Technical and operational regulations § 6

§ 6 Design of onshore facilities

Onshore facilities shall be based on the most robust and simple solutions possible, and designed so that
  1. they can withstand the design loads and probable combinations of these loads at all times,
  2. major accident risk is as low as possible,
  3. a fault in one component, system or a single mistake does not result in unacceptable consequences,
  4. materials handling and transport can take place in an efficient and prudent manner,
  5. a prudent working environment is facilitated,
  6. operational assumptions and restrictions are safeguarded in a prudent manner,
  7. these regulations' provisions regarding health conditions are safeguarded in a prudent manner,
  8. the lowest possible risk of pollution is facilitated, and
  9. prudent maintenance is facilitated.
The operator shall prepare a land-use plan.
Design and placement location of the onshore facility's areas and equipment shall contribute to reduce the risk relating to fires and explosions.
Measures to protect onshore facilities against fires and explosions shall be based on a strategy.
Section last changed: 01 January 2011

For general risk reduction requirements, see Section 11 of the Framework Regulations, and Chapters II and V of the Management Regulations.
As regards design of work sites and workplaces, reference is made to relevant provisions in regulations pursuant to the Working Environment Act, laid down 6 December 2011. In addition, reference is made to the lawmirror (in Norwegian only) of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, in which the requirement of the regulations that are being repealed upon entering into force of the new regulations in pursuance of the Working Environment Act, are included.
To fulfil the requirements related to design as mentioned in the first subsection, the facility should be designed such that the likelihood and consequences of accidents are reduced by having areas, equipment and functions arranged, located and oriented such that, to the extent possible,
  1. the possibility of collection and spread of hazardous substances is limited,
  2. the likelihood of ignition is limited,
  3. areas that contain hazardous substances are separated from each other and from other areas, and
  4. consequences and escalation of fires and explosions are reduced.
The facility should be divided into main areas according to their function, and should use distance to separate high risk areas from areas with low risk, as well as the personnel's regular work sites.
Risk analyses as mentioned in Chapter V of the Management Regulations and land-use plans as mentioned in the second subsection, should be used as a basis for placement and design of equipment and installations, and establishment of area restrictions surrounding onshore facilities.
As regards pipeline systems, the land-use plan should show the route, placement of buildings and facilities that are part of the system, transport concepts for both the construction and operations phases and any other area interventions.
In order to fulfil the requirement for a strategy as mentioned in the second subsection, the NS-EN ISO 13702 standard, Chapter 5 should be used.
The requirement for measures as mentioned in the last subsection, can be fulfilled using both technical and operational measures.
As regards classification of explosive areas, IEC 60079-10-1 and IP 15 should be used.