on non-programmable renewable sources, hydrogen is the main player when it comes to the role of energy reserve. This change has triggered a fast development of hydrogen production technologies, with increasing use and installation of hydrogen generators (electrolyzers) in both the civil and industrial sector. The implementation of such investments requires the need for accurate design and verification of hydrogen systems, with particular attention on fire safety. Due to its chemical-physical characteristics, hydrogen is highly flammable and is often stored at very high-pressure levels. ISO 22734 and NFPA 2 are the main international standards which are currently available for the design of hydrogen generators and systems, both of which include fire safety requirements. This paper analyses the main existing Regulations, Codes and Standards (RCS) for hydrogen generators with the purpose of evaluating and comparing fire safety measures, with focus on both active protection (detection systems, extinguishing systems) and passive protection (safety distances, separation walls). The scope of the paper is to identify safety measures which can be considered generally applicable and provide a reference for further fire safety regulations. The analysis carried out identifies potential gaps in RCS and suggests areas for potential future research.