{"id":8538,"date":"2025-01-30T16:21:47","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T15:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/safety-and-explosion-prevention\/"},"modified":"2025-08-06T13:58:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T11:58:36","slug":"safety-and-explosion-prevention","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/safety-and-explosion-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety and Explosion Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Safety and Explosion Prevention<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ensuring safety and explosion protection at hydrogen refueling stations is essential to prevent accidents and damage. It plays a key role in protecting consumers and the environment. Accordingly, safety has a significant impact on public perception, trust, and the long-term viability of hydrogen technologies.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fire, Lightning and Explosion Protection<\/u><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Risk Management and Incidents<\/u><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Leakage and Odourisation<\/u><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cybersecurity<\/u><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Contact to Experts<\/u><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Rules and regulations to ensure safety<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Handling risk and incidents<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Measures to identify leakages<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Guaranteeing cyber security and development needs<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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BAM, National Hydrogen Alliance and CHS<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fire, Lightning and Explosion Protection<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Because hydrogen is explosive when mixed with oxygen and is often stored under high pressure due to its typical applications, preventive measures in fire protection, lightning protection, and explosion safety are absolutely essential.\u00a0<\/p>

The legal basis for fire and explosion protection in hydrogen applications is set by the EU ATEX Directive 2014\/34\/EU and its national implementation in the 11th Product Safety Ordinance (ProdSV).<\/p>

For pressure equipment, the key regulations are the EU Pressure Equipment Directive 2014\/68\/EU, the 14th ProdSV, and the Ordinance on Transportable Pressure Equipment (ODV).\u00a0<\/p>

When it comes to lightning and surge protection, the relevant rules include the Low Voltage Directive 2014\/35\/EU (1st ProdSV) and Directive 2014\/30\/EU on electromagnetic compatibility (EMVG).\u00a0<\/p>

In practice, implementation must follow the technical rules for operational safety, specifically TRBS 3151\/TRGS 751. These define explosion protection zones and lightning protection requirements in more detail, based on the German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV) and the Ordinance on Installations Requiring Supervision (\u00dcAnlV).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Risk Management and Incidents<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A disruption of a facility\u2019s intended function is referred to as an incident. It is therefore advisable to minimize the risk of such incidents and to implement appropriate procedures in the event that one occurs.<\/p>

Risk management for industrial facilities is standardized in DIN EN ISO 22361. For larger installations\u2014where the total quantity of hazardous substances on site exceeds the threshold value (e.g. around 5 tonnes of hydrogen, or a total quotient over 100%)\u2014incident prevention and response are governed by the 12th Federal Immission Control Ordinance (12. BImSchV).<\/p>

In Germany, this ordinance implements the requirements of the European Seveso III Directive.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Leakage and Odourisation<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Just like natural gas, hydrogen\u2014being colorless and odorless\u2014must be odorized to enable leak detection and to ensure appropriate safety measures can be taken in time to prevent accidents. Odorization and testing should be carried out in accordance with ISO 13734.<\/p>

Requirements for odorization are also influenced by ISO 14687, which defines the quality standards for hydrogen as a fuel. This is because odorization and fuel quality<\/a> are interdependent. For example, in fuel cell applications, it is essential to avoid sulfur-based odorants, as they can damage the system.<\/p>

According to guideline G280 (A), odorization in the distribution network is only required when there is a direct connection to the end user.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cybersecurity<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since the hydrogen sector – including hydrogen refueling stations (HRS) – is classified as critical infrastructure, it is subject to regulatory requirements under the European NIS2 Directive, the European CER Directive, and their national implementation in Germany via the BSI-KritisV (Ordinance on the Determination of Critical Infrastructures). These regulations mandate the development of risk and crisis management plans, require the reporting of incidents, and call for regular reviews of risk assessments.<\/p>

Cybersecurity is also a growing priority for stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain. Most companies operate both IT and OT infrastructures, which must be adequately protected. This can be achieved, for instance, in accordance with DIN EN ISO\/IEC 27000 for IT systems and DIN EN IEC 62443 for OT systems.<\/p>

There is still a need for further standardization regarding system independence. Currently, no standards require hydrogen systems to operate independently of central organizations\u2014such as being able to function without an internet connection. In this context, “independence” would mean that facilities can continue performing their core functions autonomously.<\/p>

Additionally, there are no existing requirements for avoiding unnecessary complexity in hardware, software, or operational concepts. It would also be beneficial to develop cybersecurity guidelines specifically for non-industrial hydrogen systems. To date, no standard is known that defines device-level safety responses in the event of a critical incident.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Contact to Experts<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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H2safety@BAM<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The BAM Competence Center conducts research on safety-related issues across the entire hydrogen value chain. Its broad expertise in various aspects of hydrogen safety makes H2Safety@BAM a valuable point of contact in this field.<\/p>

More information<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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National Alliance for Hydrogen Safety<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 2025, a safety alliance was established in Germany, bringing together government agencies (such as BAM and PTB) and research institutions (including the Fraunhofer Society and KIT). This alliance focuses on topics such as explosion protection and cybersecurity at hydrogen refueling stations and in the transport sector. The aim is to analyze and discuss these issues in depth, identify potential problems, and make responsive adjustments to regulations and protocols as needed.<\/p>

More information<\/a><\/p>

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CHS - Center for Hydrogen Safety<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The CHS is an international organization that promotes safety-related aspects of hydrogen and includes a large and diverse membership from various sectors. Its primary role is to provide a platform for communication, education, and training in the field of hydrogen safety. In addition, the organization is developing an incident database to analyze past events and help prevent future accidents.<\/p>\n

More information<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Safety and Explosion Prevention Ensuring safety and explosion protection at hydrogen refueling stations is essential to prevent accidents and damage. It plays a key role in protecting consumers and the environment. Accordingly, safety has a significant impact on public perception, trust, and the long-term viability of hydrogen technologies. Learn more Fire, Lightning and Explosion Protection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":411,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8538","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/411"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8538"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8657,"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8538\/revisions\/8657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rcs.now-gmbh.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}