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     The 2004 edition of NFPA 45, Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemical s, refers users to the 1999 editions of NFPA 50A, Standard for Gaseous Hydr ogen Systems at Consumer Sites and NFPA 50B, Standard for Liquefied Hydro gen Systems at Consumer Sites, for storage and piping system requirements f or hydrogen use in laboratories.  The specific requirements are located i n Chapter 11 of NFPA 45.  

     Since 2005, NFPA’s hydrogen standards (NFPA 50A, Standard for Gaseous Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites, and NFPA 50B, Standard for Liquefied Hydr ogen Systems at Consumer Sites) have been withdrawn and their require ments have been incorporated into NFPA 55, Standard for the Storage, Use, and Handling of Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids in Portable and Stationar y Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks.  Since then, a 2010 editi on of NFPA 55 has been issued and it is available for review on NFPA’s c odes and standards website with a revised name (Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code).

     There may be other requirements for the handling, u se, and storage of flammable gases, including hydrogen, in laboratories contain ed in the building or fire codes adopted by your state Building Official or Fi re Marshal.  You should check with them for other applicable requirements from adopted codes or standards.

     I hope this information is useful for your purposes.  That’s all for no w.

  Regards,

  Martha H. Curtis

I’ve not had much success going the fire safety route, so am trying the chemical/lab safety listservs for help.  Please forgi ve the cross-posting.

We have 2 researchers who use or plan to use hydrogen gas in their labs.

One is a biology lab and I don’t yet know much a bout why and how the hydrogen is used, except that it appears to be being plumbed in to a tabletop “tent” approximately 4’ x 4’ x 4’.  The tent appears to be made of a clear plastic material.  I do not as yet know if it is static-resistant.

The other is a chemistry lab where the hydrogen will b e used to consume residual oxygen in an anaerobic chamber.  The approximately 1-lb tank will be secured to the bench and the researcher plans to plumb it himself with copper line.

Naturally I have some concerns about hydrogen being us ed in the lab.  I doubt there are safer substitutes in these cases, but if anyone knows of one, can you please share them?

Can anyone point me to specific safety guidelines I ca n share with these researchers?

Thanks in advance.

Mary M. Cavanaugh CIH

University Industrial Hygienist

Safety & Workers' Comp. Office

cavanaughmm**At_Symbol_Here**appstate . edu

(828) 262-6838 Direct

(828) 262-2936 Fax