Skip to content

Chapter 23 — MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES

Section 2309

California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

HYDROGEN MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING AND GENERATION FACILITIES

2309.1 General.

Hydrogen motor fuel-dispensing and generation facilities shall be in accordance with this section and Chapter 58. Where a fuel-dispensing facility includes a repair garage, the repair operation shall comply with Section 2311.

Exceptions & meaning →

2309.2 Equipment.

Equipment used for the generation, compression, storage or dispensing of hydrogen shall be designed for the specific application in accordance with Sections 2309.2.1 through 2309.2.3.

2309.2.1 Approved equipment. Cylinders, containers and tanks; pressure relief devices, including pressure valves; hydrogen vaporizers; pressure regulators; and piping used for gaseous hydrogen systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Chapters 53, 55 and 58.

2309.2.2 Listed or approved equipment. Hoses, hose connections, compressors, hydrogen generators, dispensers and electrical equipment used for hydrogen shall be listed or approved for use with hydrogen. Hydrogen motor-fueling connections shall be listed and labeled or approved for use with hydrogen.

2309.2.3 Electrical equipment. Electrical installations shall be in accordance with the California Electrical Code.

Exceptions & meaning →

2309.3 Location on property.

In addition to the requirements of Section 2303.1, dispensing equipment shall be located in accordance with Sections 2309.3.1 through Section 2309.3.2.

MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES

2309.3.1 Location of operations and equipment. Generation, compression, storage and dispensing equipment shall be located in accordance with Sections 2309.3.1.1 through 2309.3.1.5.5.

2309.3.1.1 Outdoors. Generation, compression, or storage equipment shall be allowed outdoors in accordance with Chapter 58 and NFPA 2.

2309.3.1.2 Indoors. Generation, compression, storage and dispensing equipment shall be located in indoor rooms or areas constructed in accordance with the requirements of the California Building Code, the Cali- fornia Fuel Gas Code, the California Mechanical Code and NFPA 2.

2309.3.1.2.1 Maintenance. Gaseous hydrogen systems and detection devices shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

2309.3.1.2.2 Smoking. Smoking shall be prohibited in hydrogen cutoff rooms. “No Smoking” signs shall be provided at all entrances to hydrogen fuel gas rooms.

2309.3.1.2.3 Ignition source control. Open flames, flame-producing devices and other sources of ignition shall be controlled in accordance with Chapter 58.

2309.3.1.2.4 Housekeeping. Hydrogen fuel gas rooms shall be kept free from combustible debris and storage.

2309.3.1.3 Gaseous hydrogen storage. Storage of gaseous hydrogen shall be in accordance with Chapters 53 and 58.

2309.3.1.4 Liquefied hydrogen storage. Storage of liquefied hydrogen shall be in accordance with Chapters 55 and 58.

2309.3.1.5 Canopy tops. Gaseous hydrogen compression and storage equipment located on top of motor fuel-dispensing facility canopies shall be in accordance with Sections 2309.3.1.5.1 through 2309.3.1.5.5, Chapters 53 and 58 and the California Fuel Gas Code .

2309.3.1.5.1 Construction. Canopies shall be constructed in accordance with the motor fuel-dispensing facility canopy requirements of Section 406.7 of the California Building Code .

2309.3.1.5.2 Fire-extinguishing systems. Fuel-dispensing areas under canopies shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. The design of the sprinkler system shall be not less than that required for Extra Hazard Group 2 occupancies. Operation of the sprinkler system shall activate the emergency functions of Sections 2309.3.1.5.3 and 2309.3.1.5.4.

2309.3.1.5.3 Emergency discharge. Operation of the automatic sprinkler system shall activate an automatic emergency discharge system, which will discharge the hydrogen gas from the equipment on the canopy top through the vent pipe system.

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES

2309.3.1.5.4 Emergency shutdown control. Operation of the automatic sprinkler system shall activate the emergency shutdown control required by Section 2309.5.3.

2309.3.1.5.5 Signage. Approved signage having 2inch (51 mm) block letters shall be affixed at approved locations on the exterior of the canopy structure stating: CANOPY TOP HYDROGEN STORAGE.

2309.3.2 Canopies. Dispensing equipment need not be separated from canopies of Type I or II construction that are constructed in a manner that prevents the accumulation of hydrogen gas and in accordance with Section 406.7 of the California Building Code.

Exceptions & meaning →

2309.4 Dispensing into motor vehicles at self-service

hydrogen motor fuel-dispensing facilities. Self-service hydrogen motor fuel-dispensing systems, including key, code and card lock dispensing systems, shall be limited to the filling of permanently mounted fuel containers on hydrogenpowered vehicles.

In addition to the requirements in Section 2311, the owner of a self-service hydrogen motor fuel-dispensing facility shall provide for the safe operation of the system through the institution of a fire safety plan submitted in accordance with Section 404, the training of employees and operators who use and maintain the system in accordance with Section 406, and provisions for hazard communication in accordance with Section 407.

2309.4.1 Dispensing systems. Dispensing systems shall be equipped with an overpressure protection device set at not greater than 140 percent of the service pressure of the fueling nozzle it supplies.

Exceptions & meaning →

2309.5 Safety precautions. Safety precautions at hydrogen

motor fuel-dispensing and generation facilities shall be in accordance with Sections 2309.5.1 through 2309.5.3.1.

2309.5.1 Protection from vehicles. Guard posts or other approved means shall be provided to protect hydrogen storage systems and use areas subject to vehicular damage in accordance with Section 312.

2309.5.1.1 Vehicle fueling pad. The vehicle shall be fueled on noncoated concrete or other approved paving material having a resistance not exceeding 1 megohm as determined by the methodology specified in EN 1081.

2309.5.2 Emergency shutoff valves. A manual emergency shutoff valve shall be provided to shut down the flow of gas from the hydrogen supply to the piping system.

2309.5.2.1 Identification. Manual emergency shutoff valves shall be identified and the location shall be clearly visible, accessible and indicated by means of a sign.

2309.5.3 Emergency shutdown controls. In addition to the manual emergency shutoff valve required by Section 2309.5.2, a remotely located, manually activated emergency shutdown control shall be provided. An emergency shutdown control shall be located within 75 feet (22 860

mm) of, but not less than 25 feet (7620 mm) from, dispensers and hydrogen generators.

2309.5.3.1 System requirements. Activation of the emergency shutdown control shall automatically shut off the power supply to all hydrogen storage, compression and dispensing equipment; shut off natural gas or other fuel supply to the hydrogen generator; and close valves between the main supply and the compressor and between the storage containers and dispensing equipment.

Exceptions & meaning →

2309.6 Repairs, purging, defueling and discharge. The

repair, purging, defueling or discharge activities associated with hydrogen motor fuel supply systems and tanks and the installation of the systems shall be in accordance with Chapters 53 and 58 and NFPA 2.

Exception: The fuel supply piping from the fuel storage tank to the engine compartment on a motor vehicle or forklift.

2309.6.1 Documented procedure. A documented procedure that explains the logic sequence for defueling or discharging operations shall be maintained on site and shall be provided to the fire code official upon request. The procedure shall include what actions the operator is required to take in the event of a low-pressure or high-pressure hydrogen release during discharging activity. Schematic design documents shall be maintained on site, illustrating the arrangement of piping, regulators and equipment settings. The schematic shall illustrate the piping and regulator arrangement and shall be shown in spatial relation to the location of the vehicle being defueled and, if applicable, to the compressor, storage vessels and emergency shutdown devices.

Exceptions & meaning →

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸Contents — California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.