The embrittlement of metals exposed to hydrogen environments is well documented. With the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the consumer sector, there is a need to improve the engineering basis for the selection of materials of construction for equipment that stores and distributes high-pressure gaseous hydrogen. This brief overview summarizes publicly available guidance for evaluating materials compatibility with high-pressure gaseous hydrogen. Additionally, a new standard for measuring engineering data in gaseous hydrogen and evaluating materials suitability for service in gaseous hydrogen is introduced: the CHMC1 standard provides a general framework for qualifying materials for hydrogen service. The CHCM1 standard is unique in its broad scope and performance-based strategy for quantitatively assessing materials in their service environment and for the intended structural requirements. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.