ISO 12619-6:2017

Overview

ISO 12619-6:2017 specifies tests and requirements for the automatic valve used in compressed gaseous hydrogen (CGH2) and hydrogen/natural gas (H/NG) blend vehicle fuel systems. Intended for motor vehicles defined in ISO 3833, the standard focuses on component safety, leakage control, electrical insulation and long-term operation under representative service conditions. It is applicable to vehicles using CGH2 (ISO 14687-1/2) and H/NG blends (ISO 15403-1, ISO/TR 15403-2) and excludes LH2 components, fuel containers, stationary engines, mounting hardware, electronic fuel management and refuelling receptacles.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability: Defines the automatic valve (on/off valve not manually operated) and clarifies excluded items and gauge-pressure conventions.

• Marking requirements: Components must be traceable. Markings should include:

  • Manufacturer name or trademark
  • Model/part number
  • Working pressure (and temperature range if applicable)
  • Fuel type
  • Recommended additional markings: endurance category (H1/H2/H3), flow direction, electrical ratings, certification symbol, approval number, serial/date code and reference to ISO 12619-6.

• Construction and assembly: Valves shall comply with ISO 12619-1 and ISO 12619-2. All automatic valves (including solenoids and cylinder-mounted valves) must be closed when de-energized. Valves with manual by-pass must meet minimum requirements.

• Required tests: The document defines functional and durability tests (see Key Tests below) to verify safety and performance when exposed to CGH2 or H/NG blends.

Key Tests (selected)

• Hydrostatic strength: Test at 2.5 × working pressure per ISO 12619-2.
• Leakage: Evaluated across specified temperatures and pressure factors to confirm containment integrity.
• Continued operation (endurance): Cyclic operation tests per ISO 12619-2; base procedure is 50 000 cycles, with extended requirements marked H1 (200 000), H2 (500 000) and H3 (1 000 000) depending on vehicle engine shutdown strategies. Valves must pass leakage and hydrostatic tests after cycling.
• Insulation resistance: Apply 1 000 V DC between coil pin and housing; minimum resistance 240 kΩ. Electrically-operated valves intended for gas-tight housings must be intrinsically safe per IEC 60079-10-1.
• Minimum opening voltage: ≤8 V for 12 V systems and ≤16 V for 24 V systems at ≥0.75 × WP.
• Pressure impulse: Withstand 100 instantaneous pressure pulses to evaluate resistance to rapid filling or sudden pressurization.

Applications

ISO 12619-6:2017 is used by:

• Component manufacturers validating automatic valve designs for CGH2 and H/NG vehicle applications
• Vehicle OEMs and integrators specifying fuel system safety and durability
• Test labs performing conformity and type-approval testing

Benefits include improved safety, documented leak control, verified electrical insulation and proven durability under real-world operating scenarios.

Related Standards

• ISO 12619-1 (general requirements and definitions)
• ISO 12619-2 (performance and test methods)
• ISO 3833 (vehicle types)
• ISO 14687-1 / ISO 14687-2 (hydrogen fuel quality)
• ISO 15403-1 / ISO/TR 15403-2 (natural gas fuel quality)
• IEC 60079-10-1 (explosive atmosphere classification)

For manufacturers and test houses, ISO 12619-6:2017 provides a practical framework to demonstrate that automatic valves for hydrogen and hydrogen/NG blends meet safety, leakage and durability expectations required for road vehicle service.