EN 1473 and other EN LNG Standards The European Norms and Standards

for the LNG Industry

Eginhard Berger, Head of Division Marketing & Sales
IMPaC Offshore Engineering, Hamburg, Germany

31b

AIChE Spring Meeting, April 2009,

9th Topical Conference on Natural Gas Utilization
April 26-30, 2009 Tampa, Florida

Introduction
In 1992 LNG experts from 12 countries in Europe initiated the development of modern
European Norms (EN) for the growing LNG industry. The target was to provide
information on this exciting technology with temperatures as low as -160C and give
guidance to potential users for the safe handling of LNG. In the meantime these EN LNG
standards have been extended into most of the LNG units of this industry covering the
aspects of health, safety and environment.
The tenor of the EN standards becomes evident in one of the preambles: The objective of
the European Standard is to give functional guidelines for LNG installations. It
recommends procedures and practices that will result in safe and environmentally
acceptable design, construction and operation of LNG plants. It need not be applied
retrospectively, but application is recommended, when major modifications of existing
installations are being considered.
There is a principal difference to several other standards: the ENs for LNG mostly do not
prescribe physical dimensions or properties of LNG related equipment and systems.
Mainly points of special concern, safety targets and risks are defined. How these targets
are achieved and implemented is subject to the technical and scientific approach. This
leaves sufficient freedom for the introduction of advanced and innovative solutions. And it
is up to the operators and authorities to require the verification of the EN requirements for
the proposed LNG installations.

Survey of the European LNG Standards

A summary of the existing EN standards is listed below:
x

EN 1160, Installations and equipment for liquefied natural gas General

characteristics of liquefied natural gas

EN 1473, Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas - Design of onshore
installations

EN 1474, Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas Part 1: Design and
testing of loading/unloading arms; Part 2: of LNG hoses; Part 3: offshore LNG
transfer systems

EN 1532, Installations and equipment for liquefied natural gas Ship to shore
interface

EN 12065, Testing of foam concentrates designed for generation of medium & high
expansion foam and of extinguishing powders used on LNG fire

EN 12066, Testing of insulating linings for LNG impounding areas

EN 12308, Suitability testing of gaskets designed for flanged joints used on LNG
piping

EN 12838, Suitability testing of LNG sampling systems

EN 13645, Design of onshore installations with a storage capacity between 5 t and

200 t

Some features of these ENs are highlighted below:

EN 1160, Installations and equipment for liquefied natural gas General

characteristics of liquefied natural gas
The general characteristics of LNG are described including the thermodynamic and other
physical properties, evaporation, spillage, ignition and containment. In addition some
particular phenomena of LNG are amplified like BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapor
explosion) or roll-over in LNG tanks.
A comprehensive list of materials used in the LNG industry together with instructions for
the handling of thermal stresses is included. Important topics are health and safety related
issues including exposure to cold, exposure to gas, fire precautions and protection, odor
and odorisation.

EN 1473, Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas - Design of

onshore installations
This is the most comprehensive EN standard to be used for large onshore LNG
installations. Purpose and application of this EN standard is to give guidelines for the
design, construction and operation of all onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations
including those for the liquefaction, storage, vaporisation, transfer and handling of LNG.
This European Standard is valid for the following plant types:
x
x
x

LNG export installations, between the designated gas inlet boundary limit, and the
ship manifold;
LNG receiving installations, between the ship manifold and the designated gas outlet
boundary limit;
Peak-shaving plants, between designated gas inlet and outlet boundary limits.

The scope of this Standard includes the following topics: normative references, terms and
definitions, safety and environment, jetties and marine facilities, storage and retention
systems, LNG pumps, vaporisation of LNG, Pipe-work, reception / send out of natural gas,
boil-off gas recovery and treatment plants, auxiliary circuits and buildings, hazard
management, control and monitoring systems, construction, commissioning and
turnaround, preservation and corrosion protection, training for operations, pre-operational
marine training,
Important details and definitions, specific equipment and systems for LNG installations are
provided in the annexes, like: thermal radiation threshold values, definitions of reference
flow rates, seismic classification, specific requirements for LNG pumps, specific
requirements for LNG vaporizers, criteria for the design of pipes, description of the
different types of onshore LNG installations, definition of different types of LNG tanks,
frequency ranges, classes of consequence, levels of risk, typical process steps of
liquefaction, odorant systems

