Section 1 General requirements
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Offshore Units, July 2022 - Part 7 Safety Systems, Hazardous Areas and Fire - Chapter 1 Safety and Communication Systems - Section 1 General requirements

Section 1 General requirements

Parent topic: Chapter 1 Safety and Communication Systems

1.1 General

1.1.1 This Chapter applies to all units defined in Pt 1, Ch 2 Classification Regulations on board which drilling, production and processing of hydrocarbons and/or storage of crude oil in bulk, or pipe-laying operations (as defined in Pt 3, Ch 17, 1.1 Application 1.1.1) is undertaken. It is also applicable to Accommodation Units and Support Units as detailed in Pt 3, Ch 4 Accommodation and Support Units. However, Accommodation Units and Support Units not engaged in activities with drilling, production and processing of hydrocarbons and/or storage of crude oil in bulk, or pipe-laying operations need not comply with all the requirements of Pt 7, Ch 1, 2 Fire and gas alarm indication and control systems, in relation to gas detection, or the requirements of Pt 7, Ch 1, 5 Protection against gas ingress into safe areas, Pt 7, Ch 1, 6 Protection against gas escape in enclosed and semi-enclosed hazardous areas, Pt 7, Ch 1, 7 Emergency shutdown (ESD) systems or Pt 7, Ch 1, 8 Emergency release systems (ERS) of this Chapter. This Chapter also states the fire detection requirements for units to be assigned the UMS and CCS notations, see Pt 6, Ch 1, 4 Unattended machinery space(s) – UMS notation and Pt 6, Ch 1, 5 Machinery operated from a centralised control station – CCS notation. Attention is to be given to the relevant Statutory Regulations of the National Administrations in the country of registration and area of operation, as applicable.

1.1.2 While Pt 7, Ch 2 Hazardous Areas and Ventilation prescribes the boundaries of hazardous areas where special precautions are to be applied, the safeguards called for in this Chapter include provision for actions applicable where gas is present beyond hazardous area boundaries. Such circumstances may arise, for example, as the consequence of an uncontrolled well blow out or catastrophic failure of pipes or vessels.

1.1.3 These requirements apply to manned units. Special consideration will be given to unmanned units which are controlled from the shore or from another unit. When accommodation and support units are to operate for prolonged periods adjacent to live offshore hydrocarbon exploration or production units, it is the responsibility of the Owner/Operator to comply with the requirements of the appropriate National Administrations and special consideration will be given to the safety requirements for classification purposes, as appropriate.

1.1.4  Pt 7, Ch 1, 2 Fire and gas alarm indication and control systems states general requirements for fire and gas detection systems. This Section also includes the additional fire detection requirements applicable for unattended machinery spaces and machinery spaces under continuous supervision from a centralised control station, see Pt 6, Ch 1, 4.5 Fire detection alarm system, and Pt 6, Ch 1, 5 Machinery operated from a centralised control station – CCS notation, and incorporates requirements for accommodation units with spaces to house offshore personnel who are not members of the crew of the unit, see Pt 3, Ch 4 Accommodation and Support Units.

1.1.5  Pt 7, Ch 1, 3 Systems for broadcasting safety information states requirements for personnel warning systems, general alarms and public address systems.

1.1.6  Pt 7, Ch 1, 4 Emergency lighting states requirements for emergency lighting equipment.

1.1.7  Pt 7, Ch 1, 5 Protection against gas ingress into safe areas states the alarms and safeguards required for heating ventilation and air conditioning systems to protect against ingress of gas into safe areas, as defined in Pt 7, Ch 2 Hazardous Areas and Ventilation.

1.1.8  Pt 7, Ch 1, 6 Protection against gas escape in enclosed and semi-enclosed hazardous areas states requirements which apply where ventilation systems are installed in enclosed and semi-enclosed hazardous areas, as defined in Pt 7, Ch 2, 6.2 Ventilation of hazardous spaces.

1.1.9  Pt 7, Ch 1, 7 Emergency shutdown (ESD) systems states requirements which apply to reduce fire and gas hazards in an emergency, by shutting down process plant and machinery.

