Overview
ISO 17268:2020 - "Gaseous hydrogen land vehicle refuelling connection devices" - specifies the design, safety and operational requirements for refuelling connectors used to transfer gaseous hydrogen (H2) to land vehicles. The standard covers connector assemblies up to 70 MPa nominal working pressure and defines the applicable components: receptacle and protective cap (vehicle-mounted), nozzle, and communication hardware. It does not apply to refuelling connectors for hydrogen blended with natural gas.
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 17268:2020 addresses both mechanical and functional aspects of hydrogen refuelling connectors. Major technical areas include:
- Component definitions and pressure ratings for safe operation at high pressures (up to 70 MPa).
- General construction requirements for nozzles and receptacles to ensure secure, leak-free connections.
- Communication hardware requirements (e.g., IrDA per SAE J2799 or equivalent) to support vehicle–dispenser data exchange.
- Design verification and test procedures, including tests for:
- leakage, hydrostatic strength and corrosion resistance
- vibration, dropping, thermal cycling, low/high temperature operation
- durability, wear, contamination and freezing
- misconnection, upward/downward compatibility and user-abuse scenarios
- sealing material aging, non‑metallic hydrogen resistance, electrical resistance
- Instructions and marking requirements to ensure correct installation, use and traceability.
- Normative references to other test standards (e.g., ISO 188, ISO 1431-1, ISO 9227, ISO 12103-1, ISO 15501-1) and coordination with ISO/TC 197 (Hydrogen technologies) and CEN.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
ISO 17268:2020 is intended for organizations involved in the hydrogen mobility ecosystem:
- Manufacturers of hydrogen nozzles, vehicle receptacles and refuelling station hardware - for compliant product design and validation.
- Hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) designers and operators - to ensure safe, interoperable dispensing systems.
- Vehicle OEMs - to specify compatible vehicle-side receptacles and communications.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform the standardized verification and durability tests.
- Standards developers and regulators - for harmonized safety and interoperability rules across markets.
Related standards and references
By implementing ISO 17268:2020, stakeholders in hydrogen refuelling can improve safety, ensure connector interoperability across vehicles and dispensers, and validate long-term durability for high-pressure gaseous hydrogen service.
