Section 4 Materials, components and equipment

4.1.1 Materials, components and equipment to be used in the construction of bunkering stations, fuel storage tanks, fuel supply equipment and consumers shall:

1. be suitable for their intended use;

2. be considered in the risk-based studies, see Ch 1, 3 Risk-based studies;

3. satisfy the requirements of this Section.

4.2.1 Except where otherwise required by these Rules, the materials shall comply with the relevant requirements of the Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of Ships for the Carriage of Liquid Chemicals in Bulk. (hereinafter referred to as the Rules for Ships for Liquid Chemicals)

4.2.2 Materials that are sensitive to methanol and methanol containing water, such as aluminium alloys, galvanised steel, lead alloys, Nitrile, Butyl and others shall not be used in systems containing fuel.

4.2.3 Where stainless steel is specified, it shall be an austenitic or duplex type and comply with the appropriate requirements of the Rules for Materials. Alternative grades of stainless steel may be accepted provided they comply with National or Proprietary specifications and are suitable for the intended purpose. Austenitic stainless steels should not be used where methanol contains water which may contain chlorides.

4.2.4 Novel steel materials such as austenitic manganese steels may be considered on a case by case basis.

4.2.5 Tank coatings and tank access hatch sealing materials shall be resistant to:

1. methanol liquid;

2. methanol where it may contain water;

3. methanol vapour;

4. gases used for inerting.

4.3.1 Electrical equipment and components intended for use in hazardous areas shall be of a certified safe type in accordance with Pt 6, Ch 2, 14 Electrical equipment for use in explosive gas atmospheres or in the presence of combustible dusts of the Rules for Ships or an acceptable and relevant National or International Standard.

4.3.2 Mechanical equipment and components intended for use in a hazardous area shall be designed, constructed and installed to ensure that they are:

1. capable of safe operation in normal or foreseeable hazardous conditions;

2. capable of preventing the formation of a hazardous and toxic atmosphere that may be produced or released by the components or equipment;

3. capable of preventing the ignition of hazardous atmospheres, taking into account the nature of every electrical and non-electrical source of ignition.