Overview of North American Hydrogen Sensor Standards

The use of hydrogen as a fuel has already been established in commercial markets. Extensive growth is expected with the pending release of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles. To support this, the hydrogen infrastructure, including fueling facilities, repair garages, storage, and transport, must expand. One barrier to hydrogen infrastructure is the permitting of new facilities. Hydrogen sensors are critical to the safe use of hydrogen. Their use is explicitly referenced in model codes, and numerous sensor standards have been published pertaining to the operation and performance of hydrogen sensors. Codes and standards are important in ensuring safety and encouraging commercialization. This report clarifies the distinction between a code and a standard, provides a summary of the certification process, and provides an overview of the main North American codes and standards associated with hydrogen safety sensors.