Hydrogen safety – a new energy source with special risks
—Hydrogen (H2) is one of the most important sources of clean energy. In a move towards a more sustainable future, the number of hydrogen production and distribution facilities is expanding. With decades of experience in the process industry, Dräger is the ideal partner for customers and stakeholders – especially new players on the market – in assessing risks and providing comprehensive consultancy and hydrogen safety solutions. Dräger offers the first point of contact for hydrogen safety issues with thorough knowledge of the hazards of working with hydrogen.
Hydrogen Technology Expo 2026
The international technically focussed hydrogen event dedicated to project development, engineering and deployment across the globe.
Visit Dräger in Hall B7, Stand No. 7H55, from October 20-22, 2026 at Hamburg Messe, Germany.
Empowering Safe Energy Transition: Dräger CleanTech Solutions
Discover how Dräger supports safety and innovation in the rapidly evolving energy sector. This video highlights the essential role of safety and trust in energy transformation. Watch why Dräger, with more than 130 years of expertise, empowers customers worldwide to navigate change with confidence.
How to meet hydrogen safety challenges
Hydrogen itself is not toxic, but it poses special risks to safety on plants and for the infrastructure which produce, distribute or use it. Read about the safety challenges and how Dräger can support the hydrogen economy with comprehensive risk analysis, project planning, selection and installation of the right safety solutions and services in all phases of the process.
Hydrogen Early Warning Systems
—Early warning systems can protect lives and assets in nature and in hydrogen plants.
Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection.
In the wild, an early warning can mean the difference between life and death. In the hydrogen plant, where safety is crucial, ultrasonic early warning provides additional protection. The Dräger Polytron 8900 uses an ultrasonic acoustic sensor to ‘listen’ for hydrogen gas leaks which are inaudible to the human ear, providing a reliable and crucial early warning system and thereby preventing hydrogen fires and explosions. With this unique ultrasonic early warning, lives and assets can be protected.
Gas Detection
In the wild, extraordinary senses separate those who survive and those who do not. An extraordinary sense of ‘smell’ is essential to everything running smoothly in hydrogen plants. The Dräger Polytron 8200 is able to ‘smell’ gases, even at very low concentrations and trigger an early warning as soon a dangerous concentration, even a small one, is detected. This is especially crucial indoors, where gases can form explosive clouds, and provides and additional level of safety in hydrogen plants.
UV Radiation
In nature, early warning of impending danger is key to survival. The ability to detect UV radiation enables early warning systems in hydrogen plants. Hydrogen flames are barely visible. The Dräger Flame 1750 H2 detector uses a IIR sensor to ‘see’ hydrogen flames which would not otherwise be detected. This provides an effective early warning system in the event of a fire.
Hydrogen Early Warning Detection Solutions - New Interactive Tool
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Counter the risks & dangers of hydrogen
Click the link below and immerse yourself in our new interactive tool! You'll find much more on the different plant scenarios and applications and of course our solutions to counter the risks and dangers posed.
Hydrogen explosions and other major risks
—The 7 hydrogen safety challenges
Hydrogen does not impose major new risks compared to other gases. The trouble spots occur where people are involved in tasks along the hydrogen value chain, from production to use. Even though specific challenges differ between applications, plant safety is common to all. Here are some of the risk factors which Drager explores in projects with customers:
Explosion
Unlike actual explosives, pure hydrogen cannot explode. The risk comes when it hits the air. For hydrogen to cause an explosion, oxygen needs to be present. But if hydrogen is allowed to escape, even a static spark from clothing would be enough to set off an explosion.
Invisible flame
Hydrogen burns with a very pale flame that is invisible in daylight. Because it emits little of the infrared radiation that humans perceive as heat, it cannot be sensed as heat. A hydrogen flame does however emit substantial ultraviolet radiation. Special UV detectors are therefore required to alert to the presence of hydrogen flames.
