September 2019 saw the publication of ABS Guidance Notes on composite repairs of steel structures and piping. The Notes, primarily written for the offshore sector – site-specific offshore structures – address steel renewal or reinforcement using bonded composite repairs.
SPS, the original permanent, composite steel renewal solution is one such method which falls under the paper’s scope as an alternative to regular hot work renewal. Using this technology (a steel elastomer sandwich panel) repairs can be completed in-situ using either hot or no hot work (NHW) installation methods.
ABS Guidance Notes Explained
The Notes address important aspects of composite solutions:
- Repair design life
- Repair Class (SPS is a Class C repair)
The Notes state that, “Sufficient documentation is provided to quantify with confidence the reliability of the repair for the intended service life of the structure.”
- ABS Certification (SPS has ABS Product Design Assessment Certification)
- Installation and Quality Assurance (SPS Installation Guidelines are Class Approved)
Appendix 1 Sandwich Plate with a Continuous Elastomer Core gives a full explanation of where and how SPS can be utilised in steel renewal on site-specific offshore structures and the methods of installation available.
ABS Guidance Notes on COMPOSITE REPAIRS OF STEEL STRUCTURES AND PIPING join previously published Class Guidelines from DNV-GL Class Guideline – Steel Sandwich Panel Construction and Lloyd’s Register Rules for the Application of Sandwich Panel Construction to Ship Structure. The full Rulesets from Lloyd’s Register were issued on 1 July 2019 following the Provisional Rules issue in 2006.
SPS Technology has created a Surveyor’s Pack for maritime and offshore surveyors, with regularly updating guidelines from ABS, DNV, CCS and Lloyd’s Register.
Read more about offshore applications of SPS at SPS Offshore.
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