Fuel cells are consumer products as well as industrial devices, and since they are produced and used by and around workers and the public, they are bound by national and international regulations relating to their safety, use, transportation and storage.

What Are Codes and Standards?

In the most basic sense, codes are laws.  You must follow them, where applicable, or you are subject to legal penalties under the law.  Codes are passed by nations, states, legislative bodies and regulatory jurisdictions to control those things under their authority.

Standards are guidance, written by organizations set up for that purpose that can be voluntarily followed to achieve standardization or a level of quality that is respected in a particular industry.

Codes and standards are sometimes confused with one another.  It is always best to check with the local jurisdiction to find out what applies, and not just use the titles of standards to make your choice of what documents to follow.

What Codes and Standards do I have to follow to install a fuel cell project?

The simplest answer to that question is probably "You must follow the laws in force where the project will be built".  In the United States, almost every location has a local building code that requires buildings, equipment and other structures to be designed and built safely, for the good of everyone.  This is well known to construction professionals and is enforced by the typical requirement to obtain a building permit, have periodic inspections by the local Building Department or other authority having jurisdiction over the project and obtain a final permit to occupy or use the facility.  Local jurisdictions have local deviations from the model building codes and sometimes deviations are applied on a use-by-use basis.  Hospitals may have more stringent requirements than office buildings, for instance.  A typical set of building and construction codes might include the following:

1) Building Code – including seismic and structural standards
2) Mechanical Code – including ventilation requirements
3) Plumbing Code – including fuel piping, water and waste piping and process piping
4) Energy Code – including energy efficiency and insulation
5) Fire Code – including ventilation and fire protection requirements
6) Electrical Code – including wiring, hazardous locations and fire protection requirements
7) Administrative Requirements – including the requirements to obtain permits, mitigate environmental impacts, fees and inspection requirements
8) Air Quality Regulations – including gaseous and particulate emissions

Fuel Cell Regulatory Module

A good thorough discussion of fuel cell project regulatory requirements, plus a case study, can be found here.  It should be noted by the user that the regulatory landscape is always changing. For the latest updates and latest topics on hydrogen and fuel cell standards, www.fuelcellstandards.com is an excellent resource. Another comprehensive listing of current U.S. regulations applicable to hydrogen can be found at www.hydrogen.gov/regulations.

Additional Regulatory Guidance