Leaks
Owing to its small molecules and low viscosity, hydrogen can leak from pipelines and other structures more easily than denser gases. In fact, when it leaks from a pipe at sufficiently high pressure, hydrogen can even self-ignite. As well as pipelines engineered to hydrogen-ready specifications, regular inspection is imperative to detect leak points at joints and along pipelines. Fixed leak detectors add another layer of safety.
Permeation
Hydrogen can easily permeate materials and in some cases embrittle them. For this reason, stainless steel and composite materials are typically used for storage tanks.
CO alarms
Carbon monoxide (CO) sensors are cross-sensitive to hydrogen. If used near possible hydrogen exposure, CO sensors should be compensated for hydrogen so that cross-sensitivity and false alarms are reduced to a minimum.
Gas pockets
Like ammonia and methane, hydrogen is less dense than air and forms gas pockets below indoor ceilings when leaking. The presence of hydrogen will not be perceived at ground level, even when dangerous amounts are accumulating beneath the ceiling. When hydrogen and methane are mixed, hydrogen can form gas pockets above methane. Hydrogen detectors are therefore typically placed at the top, with methane detectors below that level.
Odourless and colourless
Hydrogen has no smell and no colour, so is undetectable for humans. With methane, this issue is mitigated by adding odorants, and research is in progress to determine whether this will also be possible with hydrogen. Gas and leak detectors are essential.
Hydrogen Safety and Emergency Management
—Hydrogen safety starts with risk analysis, needs solid project planning and includes dedicated hydrogen detection solutions.
Consultancy for your Safety
Consultancy in handling hydrogen safety challenges is a matter for Dräger safety engineers. Experts review existing concepts to identify potential for improvement and establish sustainable safety. They provide conceptual support, assess your risks and define measures together with you.
Hydrogen safety: Solutions for detection, monitoring and protection
—Fixed Gas Detection Systems
For safe production, storage and distribution of hydrogen, various detection technologies must be employed to build efficient levels of protection as a comprehensive safety solution. Hydrogen sensor devices provide instant alerts in case of hazardous leaks or risks of combustion.
Dräger Polytron® 8900 UGLD
Dräger Polytron® 8200 CAT
Dräger Flame 1750 H2
Dräger Polytron® 6100 EC WL
Dräger PointGard 2200
Dräger PEX 3000
Document Downloads
—Click on the links below to download more information from our informative whitepapers and infographics.
What makes hydrogen dangerous?
Learn about hydrogen properties and how to mitigate risks.
Detecting gas leaks at the speed of sound
Learn about leaks in hydrogen applications and how ultrasonic gas leak detection can save lives.
Hydrogen in the steel industry
Learn about hydrogen safety challenges in the steel industry and how to handle them.
Hydrogen explosion
Find out more about explosion protection with gas detection systems in our brochure.
Safety solutions for hydrogen detection
Safety solutions for hydrogen detection: Get an overview of mobile and fixed gas detection solutions for hydrogen detection.
Individual solutions: gas detection systems designed for you
—Every industrial plant is different. From our extensive experience, we know that fixed fire and gas detection systems are only as effective as the planning which goes in to them. To that end, we work in close collaboration with our customers to provide guidance through the complete process – from consultation through design, realisation and implementation. So, you can achieve the best possible solution for your specific needs.
Our organization is a member of the Center for Hydrogen Safety, which is a global nonprofit resource that supports and promotes the safe handling and use of hydrogen across industrial and consumer applications in the energy transition. For more information visit the Center for Hydrogen Safety website.
Other Dräger Clean Energy Solutions
—Follow the links below to find out more about our range of safety solutions in the Clean Tech area.
Ammonia Safety
Lithium-ion Battery Safety
Methanol Safety
Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage
Get in touch with Dräger
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Revalstraße 1
23560 Lübeck
Germany
Not all products, features, or services are for sale in all countries. Please contact your local Dräger representative for more information.