Hydrogen: Product Certifications and Standards

With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in 2022, the US Government has now initiated the conversion of the US economy from a hydro-carbon-based economy to a hydrogen-based economy. The governmental agency tasked with this conversion is the Department of Energy (DOE) under Section 814 of the National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap (1). This roadmap is a multi-year conversion strategy starting in 2023. By 2030, the goal is that 5% – 7% of the US economy will be converted to hydrogen (H2) usage; the percentages will increase every decade until 2060, when the entire US economy and infrastructure will be converted to H2 usage. How is this going to happen?

What codes and specifications are to be used? Those are the big questions. Congress and the current administration have said this is what will happen, but gave no clear path. The roadmap tells us where we’re headed, but no roads, exit ramps, towns, or speed limits are provided on the map. It just says, “go this way.”

So, what do we have now for specifications on hydrogen piping systems?

• ASME and ANSI codes state that hydrogen piping systems are to be yellow in color and that that yellow color will be designated for dangerous gases. That is currently the only code that exists currently, Yes, there is some additional verbiage included, but nothing specific.

So, what does an engineer designing and specifying a project for hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and usage do to get products specified for hydrogen usage? Luckily, we can look to the European Union (EU) as a basis for our question.

Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent stoppage of natural gas to Western Europe, the EU has taken a fast track in product specifications for H2 production, transportation, pipelines, storage, and consumption. The EU is using KIWA Institute to certify and test products for H2. The KIWA test for PE100-RC piping material states the following:

• That PE100-RC pipes are suitable for hydrogen transport has already been proven by the renowned Dutch accreditation institute KIWA [1]. With the “H2ready” test [2] now introduced by the Gas Technology Institute DBI (a 100% subsidiary of the DVGW), another important step has been taken to confirm the suitability of products for the use, storage, and transport of hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas mixtures.

Thus, PE100-RC material is suitable for hydrogen piping systems. Once a product has been tested and accredited, it receives the following H2 ready® certification:

Asahi/America and, and our partner, AGRU Kunststofftechnik GmbH, have H2 ready® certification on our Chem Proline® (AgruChem) PE100-RC piping system. This piping system is available in the US and EU and has all the specification sheets and H2 certification used when designing and specifying hydrogen service. Thus, when designing a hydrogen piping system, engineers can offer their customers a product tested and certified as H2 ready®. The hydrogen market penetrates all industries, from power and chemical processing to pulp and paper. Small regional hubs are being formed per US Government requirements to facilitate and advance hydrogen conversion. Thus, every market needs a specified product with a testing certificate and a specifiable data sheet. Asahi/America’s Chem Proline® Advanced PE piping system is ready, tested, and certified for use in hydrogen applications.

For additional information on the testing procedures and requirements for the H2 certification, please contact Asahi/America. We can provide the data sheets, specification sheets, and information regarding PE100-RC material for hydrogen.

(1) https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/clean-hydrogen-strategy-roadmap.pdf .

EDITOR’S NOTICE: Please note, the information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not supersede any Asahi/America technical information or product specifications. Please consult Asahi/America’s technical department at 1-800-343-3618 or [email protected] on all product applications in regards to material selection based on the pressure, temperature, environmental factors, chemical, media, application, and more.