Hydrogen Hazards and Challenges
(Oliver Bornholdt, Steffen Teuber)
Webinar: 11th November, 2021
Q&A follow up
________________________________
During the session on the day, there were many questions posted by the audience – but given the
sheer volume, we didn’t get time to answer them all. Please find below the remaining questions
asked and the answers given by our team of experts.
Question
How do you estimate different pressure in
cylinders. For example if you have 300 bar or
1000 bar - Can you say that the risk is potentially
or proportionally changed?
Can the ignition probability of Hydrogen be
assumed equal to ignition probability of methane in
a risk assesment?
For a given volume of space, is there a specific
rule for the number of hydrogen detectors? Is there
a normative to follow for confined spaces
(laboratories, containers, etc)?
In relation to Refuelling Stations - are your
products able to detect leakage outside?
Page | 1 
Answer
It depends strongly on the involved components. In
general all involved components are suitable for
certain pressures and therefore the failure
probability should be comparable. Nevertheless,
we can say in case of a leak the leak rate will be
significantly higher by 1000 bar.
A risk assessment looks broader than only ignition
probalities. Indoor vs outdoor. Indoor ceiling =
higher probability for hydrogen. Outdoor = higher
probility for methane (less volatile).
This depends on many factors like ventilation,
wind, gates, height of volume, heating, air
conditioning and other factors. This needs to be
assessed locally. There is unfortunately no general
rule of thumb.
Yes

Question
Is there a way to have long distance and/or area
monitoring of H2?
I am in involved in a hydrogen risk / training
programme in Norway for firefighters. Is there good
enough sharing of knowledge between private
buisness sector and the governments in this work?
What do Draeger have to offer for training
firefighters?
Is pressurized or liquid H2 more unstable? Is there
anything to be done to the chemical composition to
reduce the hazard?
A couple of questions :
1. Does every facility (particularly in an enclosed
room) involving hydrogen have to install the H2 gas
detector - regardless the handled amount of
hydrogen?
2. For ventilation, is it better to install only active
extraction or do we have to consider active air inlet
for an enclosed room?
Page | 2 
Answer
Yes, please contact us to discuss your
requirements.
We can provide a couple of trainings via our Dräger
Academy. Special trainings can be done. Please
check our Homepage (Dräger Academy).
Both pressurized and liquid hydrogen have risk but
cannot be compared. If liquid hydrogen is exposed
it has different physical properties (not volatile,
heavier as air before getting into the gaseous form)
and therefore sensor positioning needs to be
adapted.
1. This must be verified in a comprehensive
assessment and accompanying explosion
protection document.

Is IP-rated lighting sufficient to be used inside a
room that handled H2? I realised that it should be
ATEX-certified. I just want to make sure that only
ATEX-certified electrical components must be
installed?
Is it possible to use the same sensors for H2
measuring than we are using ex for natural gas?
Which issues do we need to be aware of regading
cross-sensivity for hydrogen sensors?
I would like to ask the question about detection of
leakages if there are a lot of small pipes feeding
system with H2 - and there is leakage. How do we
detect the leakage if, for example, it is not a closed
room and the route is long? For example, more
then 50m - so along the pipeline what could be the
way to detect?
Can we not add some chemical or aroma while we
treat hydrogen or in the purification process, so
that it becomes easily detectable?
Adding mercaptons into methane helps with
identifying leak hazard. What kind of odorant can
be used with hydrogen?
Are there Hydrogen detectors for high temperature
over 600deg? Application for Hydrogen engines
exhaust.
Which are the norms that have to be fullfilled for
the operation of a testbench operating with
hydrogen?
Page | 3 
It depends on certain conditions like forced
ventilation, roof architecture and general gas
dispersion behaviour which can be analysed. If the
outcome of a risk assessment indicates to use
ATEX equipment it needs to be installed.
No. The sensor is different. We have the right
solution in our portfolio.
Some hydrogen sensors can be cross-sensitive to
carbon monoxide if not calibrated in the right way.
Our Dräger sensors are well suited to handle this.
There are a couple of possibilities. If you have a
pressure of 10 bar and higher an Ultrasound
Sensor can be the right choice to detect a leak. To
find the leak you can choose mobile gas detectors
to "sniff" the leak.
To our knowledge this is currently under
investigation.
To our knowledge this is currently under
investigation.
Unfortunately we don't have sensors for this
temperature range.
It depends. It has to be checked country-
specifically whether local regulations exist. In
Germany, for example, the TRBS or TRGS can be
used.
  
 
Is there a danger for people outside the impact of People can be injured by flying objects, by the
an explosion? blast wave or by the temperature

Can measures of functional safety in the process Yes, but it must always be carefully checked
industry be applied on H2 Production plants? whether the measures are the right ones.

Are risk assessments performed to SIL or PL Depending on the application and the necessity, a
schemas? valuation according to Sil or Pl can be useful.

In case of pressurized hydrogen vessels stored in No, it strongly depends on your technical and
the workshop, is it mandatory to have them outside safety infrastructure.
of the building?

Does the fact that H2 is lightweight (and so climbs No, the hazard must be assessed according to
in the air), mean there is a reduction of hazard ? local conditions.

Can infrared gas detection be used for Nitrogen? No, please check our freely available hazmat-based
safety product finder database (VOICE) for further
info. https://www.draeger.com/en_uk/Substances

Are there in Germany or other countries the There are no special building codes for buildings
building codes (gesetzliche Bauvorschriften) for with hydrogen. Buildings are classified according to
specifically for buildings 'with hydrogen'? their type and use.

Page | 4