Section 3 Performance requirements
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Submarine Assurance Framework, July 2022 - Volume 1 Submarine Assurance - Part 4 Whole Boat Requirements - Chapter 6 Hazardous Atmospheres - Section 3 Performance requirements

Section 3 Performance requirements

Parent topic: Chapter 6 Hazardous Atmospheres

3.1 Performance requirements

3.1.1 The submarine, systems, equipment and components that may lead to a hazardous atmosphere are to be identified.

3.1.2 Hazardous atmospheres shall include the following for normal and abnormal operating conditions:

  1. Areas where fuel vapours may accumulate due to machinery operation or maintenance;
  2. Areas where explosive gas mixtures may accumulate due to equipment operation or maintenance, e.g. evolution of hydrogen;
  3. Flammable liquid and gas storage, e.g. oxygen for breathing systems;
  4. Munitions storage compartments;
  5. Operation or maintenance of sewage processing or storage systems, e.g. hydrogen sulphide; and
  6. Operation or maintenance of refrigeration systems.

3.1.3 Hazardous atmospheres shall be defined for emergency operating conditions. The following accident scenarios shall be considered:

  1. Flammable liquid vapours due to system leakage, e.g. fuel, hydraulics;
  2. Flammable liquid vapours from crank case emergency venting;
  3. Explosive gas mixtures due to leakage from systems, e.g. stored oxygen or CO2;
  4. Hazardous or poisonous gas mixtures due to system leakage, e.g. hydrogen sulphide from sewage plant, carbon monoxide from engine exhausts e.g. leakage of oxygen cylinder;
  5. Adverse reactions from fluid mixtures, gases and solids; and
  6. Oxygen depletion due to leakage from systems, e.g. refrigerant gas, gaseous firefighting equipment.

3.1.4 The submarine, systems, equipment and components that are required to operate within a hazardous atmosphere are to be identified. They shall be able to operate within a defined hazardous atmosphere or be fitted with suitable protection measures.

3.1.5 The categorisation of areas with potentially flammable atmospheres shall be in accordance with a national or international standard agreed by the Naval Administration.

3.1.6 Electrical machinery and systems shall not normally be located in spaces with potentially flammable atmospheres during normal or abnormal operation, unless required for operational purposes and agreed by the Naval Administration.

3.1.7 Where machinery or electrical equipment is required to be fitted in a space with a potentially flammable atmosphere, it shall be of a type suitable for the environment for which it will be operated.

3.1.8 Where machinery is operated in a potentially flammable atmosphere, a means shall be provided to detect any abnormal parameters which may lead to ignition of the atmosphere.

3.1.9 Any failure that can create a hazardous atmosphere shall be indicated by an alert.

3.1.10 The integrity of the boundary of the hazardous atmosphere shall be sufficient to maintain the safety of any adjacent space.

3.1.11 Suitable indication of the nature of the potential hazards shall be provided at the entrance(s) to the space, and on the equipment where applicable.

3.1.12 Arrangements to prevent unauthorised or inadvertent access to areas with hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphere or equipment shall be provided in accordance with Naval Administration requirements.

3.1.13 Persons, equipment and platform shall be protected from the risk of static electricity.

3.1.14 Any area with a hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphere which has a risk of persons becoming inadvertently locked in shall have a means to escape.

3.1.15 Any area in which a failure can lead to an atmosphere harmful for embarked persons is to be provided with monitoring and alarms.

3.1.16 Permanent means are to be provided to safely remove or make safe a hazardous atmosphere generated by submarine equipment during normal or abnormal operations.

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