In addition to the other LNG ENs indicated in the list above, the following
references to other relevant EN standards are recommended:
x

EN 287-1, Qualification test of welders Fusion welding Part 1: Steels

EN 473, Non destructive testing Qualification and certification of NDT personnel

General principles

EN 571-1, Non destructive testing Penetrant testing Part 1: General principles

EN 809, Pumps and pump units for liquids Common safety requirements

EN 970, Non-destructive examination of fusion welds Visual examination

EN 1092-1, Flanges and their joints Circular flanges for pipes, valves, fittings and
accessories, PN designated Part 1: Steel flanges

EN 1127-1, Explosive atmospheres Explosion prevention and protection Part 1:

Basic concepts and methodology

EN 1435, Non-destructive examination of welds Radiographic examination of

welded joints

EN 1514-1, Flanges and their joints Dimensions of gaskets for PN-designated

flanges Part 1: Nonmetallic flat gaskets with or without inserts

EN 1714, Non-destructive examination of welds Ultrasonic examination of welded

joints

EN 1474-1, Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas Design and
testing of marine transfer systems - Part 1: Design and testing of transfer
arms
This first part is valid for conventional LNG loading arms and it contains the following
topics: design of the arms, safety precautions, connection with the ship, operating and
control design, inspection and tests.
Included are also definitions of ship movements, operating envelope with connection,
operating and drift zone, alarm areas with first and second step alarm, mechanical
thresholds and limits.

EN 1474-2, Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas Design and
testing of marine transfer systems - Part 2: Design and testing of transfer
hoses
This draft standard includes descriptions of typical hose designs and auxiliary devices with
flexible leak tight inner hose, reinforced layers for structural support, leak tight outer hose
(depending on the design), end connection pieces, identification rings, leak detection
system, insulation system to minimize ice formation, intermediate layers to prevent
leakages, bending stiffeners or limitations, handling devices, saddles etc.
A leak tight layer of a hose made of composite material comprises several single layers,
which form a labyrinth seal. The hose system should include a QCDC (quick connect /
disconnect coupling). The hose system should also be equipped with an ERS (emergency
release system) with valves and an ERC (emergency release coupling).
The LNG hose may carry piggyback a hydraulic or pneumatic hose and electrical cables
for power transfer to the ERS and QCDC systems. It should be equipped with a leak
detection system.
There are three principle types of hoses:

x
x
x

hoses made of a variety of composite layers

hoses made of composite layers reinforced by flexible metallic winding
pipes made of corrugated steel

Combinations of these types can also be considered as feasible.

The corrugated steel pipes allow

x
x
x
x

vacuum super-insulation
leak detection
water tightness from outside
sufficient self stiffness

Flexible hoses or pipes for LNG transfer systems require special design features including
design motions of the production unit and of the shuttle carrier, respective loads on the
system including ambient conditions, hose or pipe length to be determined by dynamic
load calculations, life cycle requirements due to temperature, pressure, mechanical load
cycles, aging etc., typically the life cycle should exceed 5 years.
Due to the importance of the LNG transfer system within an LNG supply chain specific
inspection and tests are required. As a general rule it is expected that all parameters /
features of an offshore LNG transfer system have to be verified and approved. This
standard includes detailed test and approval specifications to demonstrate the suitability
of the proposed LNG transfer system based on detailed material selection and
manufacturing.

