Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Draft
FOR RESTRICTED
CIRCULATION ONLY
1
Preamble
Indian petroleum industry is the energy lifeline of the nation and its continuous performance is
essential for sovereignty and prosperity of the country. As the industry essentially deals with
inherently inflammable substances throughout its value chain – upstream, midstream and
downstream – Safety is of paramount importance to this industry as only safe performance at all
times can ensure optimum ROI of these national assets and resources including sustainability.
While statutory organizations were in place all along to oversee safety aspects of Indian petroleum
industry, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) was set up in 1986 by Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas, Government of India as a knowledge centre for formulation of constantly updated
world-scale standards for design, layout and operation of various equipment, facility and activities
involved in this industry. Moreover, OISD was also given responsibility of monitoring
implementation status of these standards through safety audits.
In more than 25 years of its existence, OISD has developed a rigorous, multi-layer, iterative and
participative process of development of standards – starting with research by in-house experts and
iterating through seeking & validating inputs from all stake-holders – operators, designers, national
level knowledge authorities and public at large – with a feedback loop of constant updation based
on ground level experience obtained through audits, incident analysis and environment scanning.
The participative process followed in standard formulation has resulted in excellent level of
compliance by the industry culminating in a safer environment in the industry. OISD – except in the
Upstream Petroleum Sector – is still a regulatory (and not a statutory) body but that has not
affected implementation of the OISD standards. It also goes to prove the old adage that self-
regulation is the best regulation. The quality and relevance of OISD standards had been further
endorsed by their adoption in various statutory rules of the land.
Together we strive to achieve NIL incidents in the entire Hydrocarbon Value Chain. This, besides
other issues, calls for total engagement from all levels of the stake holder organizations, which we,
at OISD, fervently look forward to.
Jai Hind!!!
Executive Director
2
NOTE
Oil Industry Safety Directorate(OISD) publications are prepared for use in the oil and
gas industry under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. These are the property of
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and shall not be reproduced or copied and loaned
or exhibited to others without written consent from OISD.
Though every effort has been made to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data
contained in these documents, OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or
responsibility for loss or damage resulting from their use.
These documents are intended to supplement rather than replace the prevailing
statutory requirements.
3
FOREWORD
The oil industry in India is nearly a 100 years old. Due to various collaboration
agreements with foreign companies, a variety of practices have been in vogue and
various international codes, standards are being followed. Standardisation in design
philosophies and operating and maintenance practices at a national level was hardly in
existence. This lack of uniformity coupled with feedback from some serious accidents
that occurred in the recent past in India and abroad, emphasised the need for the
industry to review the existing state of the art in designing, operating and maintaining oil
and gas installations.
With this in view, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 1986 constituted
a Safety Council assisted by the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) staffed from
within the industry in formulating and implementing a series of self regulatory measures
aimed at removing obsolescence, standardising and upgrading the existing standards to
ensure safer operations. Accordingly OISD constituted a number of functional
committees comprising of experts nominated from the industry to draw up standards
and guidelines on various subjects.
The first edition of the document on „Fire Prevention and Fire Protection System
for Electrical Installations‟ was prepared by the Committee on „Electrical Fire Protection‟
and published in July 1996. The present revised edition has been prepared by
Committee constituted with help of member industries. This document is based on the
accumulated knowledge and experience of industry members, and various national and
international codes and practices.
This document will be reviewed periodically for improvements based on the new
experiences and better understanding. Suggestions from industry members may be
addressed to:
The Coordinator
Committee on
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION SYSTEM
FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
Oil Industry Safety Directorate
Government of India
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
8th Floor, OIDB Bhavan, Plot No. 2, Sector – 73, Noida – 201301 (U.P.)
