MAN B&W Diesel A/S

Service Letter SL99-373/ERO

October 1999

Crankcase Relief Valve

Action Code: CASUALTY

Dear Sirs

In recent years there have been a few cases where a crankcase explosion has
resulted in injury to personnel who have been burnt by flames in the engine room.

To increase the safety of personnel in the engine room we have, in cooperation with
manufacturers of relief valves, initiated a comprehensive development programme for
improving the flame arrester function of the crankcase relief valves.

Various types of relief valves have been tested together with the manufacturers and
with the attendance of Classification Societies.

As a result of experience and the above mentioned development work, the

Classification Societies are now, under the auspices of IACS, considering new, more
stringent requirements for their approval of relief valves.

As the implementation of such new and more stringent requirements will minimise the
risk of personnel being injured if a crankcase explosion should occur, MAN B&W
Diesel has already introduced the new specification as a standard requirement.

Some Classification Societies now specify that the flame arresters in the crankcase
relief valves must always be replaced after a crankcase explosion. This point has also
been included in our standard requirement, and if a crankcase explosion has occurred
on one of your engines, it is therefore recommended that the flame arrester and, for
some valve types, the complete valve, is replaced.

HEAD OFFICE (& Postal address)
Teglholmsgade 41
DK-2450 Copenhagen SV
Telephone: +45 33 85 11 00
Telex: 16592 manbw dk
Telefax: +45 33 85 10 30
E-mail: manbw@manbw.dk
http://www.manbw.dk
DIESEL SERVICE
Teglholmsgade 41
DK-2450 Copenhagen SV
Telephone: +45 33 85 11 00
Telex: 31197 manbw dk
Telefax: +45 33 85 10 49
E-mail: diesel-service@manbw.dk
PRODUCTION FORWARDING MAN B&W Diesel A/S
Teglholmsgade 35 Teglholmsgade 35 Denmark
DK-2450 Copenhagen SV DK-2450 Copenhagen SV Reg.No.: 24 231
Telephone: +45 33 85 11 00 Telephone: +45 33 85 11 00
Telex: 19023 manfw dk Telex: 19023 manfw dk
Telex: 19042 manfw dk Telex: 19042 manfw dk
Telefax: +45 33 85 10 17 Telefax: +45 33 85 10 16
E-mail: manufacturing/copenhagen@manbw.dk
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When ordering new parts, please inform us of engine type, the number of cylinders,
the maker of the existing relief valves, and the type and number of each size.

For enquiries regarding the replacement or modification of relief valves, please

contact the engine builder or MAN B&W Diesel.

Yours faithfully,
MAN B&W Diesel A/S

Carl-Erik Egeberg Erik Ohlsen