EN 1474-3, Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas Design and
testing of marine transfer systems - Part 3: Offshore transfer systems
This EN 1474-3 of European Standard gives guidance for the design of liquefied natural
gas (LNG) transfer systems intended for use on offshore transfer facilities or on coastal
weather exposed transfer facilities. The transfer facilities considered may be between
floating units, or between floating and fixed units.
The following main topics are included in this draft standard: specification of the offshore
LNG transfer system, description, general safety philosophy, general functional targets
and requirements, design principles and risk assessment method, design principles, risk
assessment, safety relevant elements, capacity standards, risk reduction.
A new offshore LNG transfer system has to be qualified by detailed technology
assessment, risk assessment failure mode identification, analysis and approval,
reliability analysis and verification statements.
The following design basis and criteria for an offshore LNG transfer system shall be
considered: support structure, diameter of the transfer system and product data,
dimensions and motion frame, load analysis, dynamic load behavior, cyclic motion
amplitudes, velocity and fatigue, special operational modes, product swivel joints and
support structures, connection / disconnection devices, handling during connection,
disconnection, standby position, communication, evacuation and rescue.
Accordingly, strict safety measures shall be incorporated in an offshore LNG transfer
system like: communication, position control, alarm and shut-off system, ERS (emergency
release system), safety interfaces, fluid transfer control, connection to LNG shuttle carrier,
operation and control design, inspection and checks, quality assurance and control, safety
documentation.

EN 1532:1997 Installations and equipment for liquefied natural gas - Ship to

shore interface. It is intended that this standard will be superseded by an
adequate ISO standard entitled:
Installations and equipment for liquefied natural gas - Ship to shore interface
and harbor operations: to be applicable for conventional LNG terminals:
This standardization project has commenced early 2009 and shall include:
x
x
x

Requirements for ship, terminal and harbour administration

Safe passage of the LNG carrier through the harbor area
Safe and efficient LNG transfer

It shall be valid for:

x
x

pilots, operators of VTS (Vessel Traffic Service), tugs, terminals and ships
suppliers of fuels, lubricants and other stocks and services while the LNG carrier is
moored to the terminal.

It shall also contain:

x
x
x
x
x
x
x

the safe passage of the LNG carrier

safe approach, mooring and unmooring
access from the landside to the ship
operative communication between ship and shore
all instruments, data and electrical interface connections, including OPS (Onshore
Power Supply) where applicable
Supply with LN2 (if available)
Considerations on ballast water handling

EN 12308:1998 Installations and equipment for LNG. Suitability testing of

gaskets designed for flanged joints used on LNG piping
This standard contains requirements concerning
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

Design specifications of tested gaskets

Technical documentation by the gasket manufacturer
Check of compatibility between bolting load and mechanical strength of joint
components
Means and equipment required for testing
Testing
Acceptance criterion
Test report

Important informative descriptions are provided in the annexes of this standard like:
x
x
x
x

Thermo-mechanical behaviour of a flanged joint with gasket

Test rig
Method for verifying the bolting load
DN (nominal diameter) and PN (nominal pressure) equivalence for tests

EN 12838:2000 Installations and equipment for liquefied natural gas Suitability testing of LNG sampling systems
High levels of accuracy are required for the continued or discontinued measurement of the
LNG respectively NG quality mainly concerning the heating value, as this is the basis for
any commercial and fiscal assessment of the product transfer.
Accordingly strict requirements to the LNG sampling are provided in this standard. It
includes descriptions of continuous and discontinuous LNG sampling systems,
characteristics of the test rig, measurements required, general requirements of suitability
test performance, operating procedures, calculations of suitability criteria for the tested
sampling system

Conclusions
Nowadays it is almost unimaginable in many parts of the world to implement new LNG
installations without the instructions from these EN norms. Thus the ENs have certainly
contributed to the high safety standard of this industry resulting in minimum accident
statistics.
The ENs are permanently extended and updated and reissued every 5 years. Several of
these standards are under revision or amendment. A co-operation between the EN and
the ISO standardization groups dedicated to the LNG industry has been initiated. This is
desirable in order to harmonize the requirements for LNG installations worldwide.

Biography of Speaker
Eginhard Berger is currently head of sales and marketing division with
IMPaC in Hamburg, Germany, a company providing engineering
services for the oil and gas industry, both offshore and onshore. He
graduated as MSc. from the Technical University in Munich. He is
engaged in the process engineering industry for more than four
decades after spending a few years in the aviation industry. As project
and sales manager he was involved in several LNG projects in Europe
and Asia. He was an early member of the European Technical
Committee TC 282, which initiated and developed the LNG ENs
(European Norms) for LNG. eginhard.berger@impac.de