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Tip of the Week

NOW FOR THE NEWSLETTER


Caught in the Confusion!!

On manned offshore structures, I think all would agree that a Fire is an emergency situation, but is an Emergency alarm always meaning that there is a fire detected?

This newsletter, I will be commenting on API RP 14G and PINC  P-173.

General Alarm refer to the system, sequence (priority) , and type (tone) of all alarms that a manned facility must have in operation while occupied by personnel. Some of the alarms would be Abandon Platform, Emergency, Fire Detection, Gas Detection, Man Overboard, and Process Alarms.

14G states that all Fire Alarm signal should activate the platform general alarm. P-173 states Audible/visual fire alarm signals be distinctive from any other signal on the platform.

What this means in a nutshell is all devices used for the purpose of detecting a fire condition, Smoke, Thermal, Flame, Manual Stations and TSE are required to sound the Fire Alarm Tone of a General Alarm System throughout the facility. This tone must be different than the Abandon Platform, Emergency, Gas Detection, Man Overboard or Process Alarms. Keep in mind the priority and tone of a Fire Alarm.

14G also covers the use of battery operated, self contained devices for the detection of products of combustion in unclassified temporary buildings. Temporary is defined as less than 90 days. It further states that these battery operated self contained detectors should activate platform General Alarm System, refer to P-173. Traditional over the counter battery operated smoke detectors, do not have the ability to interface with the General Alarm System, unless they have been modified, which voids any listings the device may have.

So the reason I am posting this is to answer a question from the field.

Are battery operated detectors legal for use on offshore facilities?  According to 14G, Yes they are for temporary buildings in an unclassified location. RP 14F also uses the phrase "small isolated buildings". So I guess we can combine the two codes to read "temporary small isolated buildings in an unclassified location".

Do battery operated detectors meet all the requirements defined in P-173? No, they do not, due to the nature of the over the counter detectors, they can not interface with facility General Alarm System or any shutdown that may be required.

Do they make battery operated detectors that could fulfill the requirements of P-173, this meaning a detector that has relay capabilities? Yes they do. But consider how 14G references NFPA 72, which for design purposes is the most important code for Fire Detection Systems. All circuits, initiating and annunciating devices related to Fire Detection Systems are supervised.

The battery operated detectors have a specific application, early detection of a potential fire and local audible indication of alarm. Its is useless unless there is someone there to hear it, P-173.

I hope that this answers your question and cleared up the confusion.

If you require more information regarding the terms and explanations above, contact me by email or phone for assistance.

The above information is covered in the following Tec Trek class segments: Awareness Training (FG-01A), Basic Technical Training (FG-01)

For more information regarding training schedules and course curriculum, please visit our Web Site at www.tectrek.org or Contact Todd Olivier at (337) 298-7959.

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Email: todd@tectrek.org