In May 2021, CEN/TC 282 'Installation and equipment for LNG', whose Secretariat is held by AFNOR, the French National Standardization Body, published a new edition of EN 1473:2021 'Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas - Design of onshore installations'.
This standard provides functional guidelines for the design, construction, and operation of on-shore LNG installations with a storage capacity of more than 200 tons of LNG. In an innovation to the previous edition, the new EN 1473:2021 also includes pressurized storage: therefore, there was the need to define requirements on its safety and performance. To achieve the integration of pressurized storage tanks, the standard had to be completely re-structured to focus on topics relevant for both pressurized and low-pressure storage.
This standard provides authorities, operators, and designers with the methods, procedures and practices necessary to achieve a safe LNG plant design, prepared for a level of operation that is acceptable for its environment. Furthermore, the requirements for risk management in project development first, and in plant operation later, have undergone a major update to boost awareness and reflect the latest approaches considered adequate by authorities and owners.
Another advantage of EN 1473:2021 is that it addresses all typical questions coming-up during the lifetime of an LNG plant in one single document. Above all, it also provides minimum requirements for plant safety, and is made in a way as to guide users of all levels of experience through the correct approach and method applicable for their individual LNG installation or application.
As a whole, this standard contributes to making the European LNG infrastructure fit for the future, as it has been updated to represent the state-of-the-art and offer a thorough outlook on topics related to climate change and its consequences.
