Saes B 009
Saes B 009
Saes B 009
Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations .................................... 2
3 References ........................................................ 2
4 Definitions .......................................................... 5
5 General Design Requirements........................... 5
6 Fire Protection ................................................. 14
7 Life Safety Equipment ...................................... 28
Revision Summary................................................. 31
1 Scope
This Standard provides mandatory requirements for the design and installation of fire
and blast protection and safety features of offshore producing facilities, including
platforms for tie-in, gas-oil separation, gas compression, accommodations, and
wellheads. Where SAES-B-009 requirements are different from other Saudi Aramco
Standards, SAES-B-009 shall govern for all offshore producing facilities. For piers,
wharves, and sea islands, refer to SAES-B-060.
Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed to the EK&RD Coordinator.
Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302.
3 References
All referenced Specifications, Standards, Codes, Forms, Drawings, and similar material
shall be considered part of this Standard to the extent specified herein and shall be the
latest issue (including all revisions, addenda, and supplements) unless stated otherwise.
Page 2 of 31
General Instructions
GI-0007.021 Operating Requirements for Escape Capsules and
Life Rafts at Offshore Installations
Saudi Aramco Engineering Report
Page 3 of 31
Page 4 of 31
4 Definitions
Hydrocarbon(s): For purposes of this Standard, the word hydrocarbon(s) shall mean a
flammable liquid, a combustible liquid near or above its flash point, or a combustible
gas as defined in SAES-B-006.
Life Raft: Inflatable boats, which are intended to provide a means of personnel escape
from manned and unmanned offshore platforms.
Manned Platform: For purposes of this Standard, “manned platform” shall mean a
platform where operating or maintenance personnel are normally found for at least one
full shift each working day. Wellhead platforms are not considered to be manned
platforms. Tie-in platforms not bridge-connected to other manned platforms are not
considered to be manned platforms.
Page 5 of 31
5.1.3 Utility equipment such as waste treatment, air compressors, and power
distribution equipment such as transformers shall be located in
electrically unclassified areas and at least 7.5 m (25 ft) horizontally
from hydrocarbon equipment or storage. Major power generation or
distribution equipment shall be located on an auxiliary or tie-in
platform which does not contain accommodations or hydrocarbon
process equipment.
Page 6 of 31
Exception:
Slops tank vents may be routed to a point above the 100-year storm
elevation and at least 7.5 m (25 ft) crosswind or downwind of boat
landings.
5.1.13.1 Deck edges with outboard drainage troughs and toe walls
shall be provided with handrails but with the kick plate
eliminated.
5.1.14 Helidecks shall be protected by a safety net made of 1.5 m (5 ft) wide
chain link fencing cantilevered horizontally beyond the deck perimeter,
in accordance with Standard Drawing AA-036248 and SAES-M-005.
5.1.15 For offshore GOSPs and gas compression platforms, permanent means
such as pedestal crane, monorail, or trolley shall be provided for the
disassembly and reinstallation of all major equipment, vessels, or
valves. Access to such major equipment, vessels, or valves shall be so
designed as to permit use of these means.
Page 7 of 31
5.1.16 Laydown and equipment staging areas shall be provided and shall be
identified in the DBSP/Project Proposal.
a) For drilling decks and cellar decks on unmanned platforms, at least one
stairway is required between the cellar deck and the main deck. At least
one stairway shall be provided between the cellar deck of any platform
(manned or unmanned) and the boat landing. At least one stairway shall
be provided between the main deck of any platform (manned or
unmanned) and the boat landing (may be via the cellar deck).
b) For helidecks, one stairway and one ladder are required per AA-036248.
c) For living quarters, at least two separate stairways to the main deck
shall be provided.
5.1.19 For levels requiring four stairways or adders, at least two of those four
shall be stairways. It is preferable to have these two stairways at
opposite platform edges, with one stair positioned adjacent to the
platform bridge if the bridge happens to connect to that level.
