Considerations for Ventilation Rates to Mitigate Hydrogen Releases

Many industry standards and guidance documents reference the use of ventilation to mitigate the formation of combustible mixtures of hydrogen within buildings and enclosures. However, current guidance varies and may not protect equipment and personnel in all release scenarios. This presentation provides an overview of the relationship between hydrogen release scenarios and the ventilation rates recommended by key hydrogen consensus standards/guidance to mitigate hydrogen releases inside buildings and process enclosures. By comparing best practice considerations to currently available leak and ventilation guidance, this presentation provides a basis for the Hydrogen Safety Panel to recommend changes to existing standards, highlights the importance of continued research, and potentially forms a basis for development of new standards and guidance.