Criticality: High Progress: Not Addressed Score: 40 DOT Relevance: §192.629
Description of Key Area
Purging of pipelines is
considered under Subpart L (Operations) of 49 CFR 192. This section discusses
the purging of gas in such a way as to prevent “the formation of a hazardous
mixture of gas and air.”
Discussion of Criticality
This area is critical
because of the wider flammability range of hydrogen relative to natural gas.
For crew safety and public safety, in terms of accidental ignition and
asphyxiation, purging practices for hydrogen pipelines needs to be examined.
Discussion of Progress
No information found.
Recommendations
Confirm whether or not
this topic will be addressed by ASME B31.12. Standards for safe and effective
purging (by gas purge or flaring) of hydrogen pipelines, including inert purge
gas procedures and tooling to be used, must be established and incorporated by
reference into the federal code.