Pt A, Ch 2, Sec 9
SECTION 9 OTHER SURVEYS
1 Survey of inert gas and hydrocarbon
blanketing installations
1.1 General
1.1.1 The requirements of the present Section are applica-
ble to all inert gas installations fitted on board floating stor-
age units, covered or not by additional service feature
INERTGAS, and to hydrocarbon blanketing installations.
1.2 Annual survey
1.2.1 All units
The survey of inert gas installation, as far as applicable, con-
sists of the:
• general examination of the installation in operation con-
dition
• external examination of the condition of piping and
components for signs of corrosion or gas leakage / efflu-
ent leakage
• confirmation of the proper operation of inert gas blowers
• observation of the operation of the scrubber room venti-
lation system
• checking of deck water seal for automatic filling and
draining; checking for presence of water carry-over and
checking the condition of the non-return valve
• examination of the operation of remotely operated or
automatically controlled valves and, in particular, the
flue gas isolating valve(s)
• observation of a test of the interlocking feature of soot
blowers
• observation that the gas pressure regulating valve auto-
matically closes when the inert gas blowers are secured
• checking, as far as practicable, the following alarms and
safety devices of the inert gas system using simulated
conditions when necessary:
- high oxygen content of gas in the inert gas main
- low gas pressure in the inert gas main
- low pressure in the supply to the deck water seal
- high temperature of gas in the inert gas main
- low water pressure to the scrubber
- accuracy of portable and fixed oxygen measuring
equipment by means of calibration gas
- high water level in the scrubber
- failure of inert gas blowers
- failure of the power supply to the automatic control sys-
tem for the gas regulating valve and to the instrumenta-
tion for continuous indication and permanent recording
of pressure and oxygen content in the inert gas main
- high pressure of gas in the inert gas main.
December 2016 Bureau Veritas - Rules for Offshore Units
1.2.2 Additional requirements for gas storage units
Inert/drying gas systems, including the means for prevention
of backflow of storage vapour to gas-safe spaces, are to be
verified as being in good condition.
1.3 Intermediate survey
1.3.1 Inert gas installations of all storage units
Requirements of the present article are additional to those
of [1.2] for annual survey, which remain applicable.
For installations covered by additional service feature
INERTGAS, the following applies:
• main parts such as scrubbers, washing machines, blow-
ers and deck water seals are to be overhauled for exam-
ination
• valves are to be dismantled for examination
• pipe sections are to be dismantled for examination
except where representative UTM of the piping has
been carried out to the surveyor's satisfaction.
• all alarms will be examined and tested.
For installations other than those covered by additional
service feature INERTGAS, main parts such as scrubbers,
washing machines, blowers and deck water seals are to be
overhauled for examination.
1.3.2 Inert gas installations of gas storage units
In addition to requirements of [1.2] for annual survey, the
following applies:
• the main equipment, such as inert gas producers, isolat-
ing valves, when fitted, are to be examined
• special attention is to be paid to low temperature nitro-
gen storage plant and to the associated arrangement for
protection of hull structure against nitrogen leakage.
1.3.3 Hydrocarbon blanketing installations
Requirements of the present article are additional to those
of [1.2] for annual survey, which remain applicable.
The following applies:
• main parts such as blower, compressor, filter, gas regu-
lating valve, pressure released valve, vacuum protection
system and deck water seals are to be overhauled for
examination
• valves are to be dismantled for examination
• pipe sections are to be dismantled for examination
except where representative UTM of the piping has
been carried out to the surveyor's satisfaction.
• all alarms and sensors will be examined and tested.
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