Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Safety in Buildings

Earlier designs for buildings that accommodate gaseous hydrogen fueled vehicles have included elaborate systems of hydrogen detection and mitigation such as hydrogen detectors, high ventilation rates, static-free floors and walls, explosion proof devices, special vehicle grounding, and other measures to deal with possible hydrogen leaks. Such modifications have often been based on a general understanding of leaking hydrogen behavior and incorporated a wide range of high-cost modifications to mitigate a wide range of potential risks. This study provides a more focused analysis on the consequences of hydrogen leaks under specific conditions in order to begin to relate potential hazards with building requirements. The study provides an excellent point of departure for future iterative evaluations as the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs), hydrogen storage and building developments progress.