Safety Codes & Standards Being Developed   |   International Transportation Requirements Being Developed  |   Consumer & Environmental Protection Inititatives

 

The fuel cell and methanol industries have been working with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), and the UN Committee of Experts on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods to develop appropriate performance tests. The objective is to impose a set of performance requirements that will result in a high level of safety and consistency in their manufacture. As the safety codes and transportation requirements evolve, further regulatory work and provisions will be needed from the different transportation modal agencies so that fuel cell powered equipment can be shipped to customers and retail sellers like battery powered equipment is today. It is envisioned that passengers and crew members will want to use fuel cell powered equipment and carry replacement cartridges with them aboard commercial aircraft. The efforts involved in developing performance standards include:

Safety Codes & Standards Being Developed

CSA America and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL): The fuel cell industry is working with CSA America and UL to develop a safety standard for the design and manufacture of micro fuel cell power systems. ANSI/UL 2265/CSA America FC11 is intended to cover a wide range of products and is anticipated for publication in 2005. UL has separately announced the publication of an Outline of Investigation, Subject 2265A, covering the safety certification of methanol-fueled micro fuel cells for use in information technology equipment. With this newly published document, UL can now immediately provide safety certification services for micro fuel cells, while the full standard is under development. www.ul.com

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): The fuel cell industry and UL are working with the IEC to develop international standards (IEC TC 105) for the performance, safety and interchangeability of methanol fuel cell devices and fuel cartridges. Initiated in 2002, it is expected that this safety standard will be completed in draft form during 2005, with the performance and interchangeability standards being completed sometime thereafter. www.iec.ch/

International Transportation Requirements Being Developed

UN Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN TDG): Methanol fuel cell powered electronic products may be cargo-shipped today as UN 3363 (Dangerous goods in machinery or apparatus). On December 1 st , 2004, the UN Committee of Experts approved a proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation creating a new UN shipping name, number, and packing instructions for the cargo shipment of methanol fuel cell cartridges. The new shipping description and packing instruction for fuel cell cartridges containing flammable liquids, removes the subsidiary toxic risk for methanol as these cartridges are designed to prevent any consumer contact with the methanol fuel. The model regulation will be forwarded to international transportation modal agencies and to member nations for enactment. www.unece.org/trans/danger/danger.htm

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): The U.S. DOT presented a briefing paper on methanol fuel cells and cartridges to the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel at their October 2004 meeting. ICAO was informed of the proposal for new shipping description and packaging instructions now before the UN Committee of Experts. The U.S. DOT indicated its intention to seek allowance for airline passengers to use and carry these kinds of products. It is likely the U.S. , Japan , possibly other nations and the fuel cell industry will work with ICAO over the next two years to review issues of aircraft cargo shipments and allowances for passenger use and baggage. http://icao.int/

International Road /Rail and Maritime Organizations: International transportation authorities over road, rail and vessel cargo shipping will review the UN model regulation, if enacted, for incorporation into their requirements. These include European regulatory authorities over rail, road and inland waterways (RID/ADR/ADN), and international organizations for carriage by rail and vessel. In the U.S. , these transportation authorities are consolidated largely in the U.S. DOT. It is intended that suitable requirements be enacted to provide transport safety and convenient cargo and parcel shipments of fuel cell electronic products and cartridges to retailers and consumers.

Consumer and Environmental Protection Initiatives

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Federal consumer protection laws and the CPSC regulate many aspects of safety for personal consumer electronics using fuel cells. Safety standards already in existence and those being developed by UL and IEC will be important in providing proper protection to consumers. The CPSC has been directly involved in the UL and IEC codes and standards development activities, and have assisted the methanol fuel cell industry in understanding the federal requirements for consumer product safety and compliance. www.cpsc.gov/

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA, Rochester Institute of Technology and US Fuel Cell Council have begun a project to review a range of environmental issues. Included are issues of waste disposal and alternative options for end-of-life strategies for fuel cell cartridges and fuel cell electronic equipment. www.epa.gov/

 

Source: Methanol Foundation & MTI Micro Fuel Cells Fact Sheet, 2004.
Courtesy of Methanol Foundation & MTI Micro Fuel Cells Fact Sheet, 2004.