Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations (SOR/96-118)

Fire Extinguishers

• 29 (1) On every offshore installation a portable fire extinguisher shall be provided

  • (a) within 10 m of any position accessible by personnel in every machinery, drilling and production and process space;

  • (b) within 15 m of any position accessible by personnel in every space other than a space described in paragraph (a); and

  • (c) near the entrance to each space referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).

• (2) Subject to subsection (3), the extinguishing medium employed by an extinguisher provided pursuant to subsection (1) shall be suitable for extinguishing fires in spaces in which it is intended to be used.

• (3) Each extinguisher provided pursuant to subsection (1) for use in machinery spaces where oil is used as fuel shall be of a type discharging foam, carbon dioxide gas or dry powder.

• (4) The capacity of each portable extinguisher provided pursuant to this section shall be at least

  • (a) 9 L, for an extinguisher that discharges foam;

  • (b) 4.5 kg, for an extinguisher that discharges dry powder;

  • (c) 6 kg, for an extinguisher that discharges carbon dioxide gas; and

  • (d) 9 L, for an extinguisher that discharges water.

• (5) A spare charge shall be provided for each portable extinguisher provided pursuant to this section for which a duplicate extinguisher has not been provided.

• (6) On an offshore installation, every space containing internal combustion machinery that has an aggregate power of at least 750 kW shall be provided with one portable foam applicator unit and the following fire extinguishers:

  • (a) one foam type fire extinguisher of not less than 45 L capacity in every engine space;

  • (b) two portable foam extinguishers, where the aggregate power of the machinery is at least 750 kW but not more than 1500 kW;

  • (c) three portable foam extinguishers, where the aggregate power of the machinery is more than 1500 kW but not more than 2250 kW;

  • (d) four portable foam extinguishers, where the aggregate power of the machinery is more than 2250 kW but not more than 3000 kW;

  • (e) five portable foam extinguishers, where the aggregate power of the machinery is more than 3000 kW but not more than 3750 kW; and

  • (f) six portable foam extinguishers, where the aggregate power of the machinery is more than 3750 kW.

• (7) On an offshore installation, every space containing an oil- or gas-fired boiler or any other fired process vessel that has a thermal rating of at least 75 kW shall be provided with

  • (a) two portable foam fire extinguishers plus an additional portable foam fire extinguisher for each burner up to a total capacity of 45 L;

  • (b) one portable dry powder fire extinguisher; and

  • (c) one portable foam applicator unit.

• (8) Every portable foam applicator unit provided pursuant to this section shall be provided with

  • (a) an air-foam nozzle of an inductor type capable of being connected to the water main described in subsection 24(2) and of producing foam effective for extinguishing an oil fire at the rate of at least 1.5 m³/minute; and

  • (b) at least two tanks, each containing at least 20 L of foam-making liquid.

• (9) Every portable fire extinguisher on an offshore installation shall be inspected, maintained and recharged in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Firefighting Equipment

• 30 (1) Every manned offshore installation shall be provided with at least ten sets of firefighter equipment and every unmanned offshore installation shall be provided with at least two sets of firefighter equipment, each of which shall consist of

  • (a) protective clothing, including boots and gloves, that

    • (i) meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association 1971, Standard on Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting,

    • (ii) will protect the skin from being burned by heat radiating from a fire and by steam,

    • (iii) has a water-resistant outer surface,

    • (iv) in the case of boots, is made of rubber or other electrically non-conducting material, and

    • (v) in the case of gloves, meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association 1973, Standard on Gloves for Structural Fire Fighting; and

  • (b) a firefighter’s helmet with visor that meets the requirements of Canadian Standards Association CAN/CSA-Z94.1-92, Industrial Protective Headwear.

• (2) In addition to any firefighting equipment required by the Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, every manned offshore installation shall be provided with at least four sets, and every unmanned offshore installation shall be provided with at least two sets, of the following equipment:

  • (a) a self-contained breathing apparatus that

    • (i) is capable of functioning for at least 30 minutes,

    • (ii) meets the requirements of Canadian Standards Association CAN/CSA-Z94.4-93, Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators, and CAN3-Z 180.1-M85, Compressed Breathing Air and Systems, and

    • (iii) is equipped with two spare bottles;

  • (b) a portable electric safety lamp that

    • (i) will operate in the conditions anticipated for a Class I, Division 1, hazardous area,

    • (ii) is operated from a rechargeable battery capable of operating for at least 3 hours, and

    • (iii) can be easily attached to the clothing of a firefighter, at or above the waist level;

  • (c) an axe with an insulated handle and a carrying belt; and

  • (d) a fire-resistant life and signalling line and a safety belt and harness that meet the requirements of National Fire Protection Association 1983, Standard on Fire Service Life Safety Rope, Harness and Hardware.