Website: www.oisd.gov.in
Tele: 0120-2593800, Fax: 0120-2593802
4
COMMITTEE ON ELECTRICAL FIRE PROTECTION
LIST OF MEMBERS
(1998)
____________________________________________________________________
NAME ORGANISATION
____________________________________________________________________
LEADER
MEMBERS
MEMBER CO-ORDINATOR
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF OISD-STD-173
LIST OF MEMBERS
(2003)
____________________________________________________________________
NAME ORGANISATION
____________________________________________________________________
MEMBERS
MEMBER CO-ORDINATOR
GUIDANCE
st
Shri V P Sharma (Leader of 1 Committee) Engineers India Ltd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
6
COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF OISD-STD-173
LIST OF MEMBERS
(2015)
____________________________________________________________________
NAME ORGANISATION
____________________________________________________________________
LEADER
MEMBERS
MEMBER CO-ORDINATOR
7
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION 9
2.0 SCOPE 9
3.0 DEFINITIONS 9
10.0 REFERENCES 29
8
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION SYSTEM
FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
9
Vertical ways for carrying cables are divided into following three
constructed either of concrete / classes as per the Petroleum
masonary or fabricated from steel. Act,1934:
Cable vaults are generally built below a “Petroleum Class B”:means petroleum
control room wherein cables from having a flash-point of twenty-three
o
various facilities terminate before degrees Centigrade (23 C) and
entering the control panels. above but below sixty-five degrees
o
Centigrade (65 C)
ix) ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
“Petroleum Class C“: means
Electrical installations include petroleum having a flash-point of
o
generating stations, sub-stations, sixty-five degrees Centigrade (65 C)
switch gear rooms, transformers, and above but below ninety-three
o
cabling systems and outdoor switch degrees Centigrade (93 C)
yards.
xiv) HAZARDOUS AREA
x) FIRE STOP
In accordance with the Petroleum
A through penetration fire stop is a Rules applicable to Hydrocarbon
specific construction consisting of liquids, an area shall be deemed to be
materials that fill the opening around a hazardous area, where:
penetrating items, such as cables,
cable trays, Bus Ducts, conduits, ducts a) Petroleum having flash point
0
and pipes, and their means of support below 65 C or any inflammable gas
through the wall or opening to prevent or vapour in a concentration capable
the spread of fire. of ignition is likely to be present;
10
exceed 33000 volts under normal Any building or part thereof where
condition; and power generating sources are
installed and operated along with
“Extra high Voltage” where the
switchgear, switch boards and other
voltage exceeds 33000 volts under
equipment required to generate /
normal condition.
control power.
12
Protection against Static and Unless adequately connected to
Lightning discharges. earth elsewhere, all utility and
process pipelines should be bonded
The earthing system shall have an to a common conductor by means
earthing network with required of earth bars or pipe clamps and
number of earth electrodes connected to the earthing system at
connected to it. The following shall a point where the pipelines enter or
be earthed: leave the hazardous area except
where conflicting with the
System neutral requirements of cathodic protection .
4.3.3 In all cases, connection to earth c) Live parts of switch gear shall
should be made in accordance with be made inaccessible from any
IS : 3043. inadvertent physical contact, lizard
entry etc. These shall be suitably
4.3.4 For further details on earthing covered by barriers and shrouds.
installation practices, refer OISD-RP-
147 and OISD-RP-149. d) It shall be ensured that the
electrical installation shall be rust /
4.3.5 The main earthing network shall be corrosion protected. This should be
used for earthing of equipment to achieved by painting all equipment at
protect it against static electricity. regular intervals by use of zinc
passivated, nickel plated hardware,
An independent earthing network stainless steel hardware, through
shall be provided for lightning provision of canopies for outdoor
14
equipment and covering of terminal j) Unused cable entries in any
boxes to prevent ingress of water etc. switchboard / Electrical installation
Battery rooms shall be kept dry and shall not be kept open.
well ventilated and all terminals shall
be kept covered with petroleum jelly k) Conduits used for cable entry
to avoid corrosion. shall be sealed and earthed.
15
All electric apparatus and wiring in a stopping plugs and bolts are in
hazardous area shall at all times be so position and properly tightened.
maintained as to retain the Locking and sealing devices shall be
characteristic on which their approval checked to ensure that they are
has been granted” secured in prescribed manner.
Equipment enclosures and fittings 4.5.3 The alarm system may be activated
shall be examined to see that all by automatic detection devices viz.
16
smoke detectors, heat detectors etc. there is no separate standby DG set,
or by manual operation of manual call critical DC lighting system may take
points i.e. brake glass units. care of the entire emergency lighting.
4.7.3 Critical lighting, sourced from 220V or c) Personnel and plant safety.
110V DC system shall enable safe
evacuation of operating personnel and Accordingly, relays and protective
shall be employed along escape devices shall be suitably selected and
route, assembly point and critical coordinated. All the numerical /
installations such as first aid centre, microprocessor based protection
control rooms, manned sub-stations, relays shall be provided with
fire water pump house etc. conformal coating and 3C3/3C4
compliant as per IEC-60721-3-3.
4.7.4 As a good engineering practice, the Refer OISD-RP-149 for further details.
AC emergency load should be
considered as 20-25% of normal 5.0 FIRE PROTECTION FOR SUB-
lighting load. In small plants, with STATION
small AC emergency load and where
17
5.1 Sub-station is a vital Electrical the building, to prevent the possibility
installation which has a number of of operating personnel being trapped
sources of fire hazards like Cables, in case of fire. Large sub-stations
Transformers and Circuit Breakers. shall have three exits. Maximum
Cables are normally PVC/XLPE distance for a man trapped in fire shall
insulated and pose fire hazard in case not exceed 30 meters to the nearest
of overheating or short circuit. An Oil fire escape. Panel and equipment
filled Transformer contains large layout shall be so designed that
quantity of oil and is liable to explosion personnel can go out from any exit.
and fire in case electrical faults do not The doors shall open outward and be
clear fast or get sustained. Circuit equipped with exit signs.
Breaker and other switchgear items
may cause low intensity fire along with 5.3.3 The cable cellar level of the sub-
explosion in case of severe earth fault. station floor shall be suitably raised
from adjacent grade level to avoid
5.2 LOCATION OF SUB-STATION water ingress. The roof shall be given
adequate water proofing treatment to
5.2.1 The sub-station shall be located in a ensure that rain water does not seep
safe area as close to the load centre into the sub-station.
as possible. Consideration should be
given to cooling tower sprays, vapours 5.3.4 Dry Type transformers should be
contributing to insulation breakdown preferred over Oil filled transformers
etc. and other factors affecting the for indoor duty. If unavoidable,
safe operation of the sub-station. location and provisions for indoor
transformers shall be governed by
Also refer OISD Standard 118 relevant clauses of CEA Safety
(Layouts for Oil and Gas Installations) Regulation#44 .
5.3.1 In large plants, the main sub-station 5.3.7 Switch boards should be provided with
floor shall be raised above grade level space heaters of sufficient rating to
and the space below the sub-station prevent condensation. Switchgear
floor (cellar) shall be utilised for located in a high ambient temperature
installation of cable trays. (for example, in a boiler house of the
building) should be adequately
5.3.2 Every sub-station shall have a ventilated in order to avoid excessive
minimum of two exits. These exits cubicle temperature.
shall be located at opposite ends of
18
5.3.8 Cable trenches inside the sub-stations having an aggregate oil capacity
shall be filled with sand, pebbles or exceeding 2000 Litres but individual
similar non-flammable materials or oil capacity of less than 5000 litres if
cable trenches shall be covered with the distance between transformers
non-inflammable slabs. All cable and other apparatus is more than 6
entries to the sub-station building Metres or if the transformers are
should be properly sealed to prevent protected by an approved type of high
entry of any fluids/chemicals etc. velocity water spray system.
20
An effective fire/smoke Detection distance of 15 meters. At least 1 fire
system shall be installed. Alarm / extinguisher shall be provided for
2
annunciation system shall be every 250 m area.
provided in Control Room / Manned
Sub station to facilitate appropriate ii) CO2 Extinguisher (4.5 Kg.
action. Performance / efficacy of Capacity)
such system shall be checked
periodically. Selection of fire fighting To be located in sub-stations. The
equipment should be governed by number should be determined based
provisions under Clause 5.8. on a maximum travelling distance of
10 meters. At least 1 fire
Additionally, Hydrants at strategic extinguisher shall be provided for
2
locations for fighting fire in major every 100 m area.
emergencies may be installed.
iii) Sand Buckets
5.8 FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR
MINOR FIRES One in each Transformer Bay. The
use of fire buckets shall not be
5.8.1 Electrical de-energisation / isolation considered as a substitute for fire
of the equipment from the energized extinguishers.
system should be the first step to
fight an electrical fire. Following The inspection & maintenance of the
should be given attention: above fire extinguishers shall be
based on the guidelines of OISD-
i) Where energized electrical GDN-115.
equipment is involved in a fire, the
non-conductivity of the extinguishing 5.8.3 Water should be used with discretion
media is of utmost importance, and in areas of electrical equipment.
only extinguishers expelling dry Provision should be made to prevent
powder, Carbon Di-oxide (without inadvertent operation of a water
metal horn) or vaporizing liquids suppression system. When water is
should be used. Once the electrical used, an adequate drainage system
equipment is de-energised, should be provided. Before selecting
extinguishers suitable for the class of water for use indoors, it should be
fire risk involved can be used safely. determined if the equipment is water
tight.
ii) All foams are electrically
conductive and should not be used If conditions are such that the
on fires involving exposed energized equipment cannot be de-energized
electrical equipment. After de- and the fire cannot be extinguished
energization, fire extinguishers by non-conducting agents, water
should be used depending on class spray may be used with proper
of fire. nozzle selection. Water-spray
nozzles can be used safely and
5.8.2 Annexure B of IS:2190 shall be effectively on voltages upto 138 KV,
referred for assessment of class of phase to phase with the following
fire / nature of occupancy criteria etc. precautions :
22
150-200 lux for control rooms and arrestor. Clause no. 5.3.12 shall be
sub-stations. referred for provision of separation
walls / safe inter distance etc.
