Road planning

This LAP indicates if hydrogen has to follow specific requirements when transported, and if the regulations are different from the transport of other types of gas. It identifes the competent authorities to allocate the routes.

Glossary:

Road Planning provide the municipalities with a clear understanding of the maximum risks that the transport of hazardous substances may cause. Baseline goals are: Transport hazardous substances between major industrial sites and abroad, including in the future, keeping risks for locals along the routes within legal limits, provide clarity to municipalities about what may / may not be built.

Pan-European Assessment:

Hydrogen is considered as any other flammable gas or dangerous good for its transportation. The Agreement of transport of Dangerous Goods by Road applies.
Is it a barrier?
No
Assessment Severity
0
Assessment
Safety regulation to protect people and environment from harmful substances, fires and explosions. Not a barrier: hydrogen is a dangerous good when transported in large quantities, so ADR restrictions apply as they should. There are no hydrogen-specific restrictions.

Questions:

Question 1 Are there any specific regulations or restrictions on the road transport of hydrogen? A) Does hydrogen have to follow specific requirements when transported? (e.g. specific types of roads, specific route)
No, there are no particular hydrogen-specific requirements. The ADR requirements have to be followed as with other types of flammable gasses transported in container vehicles. Transportation of hydrogen is allowed everywhere except in routes marked with traffic signs that prohibit the carriage of dangerous goods. Local prohibited areas can be proposed by municipalities but they need to be set by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom). In general the ADR regulation follows EU regulation, but there is one national addition: classification of A and B zones, marked with separate traffic signs under the general ADR traffic sign. Zone A means full prohibition of transport, a “no–go–zone”. Zone B means drive–through prohibition: in a B zone driving to the target via the shortest route, loading and unloading of cargo is allowed.
Question 1 Are there any specific regulations or restrictions on the road transport of hydrogen? B) Please specify the requirements regarding tunnels, bridges, parking, others
There are no tunnel restrictions for road transport of dangerous goods. There can be imposed local prohibitions in parking areas set by the owner/operator.
Question 2 Which authorities are competent to allocate the routes? (and at what level: national, local?)
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) and Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency are the national authorities. The prohibition can be proposed by municipality and set by Traficom. The prohibited area can be a road or part of a road like densely populated area.
Question 3 Are the regulations differing from the transport of other types of gas?
No specific treatment for hydrogen. The transportation prohibition of dangerous goods has a classification A and B based on the amount of the goods. Zone A means full prohibition of transport, a “no–go–zone”. Zone B means drive–through prohibition: in a B zone driving to the target via the shortest route, loading and unloading of cargo is allowed.
Describe the comparable technology and its relevance with regard to hydrogen
Road transport of industrial gasses in general.

National legislation:

EU Legislation: