SAF-19

Power Generation & Distribution Facilities

Version 2.0

Safety & Fire Protection Directives

For Industrial Facilities

2020

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
HIGH COMMISSION FOR INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

RESTRICTED
All Rights reserved to HCIS. Copying or distribution prohibited without written permission from HCIS
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

Version History

Item Description Issue Date

1 Original Issue • 12 Jumada II, 1431
• 26 May, 2010
2 Version 2.0 • 5 Rajab, 1438
• 2 April, 2017

i
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

ii
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

Table of Contents

1. Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 1
2. Scope ............................................................................................................................. 1
3. Acronyms and Definitions ............................................................................................. 1
4. References ..................................................................................................................... 1
5. Systems and Equipment ................................................................................................ 3
5.1. General .............................................................................................................. 3
5.2. Fuel Handling Systems....................................................................................... 3
5.3. Boilers, Furnaces ............................................................................................... 3
5.4. Flue Gas System................................................................................................. 4
5.5. Turbines and Electric Generators ...................................................................... 4
5.6. Transformers ..................................................................................................... 5
5.7. Emergency Generators ...................................................................................... 6
5.8. Cables, Cable Spreading Rooms and Cable Tunnels .......................................... 6
5.9. Substations ........................................................................................................ 7
5.10. Switchgear Buildings/Rooms ............................................................................. 8
6. Wind Turbine Generating Facilities ............................................................................... 9
6.1. Fire Risk ............................................................................................................. 9
6.2. Fire Protection ................................................................................................... 9
7. Solar Thermal Power Generation ................................................................................ 11
7.1. Fire Risk ........................................................................................................... 11
7.2. Fire Protection ................................................................................................. 11
8. Photovoltaic Power Stations ....................................................................................... 12
8.1. Risk................................................................................................................... 12
8.2. Safety ............................................................................................................... 12

iii
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

iv
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

1. Purpose
The purpose of this standard is to provide HCIS requirements for safety and fire
protection of power plants and associated facilities.

2. Scope
It covers conventional power plants as well as renewable energy power generating
plants, substations and all associated facilities including similar equipment in all
industrial facilities.

3. Acronyms and Definitions

FO Facility Operator
Definitions in the references under the Section-4 shall apply.

4. References
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ASME B 31.1 Code for Pressure Piping, Power Piping
ASME CSD-1 Controls and Safety Devices for Automatically Fired Boilers
Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL)
DNV GL Service Specifications (SE)
DNV GL Standards (ST)
DNV GL Recommended practices (RP)
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
TR 61400-24 Wind Turbine Generator Systems—Part 24, Lightning Protection.
IEEE Publications. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IEEE C2 National Electrical Safety Code
IEEE 80 Guide for Safety in Alternating-Current Substation Grounding
IEEE 634 Standard Cable-Penetration Fire Stop Qualification Test
IEEE Std 979 IEEE Guide for Substation Fire Protection
IEEE Std 980 IEEE Guide for Containment and Control of Oil Spills in Substations
Factory Mutual (FM)
FM Data Sheet 7-101 Fire Protection for Steam Turbines and Electric Generators
FM Data Sheet 7-79 Fire Protection for Gas Turbines and Electric Generators
FM Data Sheet 5-4 Transformers
FM 6930 Approval Standard for Flammability Classification of Industrial Fluids

Page 1 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
NFPA 31 Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment
NFPA 37 Standard for the Installation and Use of Stationary Combustion Engines
and Gas Turbines
NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code
NFPA 50A Standard for Gaseous Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites
NFPA 50B Standard for Liquefied Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites
NFPA 55 Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code
NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code
NFPA-70 National Electrical Code
NFPA-70E Standard for Electrical Safety at the Workplace
NFPA 75 Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment
NFPA 85 Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code
NFPA 86 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces
NFPA 262 Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and
Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces
NFPA 750 Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems
NFPA 850 Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants
and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations
Safety and Fire Protection (SAF) Directives, HCIS
SAF-01 General Requirements for Safety & Fire Protection Directives
SAF-02 Environmental, Health and Safety Management
SAF-03 Buildings for Industrial Facilities
SAF-04 Fire Protection Systems and Equipment
SAF-05 Industrial Drainage
SAF-06 Plant Layout, Spacing, and Access
SAF-08 Storage Tanks and Storage Vessels
SAF-09 Fireproofing in Plants
SAF-10 Pressure Piping, Transportation Pipelines and Pressure Vessels
SAF-11 Emergency Shutdown, Isolation, and Depressuring
SAF-12 Electrical Safety
SAF-13 Work Permits, Isolation of Energy, and Hazardous Work
SAF-20 Pre-Incident Planning and Management of Emergencies

