Standards Development

Scope

This international standard specifies the requirements and the methods of test for vertical escape ladders of offshore platforms to ensure that the crew can safely evacuate from the platforms in case of emergency when the platform is standing.

This standard is applicable to the design, manufacture and acceptance of escape ladders for various offshore platforms. The purpose of this standard is to ensure the safety and inter-changeability of this kind of vertical escape ladders. These vertical escape ladders can be used for escape setting in case of emergency of offshore platforms.

The main contents of this standard are: 1. Scope; 2. Normative references; 3. Type; 4. Dimension definition; 5. Dimensions; 6. Technical requirements; 7. Manufacturing quality; 8 Test; 9. Inspection; 10 Marking, storage and maintenance. 

Purpose

Article 10.4.7 ofCODE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF MOBILE OFFSHORE DRILLING UNITS, 2009 (2009 MODU CODE)issued by the IMO clearly requires that“At least two widely separated fixed metal ladders or stairways should be provided extending from the deck to the surface of the water.” And Article 10.4.8 specifies that " If fixed ladders cannot be installed, alternative means of escape with sufficient capacity to permit all persons on board to descend safely to the waterline should be provided."

Correspondingly, some countries also issue similar regulation, such like: Article 10.4.8 of China TECHNICAL RULES FOR STATUTORY INSPECTION OF OFFSHORE MOBILE PLATFORMS,2016, requires that "If a fixed ladder cannot be installed on the platform, other escape facilities with the capacity to enable all platform personnel to safely land on the water surface shall be provided. However, for the case where the deck is high from the water surface and there is no vertical structure such as outer plate (such as column stable platform, jack up platform, etc.), boarding soft ladder shall not be used as escape facilities."

From the perspective of practical use, the air gap from sea to platform deck in bad sea conditions can reach 5 meters30 meters. There are great potential safety hazards when people use soft ladder or straight stairway in truss pile leg as escape channel. In this case, the vertical escape ladder of offshore platform can well solve this problem.

The vertical escape ladders of offshore platforms are classified as rotary type and fixed type, which are installed on the side plate of offshore platform. The vertical escape ladder is a ladder with telescopic structure composed of fixed ladder and sliding ladder. The fixed ladder and sliding ladder are formed by rotating and hinged between the rotary winch and the upper part of the offshore platform deck, and can change the direction and inclination on the side of the offshore platform, or the fixed ladder is welded and fixed with the side of the offshore platform. The sliding ladder is pulled by the lifting winch and steel wire rope, and can extend or retract along the fixed ladder, having the function of adjusting its length.

In this way, the vertical escape ladder can be raised and lowered electrically or manually in case of emergency on the offshore platform; and the length of the ladder can be changed to facilitate the platform personnel to evacuate the platform safely. Moreover, the straight ladder has the telescopic function, which can simultaneously meet the working needs of the offshore platform under various working conditions and the needs of escape and rescue in emergency situations.

As the final escape path, the reliability and stability of the vertical escape ladders of offshore platforms should be guaranteed. But at present, there is no unified standard for such escape facilities in the world, which brings some difficulties to their production, installation, inspection, operation and maintenance. Therefore, it is very necessary to formulate unified international standards to ensure the safety and inter-changeability of such vertical escape ladders.

This international standard specifies the requirements and the methods of test for vertical escape ladders of offshore platforms to ensure that the crew can safely evacuate from the platforms in case of emergency when the platform is standing.This standard is applicable to the design, manufacture and acceptance of escape ladders for various offshore platforms. The purpose of this standard is to ensure the safety and inter-changeability of this kind of vertical escape ladders. These vertical escape ladders can be used for escape setting in case of emergency of offshore platforms.