AC Transit Hydrogen Energy AC Transit Hydrogen Energy Station / Oakland Fire Station / Oakland Fire Department ProjectDepartment Project

You want to do what You want to do what in my jurisdiction ?in my jurisdiction ?

Phase 1, The Consultant Phase 1, The Consultant Post Construction MeetingPost Construction Meeting

Consultant: We would like to Consultant: We would like to build a hydrogen refueling build a hydrogen refueling

and vehicle servicing station and vehicle servicing station in your City.in your City.

What the Project What the Project Consultant ThinksConsultant Thinks!!

What the Authority Having What the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is Jurisdiction (AHJ) is Thinking.Thinking.

Phase II (Research on the Phase II (Research on the Subject Matter)Subject Matter)

• Limited information Limited information on the commercial on the commercial use of hydrogen.use of hydrogen.

• Current fire safety Current fire safety codes do not codes do not address or provide address or provide good guidance for good guidance for the AHJ on this the AHJ on this subject.subject.

Oakland Fire Department is one of Oakland Fire Department is one of 98 Certified Unified Program 98 Certified Unified Program

Agency (CUPA) in CaliforniaAgency (CUPA) in California..•CalEPA enforcement authority.CalEPA enforcement authority.

•Risk Management Plan ProgramRisk Management Plan Program

•Aboveground Storage Tank Aboveground Storage Tank Program.Program.

•Hazardous Materials Storage.Hazardous Materials Storage.

•California Fire Code.California Fire Code.

Available Codes / Available Codes / Technical Guidance for Technical Guidance for

the AHJthe AHJ

The other Agencies say “If The other Agencies say “If the Fire Department says it the Fire Department says it is ok, it alright with us”!is ok, it alright with us”!

AC Transit Hydrogen AC Transit Hydrogen Energy Station ProjectEnergy Station Project

Site is located in a mixed use Site is located in a mixed use area within the City of Oaklandarea within the City of Oakland

Project Related IssuesProject Related Issues

• Project located near a high density Project located near a high density population area within the City of Oakland.population area within the City of Oakland.

• Major urban transportation line is located Major urban transportation line is located next to the site location.next to the site location.

• Site is next to a hazardous materials Site is next to a hazardous materials storage site that was pending legal action storage site that was pending legal action by the Fire Department.by the Fire Department.

• It really, really scared the folks in Fire It really, really scared the folks in Fire Suppression operations.Suppression operations.

How Did We Do It?How Did We Do It?• Pre-construction Pre-construction

meetings to establish meetings to establish the codes that each the codes that each group (building/fire group (building/fire notification) would be notification) would be working with.working with.

• The early The early establishment of establishment of performance standards performance standards for the final for the final acceptance of the acceptance of the system.system.

• Testing schedules and Testing schedules and proceduresprocedures..

What does it look like?What does it look like?

Detection SystemsDetection Systems

Hydrogen Delivery Hydrogen Delivery SystemSystem

Vehicle Servicing FacilityVehicle Servicing Facility

Refueling and Maintenance Refueling and Maintenance SafetySafety

Refueling Safety FactorsRefueling Safety Factors

• Fueling operations Fueling operations are only conducted are only conducted by trained AC by trained AC Transit staff.Transit staff.

• H2 monitoring is H2 monitoring is performed during performed during the fueling the fueling operation. operation.

Vehicle Maintenance Safety Vehicle Maintenance Safety ProceduresProcedures

Vehicle Maintenance Safety Vehicle Maintenance Safety ProceduresProcedures

• Maintenance Bay 4 Maintenance Bay 4 Safety FeaturesSafety Features

• Buses depressurized to 600 psig Buses depressurized to 600 psig before entering baybefore entering bay

• Hydrogen leak and fire detection Hydrogen leak and fire detection (thermal) systems(thermal) systems

• Ignition-free space heating Ignition-free space heating systemsystem

• Anti-static, non-skid, grounded Anti-static, non-skid, grounded floor coveringfloor covering

• If H2 leak detected (20% LEL)If H2 leak detected (20% LEL): : garage doors automatically roll garage doors automatically roll up, ventilation fans turn on, up, ventilation fans turn on, heating system shuts off, heating system shuts off, magnetic doors releasemagnetic doors release

• If H2 leak detected (40% LEL) or If H2 leak detected (40% LEL) or fire detectedfire detected: fire department : fire department automatically notified, all automatically notified, all electrical power to Bay 4 electrical power to Bay 4 disconnected (except vent fan and disconnected (except vent fan and emergency equipment), alarm emergency equipment), alarm sounds and building evacuatedsounds and building evacuated

Finally, a good Fire Marshal has Finally, a good Fire Marshal has prepared prior to the project prepared prior to the project approval a…approval a…

•A very, very A very, very good letter of good letter of resignation resignation or retirement or retirement paperwork.paperwork.

Questions?Questions?