Page 2 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

Other International References

• VdS 3523en: Wind turbines, FP guideline
• Guideline no. 21.2010 F: Confederation of Fire Protection Associations in Europe
• UK HSE: United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive
• Underwriters laboratories (UL) Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Installations
Research Project Report

5. Systems and Equipment

5.1. General

For associated facilities that are not mentioned in this directive,

reference shall be made to NFPA-850.

Refer to SAF-03 for buildings.

Refer to HCIS Security Directives for security requirements.

All electrical maintenance work shall comply with NFPA-70-E.

Rooms, buildings, cable galleries, etc., containing electrical

equipment, cables shall be maintained clean, and dry. No storage
shall be permitted.

5.2. Fuel Handling Systems

Fuel oil storage, pumping facilities, and associated piping shall comply
with NFPA 30, NFPA 31, and ASME B31.1.

Gaseous Fuels storage and associated piping systems shall comply

with NFPA 54, NFPA 55, NFPA 58, and ASME B31.1.

5.3. Boilers, Furnaces

Boiler-furnaces serving power-generation equipment shall comply

with NFPA 85 and NFPA 86.

Boilers that are outside the scope of NFPA-85 shall comply with ASME
CSD-1-2009

Page 3 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

Multi-burner industrial furnaces, ovens, dryers and boilers shall be

equipped with an appropriate system for protection against fuel
explosions during lighting-off.

Boiler-furnaces with multiple oil-fired burners or using oil for ignition

shall be protected with automatic sprinkler, water spray, foam, or
foam-water sprinkler systems covering burner-front oil hazards.

Oil-fueled auxiliary boilers installed within main plant structures,

buildings, shall be protected by automatic sprinkler system.

5.4. Flue Gas System

Regenerative air heaters shall have access hatches for the use of fire
hose streams. The rotor or stator shall be protected with a manually
activated water spray fixed system.

Electrostatic Precipitator’s transformer-rectifier set of shall be

protected with an automatic water spray fixed system, or fire
barrier(s) and spatial separation. Temperature sensors shall be
provided in the inlet and outlet ducts. Alarms shall be provided in the
control room to indicate abnormal operating temperatures.

Scrubber Building shall be constructed of materials meeting the

criteria outlined in NFPA 850. Scrubber Building having plastic or
rubber lining shall be protected with a wet-type automatic sprinkler
protection at ceiling level.

5.5. Turbines and Electric Generators

High-pressure lube oil systems shall be protected by an appropriate

fire suppression system when the volume exceeds 100 gallons.

Fire protection for steam/gas turbines and electric generators shall be

as per FM Data Sheet 7-101/7-79 or equivalent international
standard.

Stationary combustion engines and gas turbines shall comply with

NFPA-37 except as noted in 5.5.2.

Page 4 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

Hydrogen systems shall comply with NFPA 50A or NFPA 50B,

whichever is applicable and NFPA 55.

Hydrogen cooled turbines shall comply with NFPA-50 A/B.

Redundant hydrogen-seal oil pumps shall be provided.

Hydrogen piping shall not be routed through hazardous areas and

areas containing critical equipment.

Hydrogen cylinders and generator hydrogen fill and purge manifold

shall be located remote from the turbine generator.

5.6. Transformers

Transformers shall be located, designed, constructed and protected

as per FM Datasheet 5-4, or NFPA-850 or IEEE Standard 979 except as
noted as follows:

a. Mineral-oil filled indoor transformers shall be provided with:

- Water spray system and
- 2-hour fire rated construction
b. Mineral-oil filled outdoor transformers shall be provided with:
- Water spray system or
- Separation by distance or 2-hour fire rated barrier
c. Automatic fire suppression systems in the rooms/buildings where
dry type transformers are located are not required.
d. When water spray systems are used, each spray nozzle shall be of
high velocity type and have its individual integral strainer.

