‘DESIGN for Surface Orientated (Air) Diving Systems’ has been revised and updated by the International Marine Contractors Association to incorporate equipment improvements and changed operating practices since its first publication in 2000.
The format has also been changed slightly to improve ease of use and provide better referencing.
As IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler explains: “DESIGN of course stands for ‘Diving Equipment Systems Inspection Guidance Note’. Known globally by its reference number IMCA D 023, this guidance, addresses various aspects of a surface orientated diving system as utilised within the offshore diving industry and aims to provide a comprehensive reference source addressing the philosophy of what equipment and layout is required for a safe diving operation, plus the examination, test and certification requirements necessary to meet agreed industry practice.”
The revised publication is intended to be used in conjunction with IMCA D 018 – ‘Code of practice on the initial and periodic examination, testing and certification of diving plant and equipment’. Cross-references to this Code are provided where appropriate. In addition to updating IMCA D 023, IMCA has recently reviewed and prepared a revised draft text for D 018 which has now been sent out for industry wide consultation.
The information in the guidance is presented in the form of detail sheets, each of which specifies the requirements for a generic item of plant or equipment, or a group of items, which are covered by the same criteria. The testing requirements identified will normally correspond with the certification that the diving contractor maintains in a plant and equipment register, or records in the planned maintenance system. Only generic items of diving plant and equipment are addressed, and the detail sheets do not include information on constituent parts of ancillary equipment.