5.1.20 At least one set of stairways and landings leading from the boat
landing and the helideck to the accommodations deck (sick bay deck)
on manned platforms shall be designed to permit easy conveyance of
an injured or sick man in a stretcher or Stokes litter (SAP Material
No. 1000128490). For this set of stairways, stair width shall be at least
1.22 m (4 ft) and landings shall be at least 2.44 m (8 ft) wide by 2.44 m
(8 ft) long.
Page 8 of 31
5.1.23 Escape routes shall be at least 1.22 m (4 ft) wide and clearly marked on
decks.
5.2 Lighting
5.2.2 Circuit breakers for lighting fixtures in process areas shall be installed
locally.
5.2.3 Local lighting shall be provided for offshore platform walkways and
stairways.
5.2.5 Where essential activities are expected to continue during failure of the
normal lighting inside buildings, such as inside control rooms and
switchgear rooms, emergency illumination of at least 110 lux
(10 footcandles) at 760 mm (2 ft, 6 in) above the floor shall be
provided.
Page 9 of 31
5.2.6 Normal and emergency lighting of at least 220 lux (20 footcandles)
shall be provided for the following:
a) Outside emergency equipment such as emergency telephones,
shutdown and emergency isolation stations, firewater pump
areas, central foam concentrate mixing area, fire control panels,
and standby generators.
b) Evacuation assembly areas at escape capsules and boat landings.
Lighting at helidecks shall comply with Standard Drawing
AA-036248.
Design of ESD and emergency isolation systems shall meet the requirements of
SAES-B-058 and SAES-J-601 except as noted below:
EIVs are not required for unmanned platforms that are not
bridge-connected to manned platforms.
At least one manual device for actuation of the ESD system shall be
placed on each main access of each hydrocarbon platform as well as at
the helideck, at the tops of stairways to boat landings, and at, or along
the escape path to, escape capsule assembly areas.
Page 10 of 31
Drainage and oily water sewer systems shall be designed in accordance with
SAES-A-403.
5.5.2 Any release source giving rise to a Class I, Zone 2 area between solid
decks shall cause the entire space between the two decks to be
classified Class I, Zone 2. In addition, the space within 3 m (10 ft) of
any drainage trough shall be Class I, Zone 2.
Any release source giving rise to a Class I, Zone 1 area between solid
decks shall cause the entire space between the two decks beyond the
Zone 1 area to be classified Class I, Zone 2.
Page 11 of 31
Exception:
5.5.4 Where electrically classified areas exist above open grating decks,
those classified areas shall be projected down through the structure to
the next lowest solid deck.
5.6.3 Interior finish materials shall be limited to materials with the following
fire hazard classifications (or per an equivalent internationally
recognized testing standard):
a) ASTM Standard E-84, Flame spread rating of 25 or less
b) ASTM Standard E-84, Smoke developed rating of 75 or less
c) Flooring materials to meet the ignition resistance of ASTM D2859.
No carpeting is allowed.
Page 12 of 31
5.8 Color-Coding
Alarm and public address systems shall be provided for all manned offshore
platform complexes, with detailed design subject to approval by the Proponent
Operating Department.
5.9.2 Audible and visible alarms shall be activated by a single button in the
main control room.
Page 13 of 31
6 Fire Protection
6.1 Fireproofing
6.1.1 Fireproofing is not required for pile templates, platform jackets, and
platform legs. Load-bearing steel supporting a deck subject to fire
exposure from hydrocarbon spills or hydrocarbon gas releases on a
lower deck shall be fireproofed, unless spray protection is provided on
both the supported deck (either above or below the deck) and the deck
below.
Page 14 of 31
All fire water systems shall be designed and installed under the supervision of a
registered professional engineer in the specialty of fire protection engineering
with at least five years of experience in the design of fire water systems.
Design drawings and hydraulic calculations shall be submitted according to
Saudi Aramco procedures for plan and equipment submittals.
Drawings and the supporting hydraulic design study calculations of all fire
protection systems shall be submitted for review. Hydraulic calculations shall
be performed using only software that complies with requirements and
calculations of NFPA 13. Software to be used shall be the latest version.
Fire protection drawings shall indicate coverage, water supply data including
water flow rates, fire protection system demands, available flow and pressure,
available duration, and recent water supply or pump test data.
