UN R134 — Supplement 1 to the 01 series of amendments

Upon the manufacturer’s request, vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3 can have storage systems with a service life of 20 years or less. Otherwise, the service life limit stays 15 years or less, as for all new systems before. On the label, the date of removal from service must now be not more than 15 years (or 20 years) after the date of manufacture.

In 5.1.2., containers are cycled without rupture for 22,000 cycles (15-year service life) or 30,000 cycles (20-year service life), or until a leak occurs. Here, the 20-year service life is that of vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3. Leakage must not occur within 11,000 cycles for a 15-year service life, as before, or 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life. Paragraphs 5.2. and 9.3.2.2. add 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life next to the 11,000 cycles. In 9.3.2.3.1., one cylinder per batch is cycled 11,000 times (15 years) or 15,000 times (20 years), depending on the intended use of the container. Paragraphs 9.3.2.3.2. and 9.3.2.3.3. add the thresholds 15,000 cycles x 1.5 and 15,000 cycles x 2.0 for the service life of 20 years.

In Annex 3, paragraph 3.2., containers used for the drop specifications undergo pressure cycling if more than one container is used. This cycling now runs until leakage or 22,000 cycles for a 15-year service life or 30,000 cycles for a 20-year service life. Leakage must not occur within 11,000 cycles for a 15-year service life or 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life. Items (b) and (c) use the same 22,000 and 30,000 cycle values. In Annex 4, paragraph 1.1. and item (c) of paragraph 2.3. add 15,000 cycles for a 20-year service life next to 11,000 cycles. In item (a) of paragraph 2.3., 15,000 operational cycles (check valve) and 67,000 operational cycles (shut-off valve) are added for a 20-year service life.

If one or both vehicle crash tests are not applicable, the compressed hydrogen storage system must be subject to the relevant alternative accelerations. Before, the vehicle fuel system was subject to these accelerations. The compressed hydrogen storage system must comply with the relevant requirements in paragraphs 7.2.3. and 7.2.4. Before, the hydrogen storage system had to be installed in a position satisfying the requirements in paragraph 7.2.4. In the list of crash tests, the text now says “UN Regulation” where it said “Regulation” before.

Paragraph 7.2.4.3. applies to compressed hydrogen storage systems installed in vehicles to which the vehicle crash test of 7.2.(b) is not applicable. For these systems, upon the manufacturer’s request, the installation requirement of 7.2.4.2. does not apply if the system has passed the new lateral impact test. The test uses a movable deformable barrier (MDB) that complies with UN Regulation No. 95, Annex 5. The MDB must hit at 50 ± 1 km/h; a test at a higher speed is also satisfactory if the system met the requirements. After the test, the system must comply with the requirements in 7.2.1. and 7.2.3. A calculation method may replace practical testing if equivalence is shown to the satisfaction of the Technical Service and in agreement with the type-approval authority.

In paragraph 8.1., the Type Approval Authority now refers to Annex 7 when it acts on a notified modification. Under new Annex 7, modifications to an existing type approval of CHSS may be approved in accordance with the reduced test programme of Table 1. For modifications not in Table 1, the Technical Service identifies the necessary test programme, taking account of their similarities to the Table 1 items. Table 1 lists the required tests for each changed item, for example resin material, diameter, length, coating or valve change. Seven notes give conditions, for example that a change of fiber type, such as glass to carbon, is not applicable.

The definition of “Enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces” no longer ends with the examples of the passenger compartment, luggage compartment and space under the hood. The fuelling receptacle must be installed so that access for refilling is not required in the passenger compartment, luggage compartment, or any other unventilated compartment. Before, it could not be installed in the passenger compartment, luggage compartment and other places where hydrogen gas could accumulate and ventilation was not sufficient. In Annex 5, paragraph 3.2.1.3., the vehicle is now prepared to simulate, not to allow, remotely controllable hydrogen releases. Hydrogen releases may be demonstrated by using external fuel supply without modification of the test vehicle fuel lines. The words “under single failure condition” are removed after the worst case leakage scenarios.