Area Classification - DeP 80.00.10.10-Gen
Area Classification - DeP 80.00.10.10-Gen
Area Classification - DeP 80.00.10.10-Gen
(AMENDMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS TO IP 15)
DEP 80.00.10.10-Gen.
November 2003
This document is restricted. Neither the whole nor any part of this document may be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of Shell Global
Solutions International B.V. and Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., The Netherlands. The copyright of this document is vested in these companies. All
rights reserved. Neither the whole nor any part of this document may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, reprographic, recording or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the copyright owners.
DEP 80.00.10.10-Gen.
November 2003
Page 2
PREFACE
DEPs (Design and Engineering Practice) publications reflect the views, at the time of publication, of:
Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell GSI)
and
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. (SIEP)
and
Shell International Chemicals B.V. (SIC)
and
other Service Companies.
They are based on the experience acquired during their involvement with the design, construction, operation and
maintenance of processing units and facilities, and they are supplemented with the experience of Group Operating
companies. Where appropriate they are based on, or reference is made to, international, regional, national and industry
standards.
The objective is to set the recommended standard for good design and engineering practice applied by Group
companies operating an oil refinery, gas handling installation, chemical plant, oil and gas production facility, or any other
such facility, and thereby to achieve maximum technical and economic benefit from standardization.
The information set forth in these publications is provided to users for their consideration and decision to implement.
This is of particular importance where DEPs may not cover every requirement or diversity of condition at each locality.
The system of DEPs is expected to be sufficiently flexible to allow individual operating companies to adapt the
information set forth in DEPs to their own environment and requirements.
When Contractors or Manufacturers/Suppliers use DEPs they shall be solely responsible for the quality of work and the
attainment of the required design and engineering standards. In particular, for those requirements not specifically
covered, the Principal will expect them to follow those design and engineering practices which will achieve the same
level of integrity as reflected in the DEPs. If in doubt, the Contractor or Manufacturer/Supplier shall, without detracting
from his own responsibility, consult the Principal or its technical advisor.
The right to use DEPs is granted by Shell GSI, SIEP or SIC, in most cases under Service Agreements primarily with
companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group and other companies receiving technical advice and services from Shell GSI,
SIEP, SIC or another Group Service Company. Consequently, three categories of users of DEPs can be distinguished:
1) Operating companies having a Service Agreement with Shell GSI, SIEP, SIC or other Service Company. The
use of DEPs by these operating companies is subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the relevant
Service Agreement.
2) Other parties who are authorized to use DEPs subject to appropriate contractual arrangements (whether as part
of a Service Agreement or otherwise).
3) Contractors/subcontractors and Manufacturers/Suppliers under a contract with users referred to under 1) or 2)
which requires that tenders for projects, materials supplied or - generally - work performed on behalf of the said
users comply with the relevant standards.
Subject to any particular terms and conditions as may be set forth in specific agreements with users, Shell GSI, SIEP
and SIC disclaim any liability of whatsoever nature for any damage (including injury or death) suffered by any company
or person whomsoever as a result of or in connection with the use, application or implementation of any DEP,
combination of DEPs or any part thereof, even if it is wholly or partly caused by negligence on the part of Shell GSI,
SIEP or other Service Company. The benefit of this disclaimer shall inure in all respects to Shell GSI, SIEP, SIC and/or
any company affiliated to these companies that may issue DEPs or require the use of DEPs.
Without prejudice to any specific terms in respect of confidentiality under relevant contractual arrangements, DEPs shall
not, without the prior written consent of Shell GSI and SIEP, be disclosed by users to any company or person
whomsoever and the DEPs shall be used exclusively for the purpose for which they have been provided to the user.
They shall be returned after use, including any copies which shall only be made by users with the express prior written
consent of Shell GSI, SIEP or SIC. The copyright of DEPs vests in Shell GSI and SIEP. Users shall arrange for DEPs to
be held in safe custody and Shell GSI, SIEP or SIC may at any time require information satisfactory to them in order to
ascertain how users implement this requirement.
All administrative queries should be directed to the DEP Administrator in Shell GSI.
DEP 80.00.10.10-Gen.
November 2003
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GENERAL...................................................................................................................4
1.1 SCOPE........................................................................................................................4
1.2 DISTRIBUTION, INTENDED USE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS .........4
1.3 DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................4
1.4 CROSS-REFERENCES .............................................................................................4
1.5 SUMMARY OF CHANGES SINCE PREVIOUS REVISION.......................................5
1.6 COMMENTS ON THIS DEP .......................................................................................5
PART II GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.................................................................................6
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................6
2. APPLICABILITY OF IP 15 ..........................................................................................6
3. ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS ....................................................................................6
PART III AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO IP 15......................................................7
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................7
2. THE TECHNIQUE OF HAZARDOUS AREA CLASSIFICATION ...............................7
3. THE DIRECT EXAMPLE METHOD FOR CLASSIFICATION OF COMMON
TYPES OF FACILITIES IN OPEN AREAS.................................................................7
4 THE AREA CLASSIFICATION OF DRILLING RIGS EQUIPMENT AND WELL
OPERATIONS.............................................................................................................7
5. CLASSIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL POINT SOURCES ............................................8
7. SELECTION, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND USE OF EQUIPMENT
IN HAZARDOUS AREAS.........................................................................................10
8. NON-ELECTRICAL IGNITION SOURCES ..............................................................11
PART IV REFERENCE ............................................................................................................12
DEP 80.00.10.10-Gen.
November 2003
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1. GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
This DEP specifies requirements and recommends practices for the determination of
hazardous areas in facilities handling flammable fluids. It is based on the Institute of
Petroleum Model Code of Safe Practice, Part 15, Area Classification Code for Installations
nd
Handling Flammable Fluids , August 2002 2 edition (IP 15). Part III of this DEP amends
and supplements specific clauses of IP 15.
This DEP is a revision of the DEP of the same number dated December 1995; a summary
of the main, non-editorial, changes is given in (1.5).
1.3 DEFINITIONS
The Contractor is the party which carries out all or part of the design, engineering,
procurement, construction, commissioning or management of a project, or operation or
maintenance of a facility. The Principal may undertake all or part of the duties of the
Contractor.
The Principal is the party which initiates the project and ultimately pays for its design and
construction. The Principal will generally specify the technical requirements. The Principal
may include an agent or consultant authorised to act for, and on behalf of, the Principal.
The word shall indicates a requirement.
The word should indicates a recommendation.
1.4 CROSS-REFERENCES
Where cross-references to other parts of this DEP are made, the referenced section
number is shown in brackets. Other documents referenced in this DEP are listed in (Part
IV).
DEP 80.00.10.10-Gen.
November 2003
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1. INTRODUCTION
Area classification is the division of a plant or installation into hazardous areas and non-
hazardous areas and the sub-division of hazardous areas into zones. This classification is
based on the flammability of materials which may be present and the probability of a
flammable atmosphere occurring. The classification provides a basis for the selection and
protection of electrical equipment appropriate to the defined areas and for the safe
positioning of other potential or continuous sources of ignition, e.g. fired heaters, internal
combustion engines, etc. It can also be used in the planning and control of hot work.
Area classification refers to normal operating conditions and does not apply to catastrophic
situations such as the rupture of a process vessel or large diameter pipe work.
2. APPLICABILITY OF IP 15
All new facilities that handle flammable fluids shall be classified in accordance with IP 15,
as amended and supplemented by section (3) of this DEP. Variations are allowed, provided
that they are formally authorised by the Principal, and only if they achieve a similar level of
safety. In areas where national codes are available, or codes other than IP 15 are
commonly used (e.g. API RP500, API RP505), the codes should be reviewed and
supplemented where necessary.
Installations which were operating at the date of issue of this DEP may be evaluated
against this DEP, which provides current best practice. Any proposal for modification to an
existing installation should be assessed on the basis of whether the benefits from applying
the DEP outweigh the implementation costs and risks. If it is intended to reclassify an
existing installation on the basis of this DEP, reclassification should cover the whole
installation and not just part of it. This is to avoid the application of multiple standards within
the same installation.
3. ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS
Each operating company should have a formal hazardous area classification committee
with members drawn from process technology, engineering, operations, and technical
safety. Any modification to the hazardous area classification of an existing installation
should be subject to a formal change procedure which should include endorsement by the
committee; the objective is to ensure a common interpretation of the hazardous area code.
DEP 80.00.10.10-Gen.
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This section provides amendments and supplements to IP 15. Numbering of clauses in this
section corresponds to the numbering in IP 15.
Clauses of IP 15 that are not amended shall remain applicable as written.
1. INTRODUCTION
2.3 APPLICATION
"Add to the existing clause (f):"
Since the vertical and horizontal extent of the hazardous area should be taken into account
in the sizing of the firewall, it may be simpler to enclose the potential sources of release and
ignition.
In populated areas, the hazardous area around a wellhead should be fully contained within
a security fence extending 30 m from the wellhead, to keep out possible ignition sources.
That distance may be subject to other considerations.
4.5 WIRELINING
"Add to the existing clause:"
The depressurising vent of the lubricator should be considered as a source of primary
grade release.
5.3 METHODOLOGY
"Delete from the existing clause:"
Delete reference to figure C1 (annex C) since it does not present the overall methodology.
PART IV REFERENCE
SHELL STANDARDS
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
The Institute of Petroleum Model Code of Safe Practice, Part nd
IP 15. (August 2002 2 edition)
15, Area Classification Code for Installations Handling
Flammable Fluids
Issued by
Institute of Petroleum
61 New Cavendish Street
London W1M 8AR
United Kingdom.
AMERICAN STANDARDS
Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for
API RP500
Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as
Class I, Division 1 and Division 2
Recommended Practice for Classification of Locations for
API RP505
Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as
Class I, Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2
Issued by
American Petroleum Institute
Publications and Distribution Section,
1220 L Street, North West.,
Washington, D.C. 20005
USA