Engineering the Hydrogen Transition: Navigating Material Criticality, International Codes, and European PED Compliance in Piping Systems

This thesis investigates the practical challenges of designing hydrogen piping systems that must satisfy both international design codes (primarily ASME B31.12) and European regulatory requirements (Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU). Drawing on the author's internship experience at Renco—including internal training development and ongoing participation in the Falconara hydrogen project's PED procedure—the research examines how engineering contractors navigate the interface between US-based design standards and European legal frameworks. The thesis begins by establishing why hydrogen presents unique material challenges, then explains the philosophy and purpose of engineering codes, and finally analyzes the specific requirements of the PED. The outcome is a practical workflow for integrating material selection with compliance documentation, developed through observation of an active project. This work contributes a practitioner-oriented framework that can serve as an introductory guide for engineers new to hydrogen piping and European regulatory compliance.