Standard Operating Procedure

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Electrical Isolation 1 of 8
Reference: Revision: Revision Date:
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Table of Contents

Section Topic

1.0 Purpose 2
2.0 Scope 2
3.0 Definitions 2
4.0 Assignment and responsibilities 3
5.0 Electrical Isolation Certificates 3
6.0 Isolation Initiation Procedure 4
7.0 Procedure for Part A Electrical Isolation by Operations 4
8.0 Procedure for Part B Electrical Isolation by Electrical Authority
and Issuing Authority 5
9.0 Responsibility of Performing Authority 6
10.0 Procedure for Amendment to Isolation 6
11.0 Close Out 7
12.0 Exceptions 7
13.0 Revision Record and Approval Log 8
14.0 Certificates 8
Appendix 1: Electrical Isolation Certificate Part A 8
Appendix 2: Electrical Isolation Certificate Part B 8

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 Standard Operating Procedure
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1.0 Purpose

 Establish the minimum procedures necessary to provide personnel safety

while performing maintenance on electrically powered equipment and to
prevent unexpected release of electrical energy or operation of equipment.
 Ensure all electrical energy sources are isolated prior to beginning work.
 Ensure effective control of isolation devices is maintained.
 Ensure that only qualified personnel operate Medium voltage equipment.

The Electrical Isolation SOP shall be implemented in conjunction with

applicable standards, Permits and existing procedures for equipment
shutdown, purging, blinding etc.

2.0 Scope

Electrical isolation and de-isolation for Margham, GCS, Jebel Ali Terminal,
LNG Jetty and Pipeline installations.

3.0 Definitions

 Issuing Authority refers to the Operations Supervisor and Superintendent

or their immediate designates.
 Electrical Authority refers to an authorized plant electrician (not a
contractor).
 Operator refers to the plant Operator / Controller unless otherwise stated.
 Performing Authority refers to the personnel taking PTW for work on
electrically isolated equipment.
 Isolated refers to a condition of being electrically separated from the
Electrical Source.
 Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Installation of lock(s) and tag(s) on the Electrical
isolating device to ensure that the equipment(s) they isolate or control,
cannot be operated until the lock(s) and tag(s) are removed.
 Tag refers to warning device affixed to isolating device.
 De-isolated refers to restoration of Electrical power
 Medium Voltage ( M.V) refers to voltages above 600 volts up to and
including 11kV
 Breaker rackout refers to positioning the Breaker in its enclosure cubicle
from power connected position to the power disconnected position.
 AC refers to frequency based alternating current/ voltage power.
 DC refers to zero frequency current flow in one direction.

4.0 Assignment and responsibilities

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 Standard Operating Procedure
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The Engineers/Supervisors/Managers are responsible for

 Implementation of this procedure in their area of responsibility.
 Ensuring staff conformance to the requirements of this procedure.

The Operations and Electrical Authority are responsible for complying with the
requirements of this procedure and ensure they are not placing themselves or
others at risk or injury.

5.0 Electrical Isolation Certificates

DUSUP has 2 types of Electrical isolation Certificates: Part A and Part B.

(Refer Appendix 1 and 2)

5.1 Electrical Isolation Certificate Part A is to be used for isolation of :

a) AC power up to a maximum of 415 volt.
b) 3.3kV power at Motor Starter Cubicles.
c) DC circuit up to a maximum of 120v (includes DC back up Lube
Oil pump motor starters).

Part A isolation shall be performed by Operations only if a ‘Simple

Isolation’ is required for Process Equipment only, in the form of the
electrical breaker/switch being placed into the off/opened position,
locked off and tagged externally without opening the power cubicle.
Notes:
 Any other electrical isolations for Margham or Jebel Ali terminal
e.g. panel feeder to be completed by Electrical Authority -
Certificate Part B
 For GCS only – the Electrical Authority for the GCS shall
perform Low Voltage isolations required by Electrical Isolation
Certificate Part A.

5.2 Electrical Isolation Certificate Part B is to be used for isolation of :

a) AC circuit up to maximum of 415 volt requiring electrical
disconnection or removal of power fuses or racking out of
Breaker.
b) 11 kV Breaker/Switch isolation.
c) 3.3kV Circuit breaker requiring rack out or fuse disconnections.
d) 120v/230v Direct Current (DC) circuit requiring electrical
disconnection or removal of fuses. ( 230V DC for UPS Battery
Banks )

Part B isolation will be completed by Issuing Authority and Electrical

Authority.

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 The Electrical Isolation Certificate can be valid for more than one
permit. This allows a piece of equipment to have different jobs and
Performing Authorities all protected by the same Electrical Isolation
Certificate. All Permit numbers must be quoted on the original Electrical
Isolation Certificate.
 If any of the jobs are not completed by the end of the workday and are to
be carried over into the next day, the Electrical Isolation Certificate will
remain valid and be posted on the Permit Board and logged in the
Supervisor's log.
 The Shift Supervisor responsible for the electrical work being carred out on
his shift shall validate the Electrical Isolation Certificate.

6.0 Isolation Initiation Procedure

 A Hot or Cold Work Permit may be initiated ( but not issued ) prior to any
action being taken to electrically isolate by lock-out and tagging of
switches, circuit breakers etc. However there is no separate Work Permit
issued for Electrical Isolation, the Electrical Isolation Certificate Part-A or
Part-B itself serves as the Work Permit.
 The Issuing Authority will ensure that the Electrical Isolation is appropriate
for the work to be performed and initiate the isolation by completing
Sections 1, 2 and appropriate details of Section 3 of the Electrical
Isolation Certificate Part A or Part B (attached).

