This Communiqué is being posted while the discussion and revision of API 500/505 regarding this issue is being performed. This is an informational communiqué only.
WARNING REGARDING DIESEL FUEL SPECIFICATIONS
Attention should be given to floating installations, which may differ from other oil and gas facilities in that certain spaces may reach higher ambient temperatures than those experienced in other topsides facilities in traditional onshore and offshore facilities. This will affect the design of facilities relative to the flash points of materials stored, handled, or transferred. In addition, the severity of fires and explosions in this type of facility, the difficulty of fighting those fires, and the risk of the loss of the entire facility may necessitate additional caution when classifying areas in the hull spaces of floating facilities.
Variations in seasonal temperatures, the possibility of relocation of the facility to a location with a warmer climate, poorly ventilated sections of large hull spaces, heating from adjacent spaces, heat producing equipment within the space, solar radiation on the skin of the hull, and other conditions that may cause higher than traditionally expected ambient temperatures to exist in the hull should be considered relative to the actual flashpoint of bulk combustible liquids stored in the hull.
Note: There are many combustible liquids used on floating production facilities. A common combustible liquid used on floating production facilities is diesel. Various grades of diesel or fuel oils are available for purchase. These grades may meet various specifications such as ASTM D 975, Standard Specifications for Diesel Fuel Oils, No 2 diesel whose grades have a range of minimum flashpoints from 38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F) to 52 degrees C (125.6 degrees F) or ASTM D 2069 -- Standard Specifications for Marine Fuels, DMX through DMC, which have a range of minimum flashpoints from 43 degrees C (109.4 degrees F) to 60 degrees C (140 degrees F). Other common specifications for fuel oils available for purchase include:
ASTM D 2880 -- Standard Specifications for Gas Turbine Fuel Oil;
ISO 8217 – Quality Standard for Distillate Marine Fuels
NATO F-76 – Fuel Naval Distillate
MIL-F-16884J – Military Specification, Fuel, Naval Distillate
Care must be taken to order diesel or fuel oil with a flashpoint suitable for the ambient temperature of the hull space where it will be stored. Storing, handling, or transferring of combustible liquids at or above their flashpoint will result in hull spaces being classified.
For more information, please contact Gordon Robertson at 202-682-8190 or at .