Creating industry guidance to support hydrogen innovation

As the world seeks to move away from fossil fuels, hydrogen could be a game-changer for reducing CO2 emissions. But rigorous testing and certification are essential to ensure safety and maintain standards.

The Hy4Heat Programme, a research and innovation project funded by the UK Government, asked us to create a fast-track standard that would support the use of hydrogen in residential and commercial buildings and gas appliances in the UK, providing the hydrogen industry with the consistent guidelines it urgently needed.

BSI developed a fast-track standard (PAS 4444 - Guide to hydrogen-fired gas appliances) to help form the basis for wide-scale standardization of hydrogen-fuelled appliances. The fast-track standard helps manufacturers regarding the safety and functionality of hydrogen-fuelled appliances such as boilers, cookers and fires.

Benefits of this fast-track approach:

• Developed with UK government and industry stakeholders to provide one common, consensus-based standard​
• Steering group included manufacturers, regulators, consumer groups, BEIS, notified bodies, researchers, trade associations and BSI technical committees ​
• Provides standardized guidance for notified testing and certification bodies and manufacturers ​
• ​Defines good practice for the safe commissioning, testing, certification and installation of hydrogen-fuelled appliances​