Drainage and containment around mineral oil insulated outdoor

transformers shall be done by one of the following methods:

a. Ground sloped such that oil spills will flow away from buildings,
structures, and adjacent transformers.
b. Curbs or pits shall be provided containing uniformly graded
stones.
- Sizing of the pit shall allow for the volume of the stone,
keeping the highest level of oil below the top of the stone.
- The design shall address the possible accumulation of
Page 5 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

sediment or fines in the stone.

- Overflow of the containment pit and/or curbing shall be
considered in reviewing drainage pathways away from critical
structures
- Common containment pits for multiple transformers shall be
avoided.

5.7. Emergency Generators

Refer to NFPA 37 for emergency generators.

Emergency generators inside buildings shall be protected by an

automatic sprinkler system.

Adequate separation shall be provided between adjacent units;

adjacent structures or exposures; and adjacent facilities.

5.8. Cables, Cable Spreading Rooms and Cable Tunnels

For the arrangement of the cable trays and cable penetration firestop
refer to IEEE Std 634 and FM Data sheet 5-31.

Active fire protection is not required for areas where cabling is routed
away from exposure hazards; and where the only combustible
material is cabling that pass any one of the following tests:

- UL 910; NFPA-262
- IEEE-1202

Cable spreading rooms and tunnels containing mineral oil-insulated

cabling shall have a minimum of 2-hour fire resistant construction.
They shall be provided with early- warning-fire detection system at
facilities where quick and competent response is available round the
clock. Otherwise, foam-water spray system shall be provided.

Cable trays shall be constructed of noncombustible materials and

cable routes shall be maintained free of combustible materials.

Vertical tray routings shall have firebreaks at 20 feet (6 m) intervals.

Page 6 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

High-voltage cable trays shall be located above or remote from low-

voltage cable trays.

Conduits shall be noncombustible. Penetrations through firewalls

shall be provided with a firebreak or seal conforming to IEEE 634 at
ceiling, wall, and floor penetrations. Fire stopping shall have an equal
or greater fire-resistance than the wall or floor penetrated.

5.9. Substations

Refer to NFPA-850 and IEEE Std 979.

Oil filled equipment areas shall comply with IEEE Standard 980.

Substations shall be grounded as per IEEE-80

Substations shall be provided with automatic fire detection system

where quick and competent response is available.

Substations shall be provided with automatic fire suppression systems

where quick and competent response is not available and when
warranted by risk assessment indicating that cost of restoration and
recovery after a fire is more than the cost of fire suppression system
(or is a condition of an insurance underwriter.)

Gas based clean agent systems shall be designed to detect and

suppress the fires at their origin (i.e. inside the individual electrical
enclosures) while the room/building shall have:

a. Automatic fire detection system where quick and competent

response is available:
b. Water mist system where quick and competent response is not
available.

UL-Listed/FM-Approved aerosol-based suppression systems may be

used in lieu of gas based clean agent systems.

Page 7 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

5.10. Switchgear Buildings/Rooms

Switchgear buildings/rooms shall be provided with automatic fire

detection system where quick and competent response is available.

Switchgear buildings/rooms shall be provided with automatic fire

suppression systems where quick and competent response is not
available and when warranted by risk assessment indicating that cost
of restoration and recovery after a fire is more than the cost of fire
suppression system (or is a condition of an insurance underwriter.)

Gas based clean agent systems shall be designed to detect and

suppress the fires at their origin (i.e. inside the individual electrical
enclosures where possible) while the room/building shall have:

a. Automatic fire detection system where quick and competent

response is available:
b. Water mist system where quick and competent response is not
available.

UL-Listed/FM Approved aerosol-based suppression systems may be

used in lieu of gas based clean agent systems.

Page 8 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

6. Wind Turbine Generating Facilities

Wind turbine generating facilities shall comply with Chapter 10 of NFPA-850 and the
applicable requirements of this directive and applicable references listed in Section 4.

