There's a lot of buzz about energy and alternative fuels today. Hybrid-electric vehicles are becoming more common and E85 (a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) refueling pumps are growing in number. What you may not know is that hydrogen technology is also emerging in certain parts of the country — through vehicle demonstration programs and early deployment of stationary fuel cells for on-site power generation.
What does this mean for firefighters and other first responders? It means hydrogen and fuel cells may already be in use in your community or may be coming sometime in the future. But most people don't know much about hydrogen, and they know even less about its use as a fuel.
The new "Introduction to Hydrogen Safety for First Responders" training course can help you get up to speed. Created by the U.S. Department of Energy, in partnership with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Training and Education Center, the course provides basic information to help raise awareness among fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel and provides access to resources for more detailed information if needed.
Course modules include the following:
- Hydrogen Basics
- Transport and Storage
- Hydrogen Vehicles
- Hydrogen Dispensing
- Stationary Facilities
- Codes and Standards
- Emergency Response
Videos and animations illustrate key points, and a short quiz helps reinforce knowledge retention and tests the users' understanding.
Industry has used hydrogen safely for decades — more than nine million tons of hydrogen are used annually in the United States. Hydrogen is no more dangerous than conventional fuels when handled properly. Most, if not all, auto manufacturers use a small blue diamond logo to identify hydrogen vehicles. Stationary facilities typically use National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) hazard placards for both gaseous and liquid hydrogen, and the U.S. Department of Transportation requires placards and orange identification panels for hydrogen containers in commercial transport, similar to those used for other hazardous materials.
Emergency Response
If released, hydrogen rises and disperses very quickly, but leaking and/or burning hydrogen may be difficult to detect. Hydrogen gas is odorless and colorless, and a hydrogen flame is nearly invisible in daylight.
If called to an incident that could involve hydrogen, first responders should follow standard response protocol and remember the following:
- Look for recognizable signage, listen for escaping gas and watch for thermal waves that signal the presence of a flame.
- Let a hydrogen fire burn, if safe to do so.
- Never cut through stainless-steel hydrogen lines or orange high-voltage electrical lines.
- Avoid cutting through vehicle floorlines, where hydrogen lines and high-voltage electrical lines and devices are commonly located.
Take the Course
The Introduction to Hydrogen Safety for First Responders is available on-line at www.hydrogen.energy.gov/firstresponders. For those who cannot access the Internet, the course is also available for free on CD and in print through the DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Center (877-EERE-INFO/877-337/3463, from 9 A.M. to 7 P.M. Eastern). Small posters suitable for display on bulletin boards at fire stations and offices summarizing critical hydrogen characteristics and emergency response information will be available soon, for free, through the Information Center at the number above.
LINDA FASSBENDER is a staff engineer and task leader for hydrogen safety training at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA, where she has worked since 1976. She holds a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA in business economics from the University of Washington. Fassbender can be reached at 509-372-4351 or [email protected]. BRET AKERS is an operations engineer and program manager for hydrogen safety at the Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Training and Education Center in Richland, WA, where he has worked for nine years. He holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Akers can be reached at 509-376-3712 or [email protected]. CHRISTY COOPER is the education lead for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program. She is responsible for a broad range of education and training activities for safety and code officials, state and local government representatives, local communities, and potential end-users, as well as university and other student programs. She is co-chair of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy Education Work Group and manages DOE's activities in its capacity as co-chair of the Federal Interagency Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Task Force. Cooper can be reached at 202-586-1885 or [email protected].
HYDROGEN QUICK FACTS
- HYDROGEN is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-poisonous.
- HYDROGEN is the lightest and smallest element, and a gas under normal conditions.
- HYDROGEN can be ignited with minimal energy (such as a small spark), and its flammability range is wide (i.e., ignition can occur between 4% and 75% hydrogen in air, by volume).
- HYDROGEN is 14 times lighter than air, so it rises and disperses rapidly.
