BS IEC 61892-6:2019

What is BS IEC 61892-6 about? 

BS IEC 61892-6 provides specific requirements for the installation of electrical 

equipment in mobile and fixed offshore units, including pipeline, pumping, or "pigging" stations, compressor stations, and single buoy moorings, used in the offshore petroleum industry for drilling, production, accommodation, processing, storage, and offloading purposes. 

BS IEC 61892-6 specifies requirements such as those concerning: 

• Protection during equipment storage and in the installation period 
• Installation of generators and motors 
• Installation of transformers 
• Installation of switchgear and control gear assemblies 
• Installation of semiconductor converters and UPS 
• Installation of secondary cells and batteries 
• Installation of luminaires 
• Installation of heating and cooking appliances 
• Installation of trace and surface heating 
• Installation of cables and wiring, both low-voltage and high-voltage cables 
• Requirements about earthing and bonding 
• Lightning protection 
• Testing of the completed installation 
• Documentation 

Note 1: BS IEC 61892-6 does not apply to: 

• Fixed equipment for medical purposes, 
• Electrical installations of tankers, and 
• Control of ignition sources other than those created by electrical equipment. 

Note 2: BS IEC 61892-6 is not intended to prevent their use beyond petroleum installations. 

Who is BS IEC 61892-6 for? 

BS IEC 61892-6 on Electrical installations of Mobile and fixed offshore units is beneficial for: 

• Installers of generators and motors, transformers, switchgear, and control gear 
• Installers of semiconductor converters and UPS, secondary cells and batteries, luminaires 
• Installers of heating and cooking appliances, trace and surface heating, cables, and wiring 
• Testers of the completed installation 
• Petroleum industries for drilling, production, accommodation, processing, storage, and offloading purposes 
• Documentation specialists 
• Operators and contractors 

Why should you use BS IEC 61892-6? 

Installation is the process of making hardware or software ready for the user. Different systems require different types of installations. BS IEC 61892-6 is a part of the IEC 61892 series of International Standards for safety in the design, selection, installation, maintenance, and use of electrical equipment for the generation, transmission, storage, distribution, and utilization of electrical energy for all purposes in offshore units which are used for exploration or exploitation of petroleum resources. 

BS IEC 61892-6 incorporates and coordinates, as far as possible, existing rules and forms a code of interpretation, where applicable, of the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and constitutes a guide for future regulations which may be prepared and a statement of practice for offshore unit owners, designers, installers and appropriate organizations. BS IEC 61892-6 is based on solutions and methods which are in current use, but it is not intended to impede the development of new or improved techniques. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS IEC 61892-6:2019 supersedes BS IEC 61892‑6:2013, which is withdrawn. BS IEC 61892-6:2019 includes some technical changes concerning BS IEC 61892‑6:2013. These include: 

• Requirements for protection during equipment storage have been added 
• The special requirements for distribution board enclosures in accommodation spaces have been deleted 
• Requirements for installation of UPS have been updated 
• Requirements regarding the installation of batteries have been modified 
• Requirements for large single-core cables for three-phase AC have been updated