Key Takeaways
- DNV 2.7-2 provides requirements and guidance for equipment assemblies intended for offshore use.
- The current standard is designated DNV-ST-E272 2.7-2 Equipment Assemblies.
- It covers more than structural transport safety, including equipment layout, materials, safety systems, manufacturing, testing, installation, commissioning, and operation.
- DNV 2.7-1 and DNV 2.7-2 differ: 2.7-1 focuses on offshore containers, while 2.7-2 addresses equipment assembly and safe operation.
- Depending on the module, both standards may apply to the same offshore unit.
- Certification helps operators, engineers and procurement teams demonstrate that temporary offshore equipment has been assessed against recognised safety requirements.
- Compliance doesn’t end with initial certification. Modifications, repairs and periodic maintenance can also affect the continued safety and certification status of equipment.
Introduction: What Is DNV 2.7-2?
Offshore installations regularly depend on temporary equipment. Pumps, generators, workshops, process equipment and other systems may need to be transported offshore, installed on a rig or platform, operated safely and eventually moved elsewhere.
This introduces two distinct safety questions: Can the unit be safely transported and lifted offshore? And can the equipment itself be safely operated once it gets there?
DNV 2.7-2 principally addresses the second question.
The current DNV-ST-E272 2.7-2 Equipment Assemblies provides technical requirements and guidance for certifying equipment assemblies. Its objective is to help protect personnel working in or around the assembly, the vessel or installation on which it operates, and the environment from unintended releases of pollutants or toxic substances.
The standard addresses the lifecycle of an equipment assembly, including design, manufacturing, testing, marking, installation, commissioning and operation. It also provides requirements and guidance on modifications, repairs, and periodic maintenance.
In simple terms, DNV 2.7-2 Certification provides a recognised framework for demonstrating that an offshore equipment assembly has been designed and built with its operational risks in mind.
What Does DNV Stand For?
DNV is the name of the independent assurance and risk management organisation that develops internationally recognised standards and provides classification, certification, verification and advisory services across sectors including maritime, energy and offshore industries.
For offshore operators, DNV standards provide established technical frameworks that can be used when specifying and assessing equipment intended for demanding marine and offshore environments.
DNV’s offshore equipment standards include:
- DNV-ST-E271 2.7-1 – Offshore Containers
- DNV-ST-E272 2.7-2 – Equipment Assemblies
- DNV-ST-E273 2.7-3 – Portable Offshore Units
Together, these standards address different aspects and configurations of equipment transported to and used on offshore installations.
What Is DNV 2.7-2 For?
DNV 2.7-2 is intended for equipment assemblies used offshore where the operation of the equipment itself introduces risks that need to be controlled.
That distinction matters.
An offshore unit does not become safe simply because its outer container or frame can survive offshore transportation and lifting.
Once equipment is installed inside or on that structure, additional hazards may arise from electrical systems, moving equipment, heat, pressure, hazardous substances, ventilation, fire, or how personnel interact with the system.
DNV 2.7-2 provides a framework for considering those operational risks as part of the complete equipment assembly.
This is especially important with temporary equipment. Unlike permanently installed platform equipment, temporary modules can be repeatedly mobilised, connected, operated, disconnected and relocated. Each deployment must avoid introducing unacceptable risks to the offshore installation.
What Is the Difference Between DNV 2.7-1 and DNV 2.7-2?
This is one of the most important distinctions for anyone specifying offshore equipment.
DNV 2.7-1 focuses on the offshore container. DNV 2.7-2 focuses on the equipment assembly.
DNV 2.7-1 establishes requirements for offshore containers that are repeatedly transported and lifted at sea. It focuses on structural integrity and safe offshore handling.
For example, MGS Offshore’s offshore cargo baskets, mini shipping containers, and offshore tank containers are designed to meet DNV 2.7-1 or EN 12079 requirements for offshore container applications.
DNV 2.7-2 goes further into the functional equipment installed in an assembly and the risks created when that equipment is operated.
Consider a containerised piece of process equipment. The offshore container/frame may need to satisfy DNV 2.7-1 requirements for transportation and lifting. The equipment assembly may additionally need assessment against DNV 2.7-2 for safe offshore operation.
So, it is not necessarily a question of DNV 2.7-1 versus DNV 2.7-2. For certain service modules, the standards can complement each other.
Also read: ISO 10855 vs EN 12079 vs DNV 2.7-1: Complete Standards Comparison
Why Does DNV 2.7-2 Matter for Offshore Safety?
Offshore equipment operates in conditions that are very different from a typical land-based industrial environment.
Space can be restricted. Equipment may operate close to personnel and other critical systems. Saltwater, vibration and harsh weather can accelerate deterioration. Offshore installations may also contain hazardous areas where ignition, leakage or equipment failure can have serious consequences.
A poorly designed temporary equipment assembly can therefore create risks beyond the equipment itself.
DNV 2.7-2 addresses this by treating the equipment as an integrated assembly rather than individual components in isolation.
Its objectives include safeguarding:
- personnel in or around the equipment;
- property, vessels and offshore installations; and
- the environment against unintended releases of pollutants or toxic materials.
For operators, this provides greater confidence that the unit has been assessed for the conditions and hazards associated with its intended offshore function.
What Are the Key Requirements of DNV 2.7-2?
The exact requirements depend on the equipment assembly and its intended function. However, DNV 2.7-2 Design Standards consider several important areas across the equipment lifecycle.
Design and Materials
The assembly needs to be appropriately designed for its intended application. This includes material selection, equipment arrangement, and interactions between different components.
Good layout is particularly important offshore, where limited space can affect maintenance access, ventilation, escape routes and safe interaction with machinery.
Safety Systems
Where the equipment presents specific hazards, appropriate safeguards need to form part of the design.
