Dr. Chris LaFleur is the Research & Development Manager of the Risk & Reliability Analysis department at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM. As a fire protection engineer, she leads the fire risk program, focusing her research on evaluating fire risks associated with emerging energy technologies. Her work supports the safe implementation of cleaner transportation fuels, helping to reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels and expand the availability of renewable energy solutions. Chris serves as Chair of the NFPA 2 Hydrogen Technologies Code and is a member of the NFPA 13 technical committee.

At the webinar an overview of the 2026 edition of the NFPA 2 Hydrogen Technologies Code will be provided, highlighting recent updates to several key requirements. Chris will discuss the evolution of bulk storage separation distances, tracing their development from initial estimates by subject matter experts to more precise, science- and risk-based values. She will also share insights into the anticipated code improvements envisioned for the next revision cycle.