DNV’s first pipeline code was issued in 1976. Since then we have created a series of internationally recognised standards and recommended practices together with the pipeline industry.

DNV works closely with the industry to advance standards.

Selecting the best code
Many national and international pipeline codes in use today worldwide are subject to various safety regimes and operator preferences. What is the criteria for selecting the ‘best design code’? Is it the code giving the minimum wall thickness – or something else? DNV believes the selection criteria are simple and threefold:

• The code shall ensure at least a minimum safety level that is acceptable to society
• Given the above, the best code is the one that gives the minimum life-cycle cost
• The code should comply with the overall ISO standards.

A family of best practices
Based on our project experience, research, and joint industry development work, DNV issues a number of pipeline codes. These comprise service specifications, standards and recommended practices, and are highly regarded within the international pipeline community.

The DNV OS-F101 ‘Offshore Standard for Submarine Pipeline Systems’ provides acceptance criteria and design procedures for pipelines. The standard applies modern limit-state-design principles with ‘safety classes’ linked to consequences of failure.

The DNV standard is complemented by several recommended practices (RPs) which give detailed advice on how to analyse specific technical aspects according to stated criteria:

• DNV RP-C205 Environmental Conditions and Environmental Loads
• DNV RP-F101 Corroded Pipelines
• DNV RP-F102 Pipeline Field Joint Coating and Field Repair of Linepipe Coating
• DNV RP-F103 Cathodic Protection of Submarine Pipelines by Galvanic Anodes
• DNV RP-F105 Free Spanning Pipelines
• DNV RP-F106 Factory Applied external Pipeline Coatings for Corrosion Control
• DNV RP-F107 Risk Assessment of Pipeline Protection
• DNV RP-F108 Fracture Control for Pipeline Installation Methods Introducing Cyclic Plastic Strain
• DNV RP-F109 On-bottom Stability
• DNV RP-F110 Global buckling of pipelines
• DNV RP-F111 Interference Between Trawl Gear and Pipelines
• DNV RP-F113 Pipeline Subsea Repair
• DNV RP-O501 Erosive wear in Piping systems.