7.0 Procedure for Part A Electrical Isolation by Operations

 The Issuing Authority will authorize the Operator to perform the

requested isolation for Process Equipment only.
 The Operator, or the Electrical Authority at GCS, will electrically isolate
the equipment, lockout/tagout with a hasp and suitably numbered
Operations Padlock and attach a "DANGER - DO NOT OPERATE" tag to
the hasp with his Name, Date and Isolation Certificate Number.
 For Process Isolated Equipment, as a further precaution to confirm the
equipment is not starting:
- The Operator, or the Electrical Authority at GCS, in the presence of
the technican requesting the work will attempt to start the equipment
at the local Start/Stop station.
- The local STOP button shall be activated. ‘Locked-off’ (where
applicable) and Tagged ‘Do Not Operate’ along with his Name, Date
and Isolation Certificate Number.
 Records the details of isolation performed in Section 3 of Electrical
Isolation Certificate.

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 The Issuing Authority will verify and certify (Section 4) completion of

Electrical isolation.
 The Issuing Authority will ensure:
 a) Details of isolation are recorded in the Isolation Log book (‘Lock
Register’ at Margham) located in the Control Room.
 b) Post the Electrical Isolation Certificate on the Permit Board.
 Prior to the issue of a Permit to Work, ALL Performing Authorities shall
attach their own Isolation locks at the point of Isolation.
 The Issuing Authority shall confirm the Performing Authority has installed
their own Isolation lock.
 Permit to Work numbers shall be entered in Section 5 of the Isolation
Certificate.

8.0 Procedure for Part B Electrical Isolation by Electrical

Authority and Issuing Authority

 The Issuing Authority will request assistance from Electrical Authority

to perform the Electrical isolation.
 The Issuing Authority will arrange an Operator to Lockout /Tag out the
isolated Equipment with a hasp and suitably numbered Operations
Padlock and attach a "DANGER - DO NOT OPERATE" tag to the hasp
with his Name, Date and Isolation Certificate Number.
 The Electrical Authority shall perform the Electrical isolation, verify
isolation integrity and confirm requested isolated circuit is de-energized
and dead. The Electrical Authority will record details of isolation
performed including disconnections, power fuses removed or Grounding
done in Section 3 of the Electrical Isolation Certificate and will also certify
the isolation verification (Section 4).
 The Issuing Authority will verify and certify (Section 4) completion of
Electrical isolation.
 The Electrical Authority shall attach his own Isolation lock to this isolation
only if working as a Performing Authority on equipment related to this
isolation.
 The Issuing Authority will ensure details of isolation are recorded in the
isolation Log book (‘Lock Register’ at Margham) located in the Control
Room and post the Electrical Isolation Certificate on the Permit Board.
 For every permit issued on the electrically isolated Equipment the Issuing
Authority shall confirm the Performing Authority has put their own
Isolation lock and the details of the Work permit shall be entered in
Section 5 of the Isolation Certificate.

9.0 Responsibility of Performing Authority

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The Performing Authority (before start of work) shall:

 Attach a numbered padlock to the Operations hasp, locking out
equipment.
 Obtain authorized, signed Permit to start work from the Operations
Department together with copy of the Electrical Isolation Certificate Part A
or Part B.

The Performing Authority on completion or suspension of work or at end of

shift shall remove Performing Authority padlock from the Electrical isolation.
Performing Authority will then close out the work permit clearly indicating the
completed or uncompleted status of the job and return this to the Control
Room. Only the Performing Authorities originally attaching the lock and tag is
(are) authorized to remove the lock and tag

10.0 Procedure for Amendment to Isolation

 A Cold or Hot Work Permit is issued for the test work.

 All related Work Permits are suspended for the period of the test.
 The issuing Authority will complete the "Sanction to Test" section of the
Electrical Isolation Certificate.
 The Operator or Electrical Authority de-isolates as required and records
the change in the Amendment to Isolation section of the Electrical
Isolation Certificate.
 After the tests are complete, the isolations are again completed and the
change recorded on the Amendment to isolation section of the Certificate
before the related Work Permits are re-validated.

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11.0 Close Out

 The Issuing Authority will ensure all associated work is complete, permits
are closed, signed off and equipment is safe to be energized. Issuing
Authority will then complete the de-isolation request section 6 of the
Electrical Isolation Certificate and arrange the removal of the final
Operation’s padlock hasp and tag before the equipment is re-energized.
 For Electrical isolation Part A the Operator, or Electrical Authority at GCS,
will restore power to the process equipment and sign Section 3 of the
Electrical Isolation Certificate Part A as de-isolated.
 For Electrical isolation Part B the Electrical Authority will restore power to
the equipment and will sign the Section 3 and Section 7 of the Electrical
Isolation certificate Part B as de-isolated.
 The Issuing Authority will verify the de-isolation and sign section 7, De-
isolation verification of the Electrical Isolation Certificate Part A or Part B.
 The Issuing Authority will approve the de-isolation verification of the
Isolation Certificate and sign off the entry in the Isolation Log Book (Lock
Register at Margham) as de-isolated.

12.0 Exceptions

 For repairs to Lighting and Air-conditioning units, requiring repeated

isolation and deisolation for testing, the Electrical Authority can be
permitted to isolate and deisolate the Circuit with their own single lock
and with isolation approval of the Issuing Authority. Electrical Authority
will be fully responsible to ensure and maintain safe working conditions
on the job.
 The Issuing Authority is permitted to isolate the Equipment under unit
shutdown or Plant shutdown conditions as a preparation for maintenance
or operational activities using an isolation Certificate without a Permit to
Work.

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13.0 Revision Record and Approval Log

At the periodic review or for entire plan revisions assign a new revision
number and date. For minor wording or paragraph revisions make the
change in blue font and note the date at the end of the SOP. Incorporate the
changes at the next periodic review.

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