Permitting process / requirements

This LAP refers to the permitting process and requirements for on one hand the drivers/transporting company and on the other hand the equipment (trailer). It defines what certification is needed for a driver/transporting company to transport hydrogen on public roads and which authority is competent to deliver the certification. It also gives information about the requirements needed for an equipment to be allowed to transport hydrogen on public roads, and if there is any specific approval required for the equipment.

Glossary:

The Permitting process is a process in which an applicant files forms to a (regulatory) agency/competent authority with required narratives, maps, etc., to ensure in advance that the proposed operation will be in compliance with the applicable standards. Permitting requirements are the legal (regulations and standards) requirements.
An internal safety distance is the minimal separation distance between a potential hazard source (e.g. equipment involving dangerous substances) and an object (human, equipment or environment), which will mitigate the effect of a likely foreseeable incident and prevent a minor incident escalating into a larger incident (also known as domino effect).

Pan-European Assessment:

The permitting process and requirements for the drivers/transporting company and the equipment (trailer) are well harmonized in Europe, because all countries follow the ADR regulation. As restrictions applied to hydrogen are the same as for any other flammable gas, most of the countries don’t see this LAP as a barrier
Is it a barrier?
Assessment Severity
NA

Questions:

Question 1 Drivers/transporting company: a - What certification is needed for a driver/transporting company to transport hydrogen on public roads?
a - The driver must hold an ADR–certificate (prescribed in chapter 8.2.1, ADR/RID 2017, Norwegian version)). Other documents that shall follow the vehicle are transport documents for dangerous goods, with relevant information, as prescribed in chapter 5.4.1, ADR/RID 2017, Norwegian version), written instructions on how to handle emergency situations and accidents that may arise during transport (transportuhellskort), as prescribed in chapter 5.4.3, safety fact sheet (fareseddel), and ID for the driver/crew, with picture and in line with chapter 1.10.1.4.,
Question 1 Drivers/transporting company: b - Which authority is competent to deliver the certification?
b - While the Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) is responsible for the Regulation of road transport of dangerous goods and the ADR/RID regulation, the Norwegian Public Roads Authority is responsible for ADR driver and vehicle certification and control.
Question 2 Equipment (e.g. trailer): a - What are the requirements needed for equipment to be allowed to transport hydrogen on public roads?
a - The requirements are those of the ADRregulation, stated in chapter 4 on packaging and tanks, and chapter 6, regulations on construction and testing of containers. According to part 9, chapter 9.2.4. on fire prevention, of the Norwegian version of the ADR regulation, fuel tanks shall meet the general requirements of ECE regulation no. 34, as well as ECE regulation no. 110 (for CNG and LNG) and ECE regulation no. 67 (for LPG). Additional requirements for EXII, FL and AT vehicles are stated in chapter 9.7. Chapter 9.7.2 states that metal tank containers shall meet the requirements of chapter 6.8. Multimodal tanks shall meet the requirements of chapter 6.7, or, where applicable, the requirements of the IMDG code. Composite tanks must comply with the requirements of chapter 6.9, while sludge cleaners shall meet the requirements of chapter 6.10:
Question 2 Equipment (e.g. trailer): b - Is any specific approval required for the equipment to be allowed to transport hydrogen (gas/liquid)?
b - An ADR approval for transportation of dangerous goods, based on the requirements mentioned above, is required. Such approval can only be made by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens Vegvesen), at selected traffic stations.
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
The requirements are the same as for other substances in Class 2, such as LNG which is a relevant case to compare with in the Norwegian case. See answer 2 b.

National legislation:

EU Legislation:

  • Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods.
    Extends the uniform rules of ADR to national transport.

    Article 5

    Restrictions on grounds of transport safety

    1. Member States may on grounds of transport safety apply more stringent provisions, with the exception of construction requirements, concerning the national transport of dangerous goods by vehicles, wagons and inland waterway vessels registered or put into circulation within their territory.
  • Directive 2004/54/EC of 29. April 2004 Minimal safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European roads.
    The Directive applies to tunnels of more than 500 meters, in the Trans-European Road Network- TERN), included in the EEC agreement from 1999. It specifies both technical and operational requirements, and has been implemented in Norway (with some adjustments) through the Regulation on minimum safety requirements for certain tunnels [Forskrift om minimum sikkerhetskrav til visse vegtunneler (tunnelsikkerhetsforskriften)] of 15.05.07. Annex 1 is on safety measures, and chapter 3.7 of this annex, specifies such measures with respect to the transport of dangerous goods.
  • Directive 2010/35/EU, the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED)
    The Directive applies to the design, manufacture, conformity assessment and periodic reassessment of transportable cylinders, tubes, cryogenic vessels and tanks for transporting gases as well as hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. It also covers their associated valves and other pressure equipment. The Directive defines 3 categories for pressure equipment, based on its pressure volume product (P.V) in bar litres and hence its stored energy
  • ADR European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by roads.
    hazardous materials may in general be transported internationally in wheeled vehicles, provided that conditions be met for the product packaging and labelling; and that the construction, equipment, and use of vehicles for the transport is compliant: