FUEL CELL and Water Electrolysis Technologies– Part 2-100: Fuel cell modules and water electrolysis modules – Safety

Note: The scope of this Notice of Intent (originally published on January 31, 2023) was updated by the responsible SDO on November 13, 2024.

Note: The title, standard designation number and scope for this NOI (originally published on January 31, 2023) was updated by the responsible SDO on January 23, 2024.

Note: The standard sub-type, scope and project need have been updated for this NOI (originally published on January 31, 2023) were updated by the responsible SDO on May 30, 2023.

This document provides safety related requirements for construction, operation under normal and abnormal conditions and the testing of fuel cell stacks and fuel cell modules. It applies to fuel cell stacks and fuel cell modules with the following electrolyte chemistry:

• alkaline, for e.g. potassium hydroxide;

• polymer electrolyte (including direct methanol fuel cells), for e. g. PEM, AEM (anion exchange membrane);

• acidic, for e.g. phosphoric acid;

• molten carbonate;

• solid oxide;

• aqueous solution of salts.

Fuel cell stacks and fuel cell modules can be provided with or without an enclosure and can be operated at significant pressurization levels or close to ambient pressure. 

These requirements can be superseded by other standards for equipment containing fuel cell stacks and fuel cell modules as required for particular applications.

This document does not cover fuel cell road vehicle applications.

This document is not intended to limit or inhibit technological advancement. An appliance employing materials or having forms of construction differing from those detailed in the requirements of this document can be examined and tested according to the purpose of these requirements and, if found to be substantially equivalent, can be considered to comply with this document.

The fuel cell stacks and fuel cell modules are components of a final product or system. The final products or systems that integrate these fuel cell stacks or fuel cell modules will require evaluation according to appropriate end-product safety requirements, such as:

1. CSA/ANSI FC 1 * CSA C22.2 No. 62282-3-100 for stationary fuel cell power systems; or
2. ANSI/CSA America FC 3 for portable fuel cell power systems;

Note: A fuel cell module can consist of one or more, but not all, integrated system components.  An assembly which is made up of all the integrated system components of a final product or system is not considered a module. (Figure 1).

This document covers only up to the DC output of the fuel cell module.

This document does not apply to peripheral devices outside the fuel cell module as illustrated in Figure 1.

This document does not cover the storage and delivery of fuel and oxidant to the fuel cell module.

This document does not cover fuel cell power systems (“modules” or “battery replacements”) for industrial trucks that are in the scope of UL 2267.

This standard covers the above-noted products that are intended to be installed or used in accordance with:

• CSA C22.1, Canadian Electrical code (CEC) Part I, 
• NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC)