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ABS guildline for portable offshore accommodation modules

The installation of modular buildings for use as living quarters, industrial spaces, and workshops has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Irrespective of the amount of time that portable modules are installed onboard, the potential risks to personnel within these buildings can be comparable to those within a traditional living quarters structure.
Due to the transient nature of portable accommodation modules, it is possible that the buildings may be installed on a number of different types of vessels and offshore units over their life. In recognizing that the ABS class requirements differ based on the type of host vessel or facility, this Guide has been created to outline the process for the design and survey of the modules and to establish the requirements for modules which can be used on any category of offshore drilling unit, production facility, barge, steel vessel, or high speed craft.

Class Approval Process
The ABS approval process for accommodation modules is a four-step process as outlined below:
• Design Review of the Module 
• Survey of the Module at Fabrication Facility
• Design Review for Installation Approval 
• Survey onboard Host Vessel 

The ABS review process of the module commences with drawings and documentation detailing the module’s general arrangements, structural fire protection, electrical configuration, structural design, and machinery and piping systems being submitted to the ABS technical office for review. Upon completion of the review, drawings will be returned to the submitter and forwarded to the attending ABS Surveyor. Receipt of the drawings by the ABS Surveyor permits the physical survey of the module at the fabrication facility to be commenced.
Once a host vessel for the module is determined, design review for installation approval can be commenced. Upon receipt of the documentation detailing the module and the proposed location onboard the host vessel, the ABS technical office can review the arrangements. Once the ABS engineers have determined that the proposed location onboard the host vessel is suitable for the subject module, stamped drawings will be returned to the submitter and made available to the attending ABS Survey office. Upon receipt of these drawings, the attending ABS Surveyor may attend the vessel and confirm that the installation of the modules is in accordance with the approved arrangements.
The manufacturer is to assign a unique serial number to identify all modules being reviewed to this Guide. The initial submission of drawings is to specifically indicate the serial number of modules to be built in accordance with the drawings.

Please download TLS accommodation modular brochure , TLS ABS approved offshore accommodation module brochure for reference. 

​More information about accommodation modulars, offshore accommodation cabins, gallery module, mess module, etc.
Please contact sales@tls-containers.com for more information. 

In electrical and safety engineering, hazardous locations are places where fire or explosion hazards may exist. Sources of such hazards include gases, vapors, dust, fibers, and flyings, which are combustible or flammable. Electrical equipment installed in such locations could provide an ignition source, due to electrical arcing, or high temperature. Standards and regulations exist to identify such locations, classify the hazards, and design equipment for safe use in such locations.
A light switch may cause a small, harmless spark when switched on or off. In an ordinary household this is of no concern, but if a flammable atmosphere is present, the arc might start an explosion. In many industrial, commercial, and scientific settings, the presence of such an atmosphere is a common, or at least commonly possible, occurrence.
Equipment can be designed or modified for safe operation in hazardous locations. The two general approaches are:
1. Intrinsic safety
Intrinsic safety, also called non-incendive, limits the energy present in a system, such that it is insufficient to ignite a hazardous atmosphere under any conditions. This includes low both power levels, and low stored energy. Common with instrumentation.
2. Explosion proof
Explosion-proof or flame-proof equipment is sealed and rugged, such that it will not ignite a hazardous atmosphere, despite any despite sparks or explosion within. 
Several techniques of flame-proofing exist, and they are often used in combination:

• The equipment housing may be sealed to prevent entry of flammable gas or dust into the interior.
• The housing may be strong enough to contain and cool any combustion gases produced internally.
• Enclosures can be pressurized with clean air or inert gas, displacing any hazardous substance.
• Arc-producing elements can be isolated from the atmosphere, by encapsulation in resin, immersion in oil, or similar.
• Heat-producing elements can be designed to limit their maximum temperature below the autoignition temperature of the material involved.
• Controls can be fitted to detect dangerous concentrations of hazardous gas, or failure of countermeasures. Upon detection, appropriate action is automatically taken, such as removing power, or providing notification.

