NIST Hydrogen Test Facility Lab

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hydrogen Test Facility project, was awarded the GOLD HARD HAT AWARD in two categories: Engineering Design and Higher Education / Research Project. This award is presented by McGraw Hill in conjunction with The American General Contractors (AGC). The Hydrogen Test Facility was selected for these awards my an independent jury made up of Architects, Engineers and General Contractors.

In support of federal efforts to create a “hydrogen economy,” NIST developed a new Hydrogen Test Facility in Boulder, Colorado. The facility evaluates tests, materials, mechanical properties and standards for hydrogen pipelines. The facility also serves as a center for research in the development of the hydrogen fuel infrastructure and the development of alternative fuels. NIST is using the laboratory to develop long-term materials service tests and apply them to study pipeline materials and mechanical effects.

LONCO, Inc. was the prime consultant on the project and also the structural engineer of record. LONCO worked with our design team partners, Eric Bartczak Architect, The RMH Group (Mechanical) and Fitzpatrick Engineering (Electrical) to develop the plans and specifications for this research laboratory. Because the Scientist’s using the facility would be working with hydrogen, which can be a very explosive gas, special design considerations were required to minimize ignition sources.

Unique to this project was the requirement that we incorporate an existing concrete “Blast Wall” into the design. The blast wall had been constructed in the 1950’s using cast in place concrete. The original structure had been used to shelter scientists who were testing other volatile substances. The LONCO team developed an adaptive reuse design that utilized the existing structure as one of the four walls used to enclose the laboratory and support a new roof structure.

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