August 2007

E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version

Codes and Standards News: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) reports it has been awarded a new contract to enhance and expand its Hydrogen Codes and Standards Portal (www.hcsp.ansi.org), developed initially under a contract from DoE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The portal supports NREL’s hydrogen, fuel cell and infrastructure technologies program. Enhancements to the portal to improve usability will include a new standards classification structure and other features. The redesign is scheduled to get underway late this year. In Canada, meanwhile, the Bureau de Normalisation du Québec (BNQ) has released a new Canadian Hydrogen Installation Code (CHIC) as the country’s national standard. The new code defines the installation requirements of hydrogen refueling stations, and it provides guidelines for the installation of fuel cells or internal combustion engines for emergency or back-up power. Until now, hydrogen installations were permissible only after review by competent authorities under a tedious exemption procedure.

Contacts: ANSI, 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, www.ansi.org; BNQ, Sylvie Gingras, 418/6522238, ext. 2655, sylvie.gingras@bnq.qc.ca.