Section 6 Approval in Principle
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Guidance Information - Guidance Notes for Appraisal of Flexible Pipe Systems, September 2018 - Chapter 1 Appraisal of Flexible Pipe Systems - Section 6 Approval in Principle

Section 6 Approval in Principle

Parent topic: Chapter 1 Appraisal of Flexible Pipe Systems

6.1 General

6.1.1 Approval in Principle (AiP) is designed to provide manufacturers and users of flexible pipe and ancillary equipment with early confidence, by assessing the key aspects of the product concept without conducting a full, detailed, appraisal. An AiP confirms that the product is capable of being appraised, and is likely to be certified, verified or type approved by LR and accepted by other stakeholders (where applicable), provided that the principles reviewed are applied during further development and that the correct amount of risk assessment, product engineering and type testing is undertaken.

6.1.2 AiP helps the company to obtain early confidence that there are no major obstacles to further progress in application-specific design, and can help a manufacturer to understand the path to achieve TA. It also provides an early opportunity for LR to identify areas requiring attention as the design or product evolves. It can support manufacturers and the company in securing project finance, insurance, or partner approvals, prior to committing to the next phases of the development.

6.1.3 In TA, AiP can also support on-going product evolvement by providing an early confidence for new aspects of the product general design prior to conducting a full, detailed appraisal. It can provide a roadmap for manufacturers willing to obtain TA for a product.

6.2 Scope

6.2.1 The scope for an AiP for a flexible pipe system is to assess the concept design in accordance with the client's requirements, e.g. for compliance of design principles with API Specification 17J (for unbonded flexible pipe), API Specification 17K (for bonded flexible pipe), API Specification 17L1 (for ancillary equipment) and/or other relevant recognised standards for associated technologies.

6.3 Limitations

6.3.1 AiP does not constitute regulatory approval.

6.3.2 AiP does not constitute appraisal of detailed design. To obtain appraisal of detailed design, all of the necessary Code requirements will have to be met, or equivalency demonstrated, examined and accepted.

6.4 Assessment

6.4.1 AiP assessment entails review of the following principles, adjusted as applicable to the type of appraisal:
  • Specified Codes and standards, and/or other criteria or terms of reference;
  • Basis of design or philosophies, including the principal parts of the design methodology and overall plan for full appraisal of the product;
  • Material specification/selection for critical systems or components;
  • Critical design calculations; and
  • Adequacy of field-specific parameters.

6.5 Deliverables

6.5.1 The deliverables would be as follows:
  • CRS or company/manufacturer preferred comment response system; and
  • AiP statement.
6.5.2 AiP statement comprises:
  1. High-level statement indicating:
    • The principle design basis that has been used, e.g. API Specification 17J/17K etc.
    • Given good engineering design practice, there are no conceptual issues related to the design with regard to the appropriate standard(s) which should prevent the design gaining the necessary approvals
    • Brief detail of the equipment/concept/technology;
    • Operational location/restrictions; and
    • Any further limitations which may apply.
  2. A list of documentation that the AiP is based on.
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