Passive fire protection on offshore structures

Developing a reliable unified methodology for PFP application criteria.

Background

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is essential for ensuring the safety of offshore units, but it comes with significant impacts on cost, weight, and maintenance complexity. Currently, different companies use varying methodologies to estimate the amount of PFP required, often leading to inconsistent and divergent recommendations, resulting in over-conservative or misaligned PFP applications that increase costs and complicate maintenance without necessarily improving safety.

This lack of consensus creates confusion and operational challenges for operators. Furthermore, excessive PFP can hinder inspection, increase corrosion risks beneath protective layers, and raise safety concerns during asset life cycles.

Objective

The main objective of this Joint Industry Project (JIP) is to ensure a safe transition from Design to Operation Phase in terms of PFP recommendation for offshore structures. The project aims to investigate the current approach for Structural Fire Analysis (SFA) and Fire Risk Analysis (FRA) in order to develop a scientifically robust, industry-accepted and unified PFP recommendation methodology. In addition, it looks forward to allowing collaboration with industry players, combining practical knowledge from operators with technical knowledge from consultants. This will enable optimized PFP application that balances safety, cost, and operational efficiency.

Approach

Through detailed investigation of the current SFA and FRA methodologies, as well as comparisons of different software tools, the project will evaluate the impact of varying assumptions and criteria on PFP recommendations. By integrating field data, engineering assessments, and operational insights, the JIP will identify the most accurate and cost-effective approaches.

Outcomes

The outcome will be the development of standardized guidelines and an optimized PFP recommendation methodology, enabling consistent, transparent, and scientifically backed solutions for offshore fire protection. Ultimately, the JIP will produce a unified criteria that contributes to reduce unnecessary material use, minimize maintenance challenges, and improve inspection reliability – supporting safer and more cost-effective offshore operations globally.

Customer Relationship

This project is being designed to align the operational experience from operators with the technical standards and expertise from consultants, providing tailored reporting and collaborative feedback. Additionally, it provides the opportunity of joining a forum with knowledge sharing, networking and collective learning with experts from DNV and Petrobras.