Page 15 of 31
6.2.5 The firewater system capacity design basis for the platform complex
shall be furnished by two or more electric pumps of equal size.
6.2.5.3 Fire pumps and jockey pumps shall have a constantly rising
curve and shall furnish not less than 150% of rated capacity
at a total head of not less than 65% of the total rated head.
The total shutoff head shall not exceed 140% of total rated
head for any type of pump.
Page 16 of 31
Page 17 of 31
The other valve shall be sized for full flow of one main
firewater pump. The piping for the larger pressure
regulating valve shall have provision for a temporary flow
measuring device for testing the main firewater pumps.
Exception:
6.2.6 The firewater system piping shall be sized to supply the largest single
risk area while maintaining 690 kPa (100 psi) at the hydraulically most
remote monitor nozzle or hydrant in that risk area. Also, see paragraph
6.5.4.
Page 18 of 31
Fixed fire protection systems shall be provided as specified except that they are
not required for those wellhead or tie-in platforms exempted in paragraph 6.8.2.
6.3.1 At least one hydrant or other valved outlet acceptable to the Proponent
Operating Department shall be installed near each bridge of a bridge-
connected deck, for hydrotest water and emergency firewater back-up.
6.3.2 Hose reel protection shall be provided for all areas. Hose reels
protecting areas subject to hydrocarbon spills, including helidecks,
shall be capable of discharging either water or foam, with a push
button mounted by each hose reel to start the foam concentrate pump.
Page 19 of 31
6.3.5 For vessels (see paragraph 4.11), fixed fire protection in the form of
deluge-type water spray systems is required if both the conditions in
and 4.9.5.2 exist:
Page 20 of 31
6.3.11 Fixed fire protection is not required for under floor areas of control
rooms and computer rooms in new facilities designed to meet SAES-
B-014.
Commentary Note:
6.3.13 Operating instructions shall be posted at the control station for each
automatic system. All instructions shall be in Arabic and English.
6.4.1 One or more central AFFF foam concentrate storage and distribution
systems shall be provided for each offshore complex. Foam system
design shall meet SAES-B-018. This system shall be sized to provide
Page 21 of 31
6.4.2 Foam concentrate shall be provided to all users via a normally dry
foam concentrate distribution piping system.
Page 22 of 31
6.4.3 Foam concentrate shall be injected into firewater flow at each user or
group of users through an in-line balanced pressure proportioner.
6.4.4 Design details for fixed foam/water spray systems, monitors, and hose
reels are as follows:
Page 23 of 31
6.4.5 Where the helideck constitutes the only foam user on a platform, the
system shall meet SAES-B-019.
Deluge-type water spray systems shall be designed and installed per NFPA 15
with the following modifications:
6.5.1 Piping materials shall be per SAES-L-105 and SAES-L-132 except that
for piping 100 mm (4 in) and smaller only 90-10 Copper Nickel Alloy
C70600 or 254 SMO stainless steel shall be used. RTR pipe shall not
be used for offshore water spray systems.
6.5.2 Individual water spray systems shall be limited in capacity 158 L/s
(2500 gpm).
6.5.4 Minimum design pressure for the hydraulically most remote head shall
be not less than 138 kPa (20 psig). This requirement is subordinate to
the requirement in 6.8.6.
Page 24 of 31
6.5.5.5 Spray nozzle connections shall branch from the upper part
of the supply header between the ten o'clock and two
o'clock position in order to avoid plugging of nozzles.
6.5.6 Detection systems for outdoor water spray systems shall be per
paragraph 4.9.9.1.
Page 25 of 31
6.6.2 For additional protection of building interiors, a live hose reel shall be
provided outside each entrance.
The design and installation of clean agent systems shall comply with the
requirements in SAES-B-014 with the following modifications:
6.7.4 The agent cylinder storage rack shall be arranged to allow the use of a
beam-type weighing scale. A suitable scale shall be provided with
Page 26 of 31
6.7.8 An agent release signal shall cause automatic shutdown of any local
air-handling system. Restart of the air-handling system shall be
manual only.