6.8 a) Emergency diesel generator (DG)
sets are normally required to be 7.3 OIL CONTAINING PIT
operated only on failure of the
normal supply. These emergency In order to prevent oil, whether from
DG sets shall be located in well a small leakage or outflow from
ventilated rooms and provided with transformer tank, from reaching and
air exhaust equipment in order to polluting the water bearing stratum,
dissipate the heat generated during transformers shall have the following
power generation. The day tank for provisions, depending on the oil
diesel shall not be located inside the capacity of the transformer.
emergency DG room as it is a
potential source of fire and may also 7.3.1 Oil Capacity upto 2,000 litres
release flammable vapours. The day
tank shall be located outside the DG Transformers installed adjacent to
room within a fenced area, preferably sub-station/buildings shall, where oil
with a corrugated sheet roof to capacity does not exceed 2,000
provide protection from direct sun litres, be provided with a layer of 100
and rain. mm deep stones of about 40 mm
granulation, all around the
Emergency Diesel Generator should transformer, for a width of 20% of the
be provided with auto cut in system. transformer height or with a minimum
width of about 800 mm.
b) The exhaust from the emergency
DG shall be conveyed outside the 7.3.2 Oil Capacity exceeding 2,000
DG room through an exhaust pipe. litres
The direction of exhaust pipe shall be
so chosen as to help disperse the Transformers installed adjacent to
exhaust away from the DG room. sub-station / building shall, where oil
capacity exceeds 2,000 litres of oil in
c) Batteries for starting the DG set a chamber, be provided with oil
shall have containers of non- containing pits.
corrosive, non-flammable material.
Batteries shall be located in a well The oil containing pit may be shaped
ventilated location, to prevent the as illustrated in Figure – 1, where two
accumulation of an explosive alternative solutions are considered.
mixture. In both schemes, it is recommended
that the pit shall extend all around the
7.0 TRANSFORMER transformer for a width of 20% of the
INSTALLATION transformer height, with a minimum
width of about 800 mm.
7.1 A transformer is the main equipment
in the switchyard / sub-station which CASE – 1
is prone to fire hazards due to the
large quantity of oil it contains. The oil containing pit shall be able to
Special attention shall be devoted to contain an quantity of oil equal to that
safeguard the transformer and other of the oil contained in the
nearby equipment against fire. transformer, plus the volume of water
in the fixed fire fighting installation (if
7.2 SEPARATING WALL any) plus a certain margin for rain
water. This margin should be
Separating walls shall have fire rating proportionate to the quantity of rain
and specifications as per clause falling in the region where the sub-
5.3.13. Separating wall shall also be station lies and to the frequency of
designed to withstand the explosion the maintenance and emptying
of transformer bushing or lightning operations.
23
of the sub-station to assist drainage.
The whole pit around the transformer The tank shall be of sufficient
shall be filled with stones of about capacity to receive, without
40/60 mm granulation except that the overflowing, the contents of the
top 150 mm of the pit shall be devoid largest transformer of the sub-station
of stones. A layer of stones of this plus the water of any fixed fire
size extinguishes the burning oil fighting system, and a certain
penetrating it. A Porosity factor of quantity of rain water collected from
40% may be considered for 40/60 all pits. No other drain shall lead to
mm size gravel. the tank. This tank shall be provided
with an air vent large enough to avoid
CASE – 2 over pressure during operation. The
vent shall be provided with a flame
The oil containing pit shall be similar arrestor. The whole internal surface
in construction to CASE – 1, shall be impermeable. (Refer
however, it shall be able to contain a Figure:2).
quantity of oil corresponding to
approximately a third or even less Provisions shall be made for suitable
than the volume of oil contained in oil soak pit where use of more than
the transformer. In such a case, the 9000 litres of oil in any one oil tank,
oil containing pit shall be connected receptacle or chamber is involved, in
to a waste oil tank as per Clause line with CEA Safety Regulation#44,
7.3.3.
