GB16636-2008
Code of safety for diver's use of electricity underwater
潜水员水下用电安全规程
GB 16636-2008 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Code of safety for diver's use of electricity underwater. It appears in the Food compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Jan 1, 2009.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to all underwater electrical equipment, systems, tools, and structures associated with diver operations, including diving bells, deck decompression chambers, underwater habitats, ROVs, umbilicals, hand-held equipment, seabed equipment, and impressed current cathodic protection systems. It covers electrical safety requirements for equipment that may pose a hazard to divers even if not directly related to their underwater tasks. This standard is mandatory for all manufacturers and operators of diving-related electrical equipment in China. It does not apply to non-diving-related general marine electrical installations.
Technical requirements
The standard specifies operational environment parameters for various diving equipment categories, including pressure ranges (0 MPa to 6 MPa), temperature limits, humidity conditions, and diver attire requirements for each equipment type such as deck decompression chambers, diving bells, underwater habitats, and electrical-heat diving suits. For electrical power supply, the standard mandates that AC power must be delivered through isolation transformers, with specific requirements for either ungrounded secondary windings with line insulation monitors or grounded secondary windings with automatic trip devices limiting fault current to less than 1 A. Automatic trip devices must respond within 20 ms or less. All underwater equipment metal structures must be reliably grounded with a resistance not exceeding 4 Ω. Voltage limits are specified based on the presence or absence of automatic trip devices, with different thresholds for AC and DC systems. For example, equipment with automatic trip devices may operate at higher voltages (up to 250 V AC), while equipment without such devices is restricted to much lower voltages (e.g., 6 V AC). Electrical-heat diving suits have separate, more stringent voltage limits due to direct body contact, with maximum voltages not exceeding 20 V AC when protected by automatic trip devices. The standard also addresses insulation materials, requiring flame-retardant and low-toxicity materials for components that may contact breathing gas circuits. Battery systems must be fully watertight and protected against hydrogen gas accumulation during charging. All portable and fixed electrical equipment must maintain technical archives with periodic professional inspections.
Testing methods
The standard references several key testing and evaluation procedures: insulation resistance testing (minimum 5 MΩ for insulated distribution systems), line insulation monitoring for continuous assessment of circuit insulation integrity, leakage current detection and ground fault alarm verification, and automatic trip device response time verification (must not exceed 20 ms). For electrical-heat diving suits, visual inspection and electrical safety performance testing are required before each dive. The standard also provides body safe current calculation methods (Appendix A) and underwater safe distance formulas (Appendix B) for determining minimum diver proximity to energized equipment based on fault current and body safe current ratios in both seawater and freshwater environments.
FAQs
What products and equipment are regulated under GB 16636-2008?
GB 16636-2008 covers all underwater electrical equipment used in diving operations, including diving bells, deck decompression chambers, underwater habitats, ROVs, umbilicals, hand-held tools, seabed equipment, electrical-heat diving suits, wet welding and cutting equipment, impressed current systems, batteries, and surface power distribution equipment. Any electrical equipment that could pose a hazard to a working diver falls under this standard.
Are there any updates from the previous versions of GB 16636-2008?
Yes, GB 16636-2008 replaces and consolidates two earlier standards: GB 16636-1996 and GB 17869-1999. The revision merges the technical specifications and operational procedures from both standards, eliminates overlapping content, and primarily references the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) AODC 035 guidelines for underwater electrical safety. The editorial formatting follows GB/T 1.1-2000.
How does GB 16636-2008 relate to international standards?
The standard is primarily based on the IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) *Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Electricity Underwater* (AODC 035). It also references GB/T 16560 for deck decompression chambers and GB 6722 for blasting safety. Engineers familiar with IMCA guidelines will find the core principles aligned, though specific voltage thresholds and operational requirements are tailored to Chinese regulatory conditions.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 16636-2008. To ensure complete compliance for your diving equipment and underwater electrical systems entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 16636-2008 today to access all detailed voltage tables, body safe current curves, underwater safe distance formulas, installation requirements, and emergency response procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Safety
- CCS
- R54
- ICS
- 03.220.40, 13.100
- Competent department
- Ministry of Transport
- Technical committee
- Ministry of Transport
Relationships
Replaces:GB 16636-1996, GB 17869-1999