The required safety measures depend on what the assembly does and the risks involved rather than following a one-size-fits-all specification.
Manufacturing
Compliance must translate from the engineering drawings into the finished equipment. Manufacturing methods therefore form part of the standard’s scope.
This helps ensure that the certified design intent is maintained during fabrication and assembly.
Testing and Marking
Testing provides evidence that relevant systems and components perform as required. Proper marking also helps operators identify the unit and understand its certification status and operating limitations.
Installation and Commissioning
A well-designed module can still become unsafe if it is incorrectly installed or connected offshore.
DNV 2.7-2 therefore also considers installation and commissioning rather than treating certification as something that ends when the equipment leaves the fabrication facility.
Operation, Maintenance and Modification
Offshore equipment changes over time. Components wear, maintenance becomes necessary, and operators may need to modify a module for a new application.
DNV 2.7-2 therefore includes requirements and guidance on operation, periodic maintenance, repairs, and modifications.
This lifecycle approach is an important part of maintaining reliable offshore equipment.
What Products Require DNV 2.7-2 for Service Modules?
There is no useful rule saying that every offshore container automatically requires DNV 2.7-2.
The determining factor is what the unit contains, what it does and the certification requirements for the project or operator.
DNV 2.7-2 becomes particularly relevant where a portable offshore unit contains functional equipment and effectively operates as an equipment assembly or service module, rather than simply transporting cargo.
Examples can include equipment assemblies incorporating:
- pumps and associated systems;
- generators and electrical equipment;
- process equipment;
- compressors;
- hydraulic equipment;
- utility systems; and
- other specialised machinery or systems intended to operate offshore.
MGS Offshore provides custom engineering and fabrication capabilities for a variety of offshore applications. For example, offshore skids can support pumps, generators, filtration equipment and other operational systems.
Check out DNV-certified MGS Offshore Products here!
However, the precise certification requirement should always be established based on the actual equipment configuration, intended offshore use, operator specification, and applicable rules. A standard cargo basket, for example, should not automatically be described as requiring DNV 2.7-2 simply because it is used offshore.
How Does DNV 2.7-2 Certification Work?
Certification begins much earlier than final inspection.
Ideally, establish the intended application and certification basis during the engineering stage. The equipment can then be designed around the applicable requirements rather than attempting to correct compliance issues after fabrication.
Broadly, the process can involve:
- Defining the equipment and intended offshore application.
- Establishing which DNV standards and other regulations apply.
- Reviewing the design and safety systems.
- Manufacturing the assembly in accordance with the approved design.
- Performing the required inspections and tests.
- Completing installation and commissioning requirements where applicable.
- Providing the necessary identification, marking and certification documentation.
The exact certification scope varies considerably according to the equipment.
For procurement teams, this makes it important to define certification requirements before ordering a module, rather than simply asking whether a supplier provides a “DNV container”.
Does DNV 2.7-2 Replace Other Offshore Standards?
No.
DNV 2.7-2 forms part of a wider compliance framework. Depending on the module, other requirements may apply to the supporting container, lifting arrangement, electrical equipment, hazardous-area systems, pressure-containing components, fire protection or other aspects of the unit.
This is why certification must be considered at the system level.
MGS Offshore, for example, provides multiple offshore products designed for recognised offshore container standards. Its offshore chemical tanks incorporate requirements including DNV 2.7-1, EN 12079, IMDG, and ADR/RID, depending on the product specification.
The standards applicable to one tank, skid, or service module should therefore not automatically be copied to another.
Why Should DNV Compliance Be Considered at the Procurement Stage?
For offshore procurement teams, specifying the correct certification early can prevent costly problems later.
A unit that is mechanically functional but does not satisfy the project’s certification requirements may need additional engineering, modification, testing or documentation before mobilisation.
Early consideration of compliance allows buyers to ask better questions:
- What will the module do offshore?
- Will it only transport cargo, or will equipment operate from it?
- Which DNV standard has the operator specified?
- Does the structural container require DNV 2.7-1?
- Does the equipment assembly also fall within DNV 2.7-2?
- Do additional standards apply to the equipment or application?
- What certification and documentation must accompany the finished unit?
These questions help ensure the module is designed around its real operating environment from the beginning.
Maintaining Compliance Throughout the Equipment Lifecycle
Certification should not be viewed as a one-time exercise.
Offshore modules experience repeated transportation, lifting, installation and operation. They can also be exposed to corrosion, mechanical wear and demanding environmental conditions.
Repairs and modifications can potentially affect the assumptions on which the original certification was based. Periodic inspection, maintenance and appropriate recertification therefore play an important role in keeping offshore equipment safe and fit for continued service.
MGS Offshore provides offshore recertification services and works with recognised approval agencies to help operators navigate applicable requirements. Refurbishment can also be considered where existing offshore containers or tanks require restoration before returning to service.
Choosing the Right DNV-Certified Offshore Solution
DNV 2.7-2 helps bridge an important safety gap in offshore operations.
While structural integrity and lifting safety remain fundamental, an offshore service module must also be safe when its equipment is actually operating.
DNV-ST-E272 2.7-2 provides the technical framework for assessing these equipment assemblies across design, manufacture, testing, installation, commissioning, operation and ongoing maintenance.
For engineering and procurement teams, the key is to determine the required standards based on the unit’s function, rather than assuming every offshore module requires the same certification.
MGS Offshore designs and fabricates offshore equipment for a range of marine, oil & gas and offshore applications, with solutions built around relevant project and certification requirements.
Looking for certified offshore equipment?
Explore MGS Offshore’s DNV offshore products or contact our team to learn more about our recertification services to help keep your offshore assets compliant and ready for continued service.