Here we focus on the enclosure method in TLS to keep the electrical equipment inside. TLS designs and manufactures the containerised solutions with intelligent control system, hazardous gas detecting system, fire & gas system following IEC 60079-13 standards. 

The fire proof system can be divided into two aspects, these are passive and active protection.
Active fire protection - manual and automatic detection and suppression of fires,
For example:
Fire or smoke detector system
Fire alarm systems.
Fire sprinkler systems
Fire extinguisher
Firefighter
Passive fire protection (PFP) - The installation of fire rated walls, ceiling and floor assemblies to form fire compartments intended to limit the spread of fire, high temperatures, and smoke.
For example:
To improve fire resistance performance of material
To paint the fire-retardant coating, such as cementitious and epoxy intumescent.
To cover the insulated panel

Fire Testing
For PFP materials to be classified for offshore use they must meet three main fire-testing requirements that are commonly accepted. These are Standard fire test, Hydrocarbon pool fire test and Hydrocarbon jet fire test.
 
Fire proof classification according to Standard Fire test
There are three classification which are A, B and C class.
1. "A" class divisions:
1). They are constructed of steel or other equivalent material;
2). They are suitably stiffened;
3). They are constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame to the end of the one-hour standard fire test;
4). They are insulated with approved non-combustible materials such that the average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140ºC above the original temperature, nor will the temperature, at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 180ºC above the original temperature, within the time listed below:
     Class "A-60”   60 min
     Class "A-30”   30 min
     Class "A-15”   15 min
     Class "A-0”      0 min
2. "B" class divisions:
1). They are constructed of approved non-combustible materials and all materials used in the construction and erection of "B" class divisions are non-combustible, with the exception that combustible veneers may be permitted provided they meet other appropriate requirements of this chapter;
2). They are constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of flame to the end of the first half hour of the standard fire test;
3). They have an insulation value such that the average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140ºC above the original temperature, nor will the temperature at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 225ºC above the original temperature, within the time listed below:
     Class "B-15"    15 min
     Class "B-0"       0 min
3.  "C" class divisions 
Divisions constructed of approved noncombustible materials. They need meet neither requirements relative to the passage of smoke and flame nor limitations relative to the temperature rise.

Fire proof classification according to Hydrocarbon Pool Fire test
"H" class divisions:
1. They are constructed of steel or other equivalent material;
2. They are suitably stiffened;
3. They are constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame to the end of the two-hour standard fire test;
4. They are insulated with approved non-combustible materials such that the average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140ºC above the original temperature, nor will the temperature, at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 180ºC above the original temperature, within the time listed below:
     Class "H-120”    120 min
     Class "H-60”       60 min
     Class "H-0”          0 min

Fire proof classification according to Hydrocarbon Jet Fire test
"J" class divisions:
1. They are constructed of steel or other equivalent material;
2. They are suitably stiffened;
3. They are constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame to the end of the first half hour standard fire test;
4. They are insulated with approved non-combustible materials such that the average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140ºC above the original temperature, nor will the temperature, at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 180ºC above the original temperature, within the time listed below:
     Class "J-60”    60 min
     Class "J-30”    30 min