• (3) Each set of equipment required by subsections (1) and (2) shall be kept ready for use and stored so as to be readily accessible.

• (4) One of each of the sets of equipment required by subsections (1) and (2) shall be located within easy access of the helicopter deck.

Automatic Fire Detection Systems

• 31 (1) Every manned offshore installation shall be equipped with a fire detection system that is capable of detecting the presence of fire in every space where fire may occur, including

  • (a) every corridor, stairway and escape route in the accommodation areas;

  • (b) the control station;

  • (c) every work area; and

  • (d) every space containing equipment in which petroleum or any other flammable substance is stored, conveyed, processed or consumed.

• (2) Every unmanned offshore installation shall be equipped with a fire detection system that is capable of detecting the presence of fire in every space where fire may occur, including

  • (a) every work area; and

  • (b) every space containing equipment in which petroleum or any other flammable substance is stored, conveyed, processed or consumed.

• (3) Every fire detection system required by subsections (1) and (2) shall be selected, designed, installed and maintained in accordance with National Fire Prevention Association 72E, Standard on Automatic Fire Detectors.

• (4) The fire detection systems required by subsections (1) and (2) shall, on detection of fire, activate automatically

  • (a) an audible and visual signal on the fire and gas indicator panel in the control station of a manned installation; and

  • (b) an audible alarm that has a tone different from any other alarm in any part of the installation.

• (5) Every onshore installation shall be equipped with a fire alarm system.

• (6) The fire alarm system for a drilling rig at an onshore site shall be connected with the fire alarm system for the accommodation areas at that site where the drilling rig is within 50 m of the accommodation areas.

• (7) Every room in an onshore installation that is used as sleeping accommodation for a drill crew shall be equipped with a smoke detector and alarm.

Gas Detection Systems

• 32 (1) Every offshore installation shall be equipped with a gas detection system that is capable of detecting, in every part of the installation in which hydrogen sulphide or any type of hydrocarbon gas may accumulate, the presence of those gases.

• (2) The gas detection system required by subsection (1) shall, on detection of gas, activate automatically

  • (a) an audible and visual signal on the fire and gas indicator panel in the control station of a manned installation; and

  • (b) an audible alarm that has a tone different from any other alarm in any part of the installation.

• (3) Every offshore installation shall be equipped with

  • (a) at least two portable gas detectors capable of

    • (i) measuring the concentration of oxygen in any space, and

    • (ii) detecting hydrogen sulphide and any type of hydrocarbon gas in any space; and

  • (b) a means of testing the portable gas detectors described in paragraph (a).

• (4) A gas detector shall be provided

  • (a) at every ventilation inlet duct leading to a non-hazardous area on every installation;

  • (b) in every Class I, Division 1, hazardous area on every onshore installation; and

  • (c) in every enclosed hazardous area on every offshore installation.

• (5) Every gas detector provided in accordance with subsection (3) shall be appropriate for the area and installed and operated in accordance with

  • (a) Appendix C of American Petroleum Institute RP 14C, Recommended Practice for Analysis, Design, Installation and Testing of Basic Surface Safety Systems for Offshore Production Platforms; and

  • (b) section 9.2 of American Petroleum Institute RP 14F, Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Electrical Systems for Offshore Production Platforms.

Alarm Panels and Signals

• 33 (1) Every manned offshore installation shall be equipped with a fire or gas detection system that includes

  • (a) one or more fire and gas detector indicator panels located at the control station, that

    • (i) indicate the source of fire and gas by means of a visual signal,

    • (ii) are capable of being functionally tested, and

    • (iii) are fitted with equipment for resetting the fire and gas detection systems; and

  • (b) an audible fire and gas alarm that has a characteristic tone that distinguishes it from the alarms associated with machinery, safety and control system faults or any other alarm system and that is audible on all parts of the installation.

• (2) A fire or gas detection system referred to in subsection (1) shall

  • (a) be capable of being manually activated from each of the following locations, namely,

    • (i) the space adjacent to each entrance to each machinery and process space,

    • (ii) each accommodation area,

    • (iii) the office of the manager of the installation,

    • (iv) every control point in each machinery and process space, and

    • (v) the control station;

  • (b) be designed so that, on activation of a detection device in one space, any signals received at the same time from a detection device in another space will register at the fire and gas indicator panel at that same time;

  • (c) be installed and maintained in accordance with National Fire Prevention Association 72, Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Protective Signaling Systems; and

  • (d) be arranged so that there will be an automatic changeover to an emergency source of electrical power in accordance with subsection 12(9) in the event of a failure of the primary source of electrical power and so that failure of the primary source of electrical power will be indicated both visually and audibly as a separate fault alarm.