Here is a link to a Los Alamos self-study on Hydrogen safety from 2000:

 

http://miningquiz.com/pdf/Mine_Gases/hydrogengassafety.pdf

 

An excerpt:

Hazards of Hydrogen

Flammability and Explosivity Are Primary Hazards

The primary physical hazards associated with hydrogen gas are its

flammability and explosivity. This is because hydrogen can form a

flammable mixture with air over a wide range of concentrations

(4% - 75%), and very low energy is needed to ignite hydrogen-air

mixtures. Once hydrogen is ignited, the reaction can proceed either

by deflagration (subsonic propagation) or detonation (supersonic

propagation). Deflagration in a closed volume can cause a pressure

increase of almost eight times the initial pressure. Detonation from

a low-energy ignition source is possible in hydrogen-air mixtures of

18% - 60% vol that are well mixed and confined. Although hydrogen air mixtures have the same calorific value per pound as TNT, the

rate of energy release is much slower for hydrogen-air mixtures.

Hydrogen detonations, although rare, are characterized by

pressure increases so rapid that pressure-relief devices are usually

ineffective. When using hydrogen in enclosed areas, consult

National Fire Protection Association documents 68 and 69.

 

NFPA 55 also has some guidelines on compressed Hydrogen as well as other gases.

 

Jeff

 

There are several resources available.  

NFPA 45 as someone mentioned in a  previous post.   The Compressed gas association has many Safe Practice documents and many are free.    And I daresay that some locations haven’t perused  OSHA 1910.103 Hydrogen and other requirements of 1910 Subpart H.  NIOSH has a self-inspection checklist for compressed gas handling.  Since OSHA and NIOSH are taxpayer funded those resources are also free.

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of margie.brazelton**At_Symbol_Here**AM.DYNONOBEL.COM
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2016 11:11 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Hydrogen safety webinar?

 

I agree.  While I work in a lab that supports chemical manufacturing, I am embarrassed to admit that everything here is set up as it has been for essentially the last 30 years.  It was all set up originally by a somewhat maverick, free-thinking M..S. (Chemistry) and has served safely all these years.  But he died a couple of years ago, making me the senior (by years of service) person and now I have grave doubts and worries.  While our gases are stored and used in a more robust safety setup, I am now really concerned about the lack of monitoring for leaks of the gases used (H2, N2, He, nitric oxides, methane, ammonia, O2, etc).  We have NOTHING in our storage area or lab to monitor for leaks!

Best regards,
Margie Brazelton
Senior Process Chemist

Dyno Nobel Inc.
A business of Incitec Pivot Limited
Cheyenne Plant, P.O. Box 1287 / Cheyenne, WY 82003, 8305 Otto Road / Cheyenne, WY 82001, USA
Office: +1 307 637 2766 | Fax: +1 307 771 5637  | Mobile: +1 307 631 8368
mailto:margie.brazelton**At_Symbol_Here**am.dynonobel.com
http://www.dynonobel.com

Groundbreaking Performance Through Practical Innovation



From:        "Reinhardt, Peter" <peter.reinhardt**At_Symbol_Here**YALE.EDU>
To:        DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Date:        05/04/2016 08:19 AM
Subject:        [DCHAS-L] Hydrogen safety webinar?
Sent by:        DCHAS-L Discussion List <dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu>

I would really appreciate it if DivCHAS or AIHA did a webinar on hydrogen safety as it pertains to research laboratories. There have been three hydrogen explosions at universities since 2010 (U. Missouri, Stoney Brook U. and U. Hawai’i). Scientists and EHS staff need better training on hydrogen safety, risks to look out for, and how to do a hazard assessment for research involving hydrogen. When we ask researchers about their setup, they say, “I’ve been doing this for years. This is the same setup described in the literature/that my mentor uses.” Please.
 
Pete
 
Peter A. Reinhardt
Director, Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Yale University
135 College St., Suite 100
New Haven, CT   06510-2411
(203) 737-2123
peter.reinhardt**At_Symbol_Here**yale.edu