Dry chemical systems shall be designed and installed per SAES-B-019 with the
following modifications:
6.8.2 Dry chemical storage cylinders having gross weights of more than
68 kg shall be capable of being recharged in the field.
Fire detection and alarm systems for manned platform complexes shall be
designed and installed in compliance with SAES-B-014 and NFPA 72 with the
following modifications:
6.9.2 Each platform shall be provided with a Master Fire Alarm Panel
(MFAP) in the main control room. The MFAP shall house all heat,
fire, and smoke detector controllers for the platform complex and shall
include a conventional fire alarm panel to perform all necessary logic
functions required to operate automatic systems. Fire detection and
alarm systems shall sound an alarm locally and on the MFAP.
Page 27 of 31
6.9.3 Each fire detection and alarm system shall have either a tie to the UPS
or an independent battery power supply capable of maintaining the
system in operation for at least 8 hours, with battery chargers backed
up by an emergency generator.
6.9.4 Fire detection and alarm systems shall be installed in all buildings and
enclosures per 6.3.8.
6.10.2 At least one wheeled 56.7 kg (125 lb) dry chemical extinguisher shall
be located within 23 m (75 ft) of major pumps and compressors
handling hydrocarbon materials.
6.10.3 At least four 12.2 kg (27 lb) dry chemical extinguishers shall be
installed on the first landing below the helideck. One wheeled 56.7 kg
(125 lb) dry chemical extinguisher shall be provided on the landing of
refueling helidecks.
Page 28 of 31
7.1.1 Each manned platform shall be provided with at least two USCG (or
equal) approved life rafts holding at least six men. On the
accommodations platform, life rafts (minimum of two) shall be
provided in sufficient number to handle the difference between the
maximum manpower complement (bed capacity) and the seating
capacity of accommodations platform escape capsules.
Each life raft shall be equipped with a painter of a length not less than
three times the distance from the deck where the life raft is stowed to
the low water line. This painter shall not be less than 13 mm (0.5 in) in
diameter and equivalent in strength to manila rope not less than 70 mm
(2.75 in) in diameter.
Each life raft shall be equipped with a painter of a length not less than
three times the distance from the deck where the life raft is stowed to
the low water line. This painter shall not be less than 13 mm (0.5 in) in
diameter and equivalent in strength to manila rope not less than 70 mm
(2.75 in) in diameter.
7.1.2 Each manned platform shall be provided with an approved life jacket
(SAP Material No 1000131028) for each person on the platform, plus
20% extra.
7.1.2.1 Each life jacket shall have a light securely attached to the
front shoulder area.
7.1.2.2 Each life jacket shall have at least 200 cm² (31 in2) of
reflective material on each of its reversible sides as close to
the shoulder area as possible.
7.1.3 Each manned platform shall have at least four approved ring life buoys
(SAP Material No 1000132684). One ring life buoy shall be installed
on each side of a manned platform in an accessible place, and one ring
life buoy shall be installed at the midway point of each bridge.
Page 29 of 31
7.1.6 On each manned platform an industrial-type first aid kit (SAP Material
No 1000132512) shall be provided. It shall be maintained in the
custody of the person in charge of the platform.
7.1.8 A list of all life safety equipment and locations thereof shall be
provided, to be included in the Project Proposal.
Page 30 of 31
Revision Summary
3 July 2012 Revised the “Next Planned Update”. Reaffirmed the content of the document, and
reissued with minor revision.
27 November 2016 Major revision. Included additional international standard references. Editorial and
organization revisions, included deep water provisions, blast evaluations, PE review of fire
water designs, chlorination of entire firewater system periodically, and SAP numbers for
life safety equipment. This revision clarifies certification requirements for life saving
appliances, safety arrangements for helicopter fueling hoses, addresses need for gas
detection from toxic gas dispersions, blast/explosion evaluations, updates fire rated
material requirements for offshore buildings, and captures lessons learned from recent fire
water upgrade projects.
2 July 2019 Editorial revision, to reflect content confirmation requirement.
Page 31 of 31