Oil containing pit shall be sized for
In case oil capacity exceeds 9,000 following
litres, in any chamber, provision shall i) The spill of the largest single
be made for draining away of any oil, container
which may escape or leak from the ii) Two nos. of fire hose operating for
tanks, to a waste oil tank as per a minimum of 10 minutes
Clause 7.3.3. iii) The maximum design discharge of
fixed fire suppression systems
In both the cases, it shall be possible
operating for a minimum of 10
to empty the pit by means of a pump.
minutes
If the emptying is automatic, the Portable pumping arrangement shall
emptying system shall be laid out be considered for emptying of waste
and controlled in such a way as to oil pit.
prevent oil flowing into the general
drains of the sub-station. The bottom
of the pit shall be constructed of 7.4 FIRE PROTECTION
impermeable concrete.
The first para of Clause 5.4 on fire
7.3.3 Waste Oil Tank prevention rather than fire fighting
should be recapitulated .
The oil containing pit, when of a
smaller volume than required, say 7.4.1 Fixed fire extinguishing systems for
able to contain a quantity of oil oil filled transformers shall be
corresponding to only a third of the provided if any one of the following
volume of oil contained in a conditions exists:
transformer, shall be connected by a
draining pipe of earthenware or steel, a) Neither separating walls having
not less than 150 mm diameter, to a fire rating and specs as per 5.3.13
waste oil tank situated in suitable are erected in line with criteria under
place. If only one waste oil tank clause 5.3.12 nor the inter distance
collects the drainage of several criteria under same clause is met.
containing pits, the tank should be
situated either in a place central to
the transformers or in the lowest part
24
b) The transformers of the sub- extinguishing system for oil filled
station/ switch station are located in transformers. Pressure relief valve
the basement of the building. operation due to internal faults
activates the system and nitrogen is
c) Transformers of 10 MVA injected from the bottom area of the
and above rating or in case of oil tank, which brings down the oil
filled transformers with oil capacity temperature, as well as, provides an
of more than 2000 liters. inert nitrogen layer on top of the hot
oil to prevent any contact of oil with
7.4.2 In case, fixed fire extinguishing oxygen. Such system may be
systems are to be installed, they considered in areas where
may consist of the following: availability of water is limited or
there is probability of water freezing.
i) Water Spray (Mulsifyre) Alternately, use of dry type
System transformers may also be
considered for such areas.
Such a system shall be provided
with automatic high velocity water Use of Nitrogen Purging is optional.
spray system (Mulsifyre System) or Necessary techno- economic study
foam water spray. is to be done by the user before
going for the system.
Complete impingement on all
exterior surface (except bottom Fixed fire extinguishing system
surface) shall be done with a rate should be tested once every year to
not less than 12.5 ltr./min/sq. meter. check system effectiveness.
Any space of width greater than 300
mm shall have separate 8.0 CABLE INSTALLATION
arrangement for spray of water.
Separate arrangement of water 8.1 Electrical cables are usually
spraying shall be considered for sheathed with polyvinyl chloride
conservator. (PVC) which contributes to the rapid
spread of fire. PVC also gives off
Piping for spraying should not be highly toxic products out of
carried across the top of the combustion including corrosive
transformer unless no other gases, when it is exposed to intense
alternative space is available. heat or is involved in fire. Dense
Water spray shall not impinge on smoke from the cable fires hinders
energized bushing and lightning fire fighting efforts and the approach
arrestor. to the source of fire.
g) The fire rating of fire stop when e) FRP cable trays, wherever
tested according to IS : 12458 and provided, shall be fire resistant and
of barrier wall when tested UV resistant type.
according to IS : 3809 shall not be
less than the rating of the building 8.4.5 Fire Prevention in above ground
components. installation
29
IS- 2190 : Code of Practice for
Selection, Installation & IS/IEC 60079-17: Explosive Atmospheres–
Maintenance of Portable First Aid Electrical Installations Inspection and
Fire appliances. Maintenance
(III) NEC-1985
IS-2309: Protection of buildings
and allied structures against (IV) INDIAN ELECTRICITY ACT &
lightning. CEA (measures relating to safety
and electric supply) Regulations,
IS-3034: Code of Practice for Fire 2010 as per latest amendments.
Safety of Industrial Buildings:
Electrical Generating and (V) THE PETROLEUM RULES-
Distributing Station 2002 with latest amendments.
IS-3043: Code of Practice for (VI) IEC 60331 & IEC 60332: Fire
Earthing. resisting characteristics of electrical
cables.
IS:3809: BIS Standard for testing of
Fire Rating for Barrier Wall. (VII) ANSI/IEEE STD-979: GUIDE
FOR SUB-STATION FIRE
IS-5571: Guide for selection of PROTECTION.
electrical equipment for hazardous
areas. (VIII) NFPA-850
30
31