Walt Vernon Appointed Principal Member of NFPA Hydrogen Technology Committee

Mazzetti CEO Walt Vernon has been appointed a Principal member of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Technical Committee on Hydrogen Technology (HYD-AAA). The NFPA Standards Council approved the appointment at its August 18, 2026 meeting.

The committee is responsible for NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technologies Code. As a Principal, Walt is a voting member who helps decide how the code evolves as hydrogen moves from pilot projects into mainstream building and energy systems.

NFPA 2 sets fire protection and design requirements for applications and equipment that contain hydrogen, in both gas and liquid form. Authorities having jurisdiction rely on it when they review hydrogen generation, storage, piping and fuel cell systems.

NFPA codes are written through a consensus process. Technical committees balance manufacturers, users, enforcers, insurers and design professionals, and Principal members vote on every proposed revision. Walt joins that process as hydrogen gains attention as a clean, dispatchable energy source for critical facilities.

Walt brings direct project experience to the committee. He led the first hospital hydrogen fuel cell installation and has delivered microgrids and energy strategies for health systems including Kaiser Permanente, Ascension and Valley Children’s Healthcare.

Many of those projects used technologies existing codes had never contemplated. Rather than settle for one-off approvals, Walt has spent his career working to update codes and standards so innovations can be used safely in healthcare facilities nationwide.

His code and standards work already spans ASHRAE, NFPA and the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI). He also serves as President of the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) and was named Leader of the Year at the 2026 Green Power Leadership Awards.

Hospitals are among the most energy-intensive buildings in the country, and among the least able to lose power. Hydrogen and fuel cells offer a path to cleaner, more resilient backup and primary power, but only if the codes keep pace with the technology.

“Hydrogen is going to be an important part of our energy future, especially for critical facilities like hospitals,” said Walt. “Serving on this committee is a chance to help make sure the code supports safe, practical adoption, and to connect with a broader network of people working on the same problem.”

For Mazzetti’s clients, Walt’s seat on HYD-AAA means early insight into where hydrogen requirements are heading, and a voice for healthcare in how those requirements are written.