Hot Spot of EN 18191- Additional Requirements for Metallic Valves for Hydrogen Applications Approved

What is it?

The new standard EN 18191 Additional Requirements for Metallic Valves for Hydrogen Applications has unanimously completed final ballot. This new standard defines the additional requirements for hydrogen valve applications to be used in conjunction with existing EN standards. It establishes the relationship to harmonized EN standards and covers material, design considerations, specific manufacturing processes and final testing and inspection.

The standard will now be ratified by CEN after the 69 editorial comments raised during the ballot have been resolved. It is expected to be published in the next few weeks and available through the usual sources.

Why is it Important?

CEN/TC69 WG 19 have been working on the development of this document since 2020, and it is the first valve-specific international standard to specify detailed requirements for hydrogen applications. EN 18191 contains requirements for gaseous and liquid hydrogen applications, including the various damage mechanisms related to hydrogen service such as:

• low temperature applications
• hydrogen environmental embrittlement (HEE) or hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC)
• high temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA)
• hydrogen service with cyclic loads (fatigue)

As the hydrogen industry expands, the information included on acceptable metallic and non-metallic materials for hydrogen applications is likely to be adopted in end users’ specifications. Consequently, it is important that BVAA members review the standard in order to understand whether the proposed range of materials are suitable for use in their products.

Continuous Improvement - Did we miss anything?

Hot Spots are intended to alert members and provide a brief overview of new standards, activities or procedures that are being introduced in the industry. If there is key information missing that would be helpful, please let us know so that we can improve our future service.

Please Note: This Hotspot is for information purposes, and we invite comments from BVAA members only. Please also note that at time of publication ballots may be closed. For more information, please contact the Secretariat.

BVAA Members: Did you know we have a hotspot tab on the BVAA website? Head over to www.bvaa.org.uk/login-here.asp and log into the member only area. You then need to select ‘Hotspots’ for the latest. For information on how to access the member only area of the website please contact jane@bvaa.org.uk. 

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