NHA NOTES

ISO/TC 197 Meetings Held in Argentina

by Karen Miller, Coordinator, National Hydrogen Association

The 1998 Plenary Session of the International Standards Organization Technical Committee 197 was held on June 26 in conjunction with the World Hydrogen Energy Conference (see related story) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Working groups held meetings the day prior, with NHA staff facilitating a joint meeting for Working Groups 5 and 6 at the request of the conveners, Jim Hansel and Bob Zalosh, respectively, who were unable to attend.

The working group sessions went smoothly, with representatives from five countries providing input to the draft standards developed in NHA Codes and Standards Workshops, before being submitted and accepted by ISO/TC 197 in May of 1997. The key changes to these documents, as determined in these meetings, are as follows:

Working Group 7 Basic Requirements for the safety of hydrogen systems also met. The draft outline was revised and discussed among the working group members.

The plenary session produced some interesting resolutions. They include the following: Working Group 4 Airport hydrogen fueling facility, will become an ISO Technical Report, Type 2. The decision with regard to WG 7 producing a standard or a technical report is deferred until the next ISO/TC 197 plenary session.

Please see accompanying story for an explanation of this issue.

Pros and Cons for WG 7

It was the opinion of a majority of the members attending the meeting, including the U.S.A., that the WG 7 objectives are best served by creating first a Technical Report, Type 2. This would enable the working group to put together a comprehensive document which could be used by the other ISO/TC 197 working groups in the development of their work items. The report could then be evaluated in an efficient way prior to being a mandate.

As soon as the report is ready, it could be proposed to the TC that it be considered for approval as a standard. Therefore, the WG 7 activities are continuing, and the matter of how best to get a viable document to cover basic hydrogen safety issues will be addressed again at the next plenary. Please contact Karen Miller for more information.

Subject to the approval of the U.S. member body, the group agreed to hold the next plenary session at the next NHA annual meeting.

Subject to the approval of the U.S. member body (ANSI), the group agreed to hold the next plenary session in conjunction with the next NHA annual meeting, tentatively scheduled for 6-9 April 1999 in Vienna, Virginia, U.S.A. NHA staff is working to formalize this, and will keep members informed of the decision and schedule.

ISO/TC 197 will work with ISO/TC 22 Road Vehicles and ISO/TC 58 Gas Cylinders on existing work items, as well as to coordinate future work and encourages the appointment of experts from these TCs.

Matthew Fairlie presented a new work item, N118 Road Vehicles compressed gaseous hydrogen fueling connectors. This item was developed in NHA’s Codes and Standards Working Group 1 – Connectors, and submitted to ISO/TC 197 for consideration. If it is accepted by the members of TC 197, it will be developed in the ISO/TC 197 WG 5 responsible for Service Stations. In this case, this WG would consider the possibility of including connectors for hydrogen blends in its scope.

New target dates are being requested from conveners of existing working groups for the establishment of waivers. New work items must meet strict new ISO requirements for timely progress, or risk being canceled.

If you would like a copy of the minutes from this meeting, please contact Karen Miller.

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