Oil & Gas Area Classification Review – Should Equipment Outside of API 500 Areas also be Include

[ghmee]

I am looking to get some input from others in the oil and gas industry in regards to how electrical equipment is classified in their plants or offshore. In particular, to offshore platforms, our specifications call for everything ‘handrail to handrail’ to be built to NRTL Class I Div 2 standards at a minimum. This can be overkill in a lot of instances. We are in the process of reviewing our current specifications and potentially rewriting them. The suggested path at the moment is to obviously still maintain the fact that all areas designated by API as classified require classified rated equipment but were looking to possibly include emergency equipment (ex. Emergency generators, Firewater Pumps, etc.) in this requirement even though they would be outside of an actual API 500 classified area.

Really just looking to get input on what others in the industry do. Where do they require classified equipment to be installed? Only in API areas? Any input anyone would like to provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[ScottyUK]

Under British legislation - which is definitely different to the rules you're working under - we assess the hazard and arrive at the area classification, then equip accordingly. The plant is too big to use a blanket Zone 2 classification and the costs of doing so would be outrageous.

On the fringes of an area boundary area I generally play safe and install equipment suitable for the more onerous zone in case a small change in the assessment criteria has potential to land me with a big cost to uprate in future.

We have a blanket policy on cable glands - all are from a specific manufacturer and are suitable for all hazardous zones, even those glands used in safe areas. It costs a bit more but we get decent glands and we reduce the chance of a non-certfied gland ending up on the plant.

 

[hacksaw]

Dear OP, when you are talking electrical safety, the entire focus is to avoid "killing people" or destroying equipments.

There are weakness in any electrical safety code, but ultimately they can only set the "absolute" minumum requirements.

Proper safety requires exceeding those requirements. Even then, the installation has to be inspected, maintained, often with on-going inspection, and the personnel properly trained.