Refueling a Sunline Transit bus with hydrogen Photo by  Rob Barnitt - TIAX LLC DOE/NREL

A common perception is that hydrogen is unsafe because of the Hindenburg accident in 1937, but this was shown not to be the cause by Dr Addison Bain ⁽¹⁾. As you will learn in this section hydrogen is actually safe fuel for powering your home, office, school, or vehicle. Hydrogen is flammable, like gasoline, only it is non-toxic, unlike gasoline. If hydrogen spills it quickly dissipates because it is lighter than air and it diffuses rapidly into the atmosphere to a concentration that is non-flammable. If hydrogen is used indoors, it needs to be in a well ventilated area. The danger is that if there is a hydrogen leak it will reach flammable concentrations unnoticed by humans because it is odorless, colorless, non-toxic and tasteless to humans.

Burning hydrogen produces significantly less radiant heat that burning gasoline or natural gas. Therefore, the risk of secondary fires igniting is low but objects that come in contact with a hydrogen flame burn immediately.

To learn more about hydrogen safety and standards go the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety Website.