Codes and standards ensure safety, interchangeability, consistency and regularity. A code
addresses a broad subject matter and can be adopted as law. Examples include National Electric Code (NEC) and International Fire Code (IFC). A standard covers a narrow subject, for example, NFPANational Fire Protection Agency 50A is a standard for gaseous hydrogen systems at consumer sites.
The codes and standards that regulate gasoline in passenger vehicles were created after vehicles were already on the road and stations already in operation. With hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles, the codes and standards are being developed simultaneously. In this process, which includes federal, state and local governments and independent standards development organizations, it’s important that the coming codes and standards:
- Enable safe and reliable hydrogen products
- Provide choices of suppliers, components, technologies and products
- Do not eliminate innovative technologies
- Do not unfairly or arbitrarily disadvantage one industry segment or nationality over another
More than 600 organizations create codes and standards, and sometimes those organizations overlap or conflict. Government’s role is to assess all the current and evolving codes to adopt into laws and regulations.