IEC 60079-13:2017 gives requirements for the design, construction, assessment, verification and marking of rooms used to protect internal equipment:
– located in a Zone 1 or Zone 2 or Zone 21 or Zone 22 explosive atmosphere without an internal source of gas/vapour release and protected by pressurization;
– located in a Zone 2 explosive atmosphere with or without an internal source of gas/vapour release and protected by artificial ventilation;
– located in a non-hazardous area, containing an internal source of gas/vapour release and protected by artificial ventilation;
– located in a Zone 1 or Zone 2 or Zone 21 or Zone 22 explosive atmosphere containing an internal source of gas/vapour release and protected by both pressurization and artificial ventilation.
The term "room" used in this document includes single rooms, multiple rooms, a complete building or a room contained within a building. A room is intended to facilitate the entry of personnel and includes inlet and outlet ducts. An acoustic hood and other like enclosures designed to permit the entry of personnel can be considered as a room.
This document also includes requirements related safety devices and controls necessary to ensure that artificial ventilation, purging and pressurization is established and maintained.
A room assembled or constructed on site, can be either on land or off-shore. The room is primarily intended for installation by an end-user but could be constructed and assessed at a manufacturer’s facility, where the final construction such as ducting can be completed on site.
This document does not specify the methods that may be required to ensure adequate air quality for personnel with regard to toxicity and temperature within the room. National or other regulations and requirements may  exist to ensure the safety of personnel in this regard.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2010. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) modification of the title of this document to include artificially ventilated room "v" in addition to pressurized room "p";
b) addition of types of protection "pb", "pc", and "vc" and removal of types of protection "px", "py", "pz" and "pv";
c) definition of the differences between pressurization and artificial ventilation types of protection;
d) removal of protection of rooms with an inert gas or a flammable gas from the scope of this document;
e) addition of an informative annex to include examples of applications where types of protection pressurization or artificial ventilation or pressurization and artificial ventilation can be used and associated guidelines.

1. Basic frame
The base frame consists of two (2) lower side rails, several cross members and a gooseneck tunnel, which are welded together as a subassembly.
 
2.Front End
The front end will be composed of corrugated end wall and front end frame,
which are welded together as a sub-assembly.    
 
3. Rear End 
Rear end is composed of Rear End Frame which consists of one door sill, two
corner posts, one rear header with header plate and four corner fittings, which
are welded together as a sub-assembly, and Door Systems with locking
devices.
 
4.Side Wall Assembly
Side Walls Each side wall will be composed of a number of sheets for the intermediate (inner) parts and outer panels at each end of side wall, fully vertically corrugated into trapezium section, butt welded together to form one panel by automatic welding. 
 
5.Roof
The roof will be constructed by several die-stamp corrugated steel sheets with a certain upwards camber at the center of each trough and corrugation, these sheets are butt jointed together to form one panel by automatic welding. 
 
 

A hazardous area can be defined as any location where there is risk of an explosion. But every hazardous area is different and each has specific requirements depending on the nature of the atmosphere and the elements that are present.
Fundamentally, for an explosion to take place, flammable or explosive gases, vapours, mists or dusts will be present. Then, the level of risk of an explosion is based on the frequency and duration of the occurrence of an explosive atmosphere. This level of risk is represented by classifying the hazardous area as Zone 0, Zone 1 or Zone 2 (for gas, vapour and mist atmospheres) or Zone 21 or Zone 22 for dust atmospheres.
we will look at what defines Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous area classifications and the considerations for specifying lighting into each area. But first, we must consider what is likely to cause an explosion in the first place.
There are three necessary components for an explosion to occur;
1. Flammable Substance – this needs to be present in a relatively high quantity to produce an explosive mixture (e.g. gas, vapours, mists and dusts).
2. Oxygen – oxygen is required in high quantities and in combination with the flammable substance to produce an explosive atmosphere.
3. Ignition Source – a spark or high heat must also be present.

Where there is potential for an explosive atmosphere, special precautions are needed to prevent fires and explosions. Electronic equipment, including lighting, needs to be purpose designed for use in hazardous areas to prevent a spark occurring and igniting any flammable substances.
Although every application is different, for the ease of monitoring and specification each hazardous area is classified as a particular level or “zone”. As a result, all hazardous area equipment must be designed with hazardous area zone classifications in mind, as the “zone” governs the level of protection and precaution required. It is essential to know which zone you are working in, so that you can specify the most appropriate equipment.
For gases, vapours and mists the zone classifications are recognised as Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas. Let’s take a look at what defines each zone…

1. Zone 0 is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is present continuously for long periods of time or will frequently occur.
2. Zone 1 is an area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally in normal operation. It may exist because of repair, maintenance operations, or leakage.
3. Zone 2 is a place in which an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only. These areas only become hazardous in case of an accident or some unusual operating condition.