Codes and Standards

The DOE Hydrogen Program's codes and standards sub-program, led by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, is working with code development organizations, code officials, industry experts, and national laboratory scientists to draft new model codes and standards for domestic and international production, distribution, storage, manufacturing, and utilization of hydrogen.

Codes and standards have repeatedly been identified as a major institutional barrier to deploying hydrogen technologies. To enable the commercialization of hydrogen in consumer products, new model building codes and equipment and other technical standards will need to be developed and recognized by federal, state, and local governments. DOE is working to identify those codes and standards, to facilitate the development of such standards, and to support publicly available research and certification investigations that are necessary to develop a basis for such codes and standards.

Introduction to Hydrogen for Code Officials

Developed by DOE, the Introduction to Hydrogen for Code Officials online training course provides an introduction to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, applications, and permitting.

Permitting Hydrogen Facilities

To help local permitting officials deal with proposals for hydrogen fueling stations, fuel cell use for telecommunications facilities, and other hydrogen projects, DOE has developed codes and standards permitting tools that help identify model codes and standards pertinent to such projects.

Additional resources for local permitting officials who are looking to address project proposals include citations for hydrogen fueling stations and a listing of setback requirements on the Alternative Fuels Data Center website. You can also view stationary and portable fuel cell systems codes and standards citations.