3644 Research report: literature review for determining separation distances for small-scale hydrogen installations

Overview:

The EI 3644 Research report: literature review for determining separation distances for small-scale hydrogen installations examines the methodologies currently used to determine separation distances for small-scale hydrogen installations, drawing on international standards, industry guidance, regulatory frameworks and published research.

The report explores deterministic, risk-based and risk-informed approaches to hydrogen safety, highlighting their applications, assumptions, advantages and limitations. It identifies key considerations for the safe siting of hydrogen storage, handling, dispensing and associated infrastructure, while also examining terminology, hazard scenarios, harm criteria and risk assessment methodologies.

The findings provide the technical basis for the development of accompanying guidance and a supporting calculation tool intended to assist industry, regulators and designers in establishing appropriate separation distances and supporting the safe deployment of hydrogen technologies.

This literature review forms part of a wider EI project on determining separation distances for small scale hydrogen installations. The findings presented in this report provide the technical basis for the accompanying publication, EI 3645 Determining separation distances for small-scale hydrogen installations: calculation tool and user guide. Together, these complementary outputs are intended to support the safe siting and design of hydrogen-handling installations. EI 3645 can be found here.