1.1.10  Pt 7, Ch 1, 8 Emergency release systems (ERS) states requirements which apply to cargo transfer systems in an emergency, related to the release of the offloading configuration.

1.1.11  Pt 7, Ch 1, 9 Riser systems states requirements for control and alarms of riser systems for the assignment of the special features class notation PRS.

1.1.12  Pt 7, Ch 1, 10 Protection against flooding states requirements for the alarm and control of watertight closing appliances as required by Pt 4, Ch 7 Watertight and Weathertight Integrity and Load Lines and the requirements for the warning of ingress of water.

1.2 Documentation

1.2.1 The following documentation, as far as applicable to the unit, are to be submitted:
  1. For fire and gas systems:
    • Fire and gas system design philosophy document.
    • Fire and gas system design specification.
    • Loss control or hazard analysis charts.
    • Block diagram showing interface and power supply arrangements.
    • Fire and gas system ‘cause and effect’ diagrams, including actions on heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.
    • Layout drawing showing the positions of fire and gas detector heads, manually operated call points, control panels and repeaters, cable routes, and fire zones.
    • Details of the make and type numbers of all detector heads, manual call points and associated panels.
    • Fire pump control, alarm, starting and inhibiting arrangements.
    • For programmable electronic systems and networked systems, see Pt 6, Ch 1, 1.2 Documentation required for design review 1.2.6.
  2. For public address and general alarms, unit status indicators and emergency lighting:
    • Communications philosophy document.
    • Block diagrams showing interfaces and power supply arrangements.
    • Single line diagrams.
    • Unit layout drawings showing location of fire zones, cryogenic spill areas, equipment and cable routes.
    • For programmable electronic systems and networked systems, see also Pt 6, Ch 1, 1.2 Documentation required for design review 1.2.6.
  3. For protection against gas and smoke in safe and hazardous areas:
    • Layout drawing of drilling and/or process equipment or pipe-laying systems and gas detectors.
    • Ventilation system flow diagrams and gas detectors.
  4. For emergency lighting:
    • Single line diagram.
    • General arrangement plans showing the location of equipment and cable routes.
  5. For emergency shut-down (ESD) systems:
  6. For emergency release systems (ERS):
    • Safety integrity level categorisation study for the instrument protective system.
    • Alarm and trip schedules.
    • Block diagram showing interfaces and power supply arrangements.
    • Physical arrangements of control panel.
    • ERS valve pneumatic and/or hydraulic schematics.
  7. For watertight doors and other electrically operated closing appliances:
    • Single line diagram.
    • General arrangement plans showing the location of equipment and cable routes.

1.3 Safety and communications equipment

1.3.1 Requirements for construction, detailed design, survey, inspection and testing of electrical and electronic equipment are contained in Pt 6, Ch 1 Control Engineering Systems and Pt 6, Ch 2 Electrical Engineering respectively.

1.3.2 Requirements for construction, detailed design, survey, inspection and testing of pneumatic and hydraulic equipment are contained in Pt 5, Ch 1 General Requirements for Offshore Units, Pt 5, Ch 12 Piping Design Requirementsand Pt 5, Ch 14 Machinery Piping Systems.

1.3.3 Equipment used in safety and communication systems should be suitable for its intended purpose, and accordingly, whenever practicable, should be selected from the List of Type Approved Products published by Lloyd’s Register (LR). A copy of the Procedure for LR Type Approval System will be supplied on application. For fire detection alarm systems, see Pt 7, Ch 1, 2.2 Fire and gas detection alarm panels and sensors 2.2.9. For networked and programmable electronic systems, see Pt 6, Ch 1, 1.2 Documentation required for design review 1.2.5, Pt 6, Ch 1, 2.9 Programmable electronic systems – General requirements.

1.3.4 Where equipment requires a controlled environment, an alternative means is to be provided to maintain the required environment in the event of a failure of the normal air conditioning system, see Pt 6, Ch 1, 1.3 Control, alarm and safety equipment.

1.3.5 Assessment of performance parameters, such as accuracy, repeatability, etc. are to be in accordance with an acceptable National or International Standard.

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