2.5 Pipes, valves, fittings and hoses
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - DS Code - Code of Safety for Diving Systems, 1995 – Resolution A.831(19) - Chapter 2 - Design, Construction and Survey - 2.5 Pipes, valves, fittings and hoses

2.5 Pipes, valves, fittings and hoses

  2.5.1 Pipe systems should be so designed as to minimize the noise inside the diving bell and surface compression chamber during normal operation.

  2.5.2 A surface compression chamber should be equipped with such valves, gauges and other fittings as are necessary to control and indicate the internal pressure and safe environment of each compartment from outside the chamber at a centralized position.

  2.5.3 Valves, gauges and other fittings should be provided outside the bell as necessary to control and indicate the pressure and safe environment within the diving bell. The external pressure on the diving bell should also be indicated inside the bell.

  2.5.4 All pipe penetrations on chambers should be fitted with two shutoff devices as close to the penetration as practicable. Where appropriate, one device should be a nonreturn valve.

  2.5.5 All surface compression chambers and diving bells which may be pressurized separately should be fitted with overpressure alarms or pressure relief valves. If pressure relief valves are fitted, a quick-operating manual shutoff valve should be installed between the chamber and the pressure relief valve and should be wired opened with a frangible wire. This valve should be readily accessible to the attendant monitoring the operation of the chamber. All other pressure vessels and bottles should be fitted with a pressure relief device.

  2.5.6 Piping systems which may be subjected to a higher pressure than designed for should be fitted with a pressure relief device.

  2.5.7 All materials used in oxygen systems should be compatible with oxygen at the working pressure and flow rate.

  2.5.8 The use of high-pressure oxygen piping should be minimized by the fitting of pressure reducing devices, as close as practicable to the storage bottles.

  2.5.9 Flexible hoses, except for umbilicals, should be reduced to a minimum.

  2.5.10 Hoses for oxygen should, as far as practicable, be of fire-retardant construction.

  2.5.11 Piping systems carrying mixed gas or oxygen under high pressure should not be arranged inside accommodation spaces, engine rooms or similar compartments.

  2.5.12 Exhaust lines should be fitted with an anti-suction device on the inlet side.

  2.5.13 Gases vented from the diving system should be vented to the open air away from sources of ignition, personnel or any area where the presence of those gases could be hazardous.

  2.5.14 All high-pressure piping should be well protected against mechanical damage.

  2.5.15 Piping systems containing gases with more than 25 per cent oxygen should be treated as systems containing pure oxygen.

  2.5.16 Oxygen systems with pressure greater than 1.72 bar must have slow opening shutoff valves except pressure boundary shutoff valves.


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