Overview
ISO 20902-1:2018 - Fire test procedures for divisional elements that are typically used in oil, gas and petrochemical industries - Part 1: General requirements - defines a laboratory test procedure to determine the fire resistance of divisional elements protected by a fire protection system under cellulosic or hydrocarbon-pool fire conditions. The standard is applicable to non‑marine divisional elements but is also suitable for offshore fixed and mobile installations. Test data produced in accordance with ISO 20902-1:2018 can be combined with published fire test standards to support subsequent classification of elements by duration and performance.
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 20902-1:2018 establishes the general technical framework for consistent, repeatable fire testing:
- Test principle and scope - objectives and applicability for oil, gas and petrochemical divisional elements.
- Test specimen preparation - required dimensions, design description, material specification, conditioning and mounting.
- Instrumentation - furnace thermocouples, ambient sensors, unexposed-face thermocouples, pressure sensors, infrared imaging and recording equipment.
- Furnace control and exposure - time–temperature relationship, permitted deviations and furnace pressure control for cellulosic and hydrocarbon‑pool fire scenarios.
- Measurements and observations - unexposed-face temperatures, structural core temperatures, flaming behaviour, deformation, gap measurements and cotton‑wool pad tests.
- Performance criteria and classification - structural stability (R), integrity (E) and insulation (I) related criteria, and guidance for compatibility with prescriptive ratings.
- Test report & uncertainty - required reporting elements and consideration of measurement uncertainty.
- Annexes - informative examples of specimen construction, time–temperature curves and classification examples.
Practical applications and users
ISO 20902-1:2018 is intended for organizations involved in fire safety of oil, gas and petrochemical facilities:
- Test laboratories conducting fire resistance testing and generating classification data.
- Manufacturers and suppliers of divisional elements and passive fire protection systems seeking validated performance evidence.
- Design and engineering teams specifying fire-rated partitions, decks and barriers for onshore and offshore installations.
- Asset owners, safety managers and certification bodies requiring standardized test evidence for compliance, procurement and risk assessments.
- Regulatory authorities and insurers evaluating fire performance and assigned fire ratings.
Related standards
- ISO 20902-1:2018 is a Part 1 (general requirements) document intended to be used alongside other published fire test standards and subsequent parts addressing specific divisional elements or detailed classification procedures. It follows ISO/IEC editorial rules and provides the baseline procedures for consistent fire resistance testing in petrochemical environments.
Keywords: ISO 20902-1:2018, fire test procedures, fire resistance testing, divisional elements, oil and gas, petrochemical, cellulosic fire, hydrocarbon-pool fire, R E I classification, offshore fire protection.