6.1. Fire Risk

The following factors contributing to fire loss shall be considered in the

design of wind turbines:

a. Difficulty of access for emergency response

b. Lightning strikes
c. Combustible construction (e.g. nacelles constructed of resin and glass
fiber).
d. Mechanical failures
e. Electrical malfunctions
f. Hydraulic fluid and lubricants in the nacelle
g. Electrical equipment (e.g. capacitors, transformers, generators,
electrical controls, and transmission equipment)
h. Loose or broken electrical connections or the overloading of electrical
circuits.
i. Braking system sparks or failures resulting in hot disk brake fragments
and damage to hydraulic piping.
j. Hydraulic pumps and connections failures, allowing the fluid to erupt
into flames when it encounters a hot surface.

6.2. Fire Protection

Fire safety shall be achieved predominantly by prevention of fire ignition.

Managing the fire impact shall provide redundancy (Refer to NFPA-550).

Electric equipment, cables and switchgears shall be designed and

installed to prevent arcs.

Transformers shall be dry type where possible.

Lubrication (e.g. gearboxes) and hydraulic fluids (e.g. transformers) shall

comply with FM 6930.

Page 9 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

Gearboxes and lubricating oil sumps, pumps, coolers, filters, and

associated piping shall comply with NFPA-30.

Hydraulic and lubricating oil piping shall be designed, installed and

constructed of materials that can withstand the load and vibration
without loss of integrity.

Spread of oil within the nacelle or externally shall be prevented by

containment and drainage systems.

Fluid piping shall be routed below all electrical equipment to preclude

leaked fluid dripping on the equipment.

Lightning protection for blades, nacelles, towers, power lines,

transformers, and support structures shall be provided in accordance
with IEC TR 61400-24,

High speed brakes (if used) shall be fitted with shields to confine sparks.

Automatic shutdowns operating independently for stopping of shaft

rotation, braking, and isolation of electrical equipment in case of trouble
shall be provided.

Materials of construction shall be noncombustible (See SAF-03) to the

extent possible.

Adequate separation between fire hazardous equipment shall be

provided

Automatic fire detection and/or suppression systems shall be provided

when a fire risk assessment (or an insurance underwriter) indicates that
they are required. When provided, they shall comply with SAF-04 and the
following requirements:

a. Generate signals at constantly attended locations

b. Have high level of reliability
c. Not be prone to false alarms
d. Withstand vibration, dust, debris, and airflow through the nacelle
e. Extinguish a fire at its onset
f. Require no external power.

Page 10 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

7. Solar Thermal Power Generation

Solar thermal power stations shall comply with the Chapter 11 of NFPA-850 and the
applicable references listed in Section 4.

7.1. Fire Risk

The following factors contributing to fire loss shall be considered in the

design of solar thermal power stations:

a. Release of large quantities of combustible heat transfer fluids

b. Shielded fires involving heat transfer fluids
c. Lubricating and control oil fires
d. Switchgear and cable fires

7.2. Fire Protection

All buildings and structures shall comply with SAF-03.

An automatic listed fire protection system shall be provided for areas

where the hazard is lube oil or hydraulic oil; unless a listed fire-resistant
fluid, (FM 6930) is used.

Automatic fire detection/suppression systems shall comply with SAF-104.

Heat transfer fluid (HTF) piping shall comply with ANSI/ASME B31.1.

All systems handling flammable fluids shall be subjected to Hazard &

Operability Study and design shall reflect recommendations generated.

The areas of potential flammable fluid leaks shall be provided with

containment and drainage systems.

Emergency isolation valve(s) shall be provided to reduce the volume of

flammable fluid released.

Heat transfer piping and supports of critical equipment shall be fire

proofed

Page 11 of 12
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Interior ‫وز َارة الداخليـَّـة‬
َ
High Commission for Industrial Security ‫اهليئة العليا لألمن الصناعي‬
Secretariat General ‫األمانة العامة‬

SAF-19 Power Generation and Distribution Facilities

8. Photovoltaic Power Stations

8.1. Risk

Damaged photovoltaic installations create vulnerability to electrical

and casualty hazards when mitigating a fire involving photovoltaic
systems.

8.2. Safety

Photovoltaic panels shall be installed on non-combustible structures

designed with fire rated barriers separating photovoltaic panels from
potential fires.

Private or public fire departments that are likely to manage a fire at

or around photovoltaic panels shall develop a fire response plan that
reflects the conclusions of the Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic
Installations Research Project Report from Underwriters Laboratories
(UL)

Page 12 of 12