Application and Coverage of Internal Combustion Engine Rules
- Applies to portable/mobile generating units.
- Includes standby engines for emergencies in critical applications.
- Covers engine-driven generators as main power sources in power plants.
- Includes prime movers in industrial manufacturing.
- Also covers engines in construction, agriculture, and similar.
- Excludes transportation engines such as automobile or marine engines.
General Provisions on Installation and Operation
- Installation and operation require a permit from the Secretary of Labor or authorized representative.
- Applications filed via Regional Labor Office with technical documents signed by a professional mechanical engineer and owner.
- Permit valid until revoked for justifiable reasons like unsafe operations.
- Any engine relocation or change of ownership must be reported and newly permitted.
- Operation personnel must comply with the Mechanical Engineering Law (RA 8495).
Standards and Inspection Requirements
- Compliance with PSME Code Chapter 2 and Occupational Safety and Health Standards Rule 1060 is mandatory for installation and inspection.
- Inspections done by Regional Labor Office at construction, pre-operation, modification, and periodically (max 12 months).
- Inspection includes checking foundation cracks, noise, vibration, exhaust emission, heat, and ventilation.
- Owners must prepare engines and facilities for inspection upon notice.
Engine Room and Building Safety Requirements
- Buildings must be structurally safe, with roofs designed to withstand loads including typhoon winds.
- Floors must be even, free of slipping hazards, holes, nails, or obstacles.
- Minimum engine room height is 3 meters or per manufacturer specifications.
- Adequate clearance of at least 1 meter around engines.
- Rooms require two independent doors, proper lighting, natural/artificial ventilation to maintain safe atmospheric conditions.
- Outdoor engines with weatherproof housings must maintain minimum distances from walls and combustible structures.
- Engines over 50 hp require detached or fire-resistive rooms with fire and explosion venting provisions.
- Fire doors or dampers must be installed to confine fires in engine rooms.
- Special provisions for engines near flammable gases or liquids.
- Gasoline or LPG-fueled engines prohibited in rooms with open flames.
- Fire protection equipment and exhaust silencers are mandatory.
- Exhausts must be vented to safe areas per DENR rules.
- Safety signage must be posted prominently in understandable language.
Foundation Requirements
- Foundations must be structurally sound, designed to sustain engine loads safely without overloading.
- Concrete foundation minimum class A mix with concrete and reinforcement bars.
- Foundation isolation from building slabs by 25 mm.
- Allow curing time before placing and operating engines.
- Foundation bolts must be minimum 12 mm diameter and properly sleeved.
- Soil bearing capacity and foundation factor of safety must meet at least five (5).
Machine Guarding and Personnel Safety
- All moving parts and transmission equipment must have effective guarding per Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
- Hot surfaces require insulation or guarding.
- Operators on duty to be provided personal protective equipment appropriate to hazards.
Preparation of Installation Plans
- Application for installation requires submission of five (5) copies of plans with:
- Vicinity and location plans with landmarks and north direction.
- Detailed room layouts showing engine position, doorways, and fire-resistant materials.
- Installation and foundation plans with anchorage details, equipment layout, drive methods, piping, and guarding.
- Engine data and specifications including BHP, model, cylinders, rpm, fuel system, cooling, lubrication, and application.
- Foundation design computations with weight, concrete volume, soil bearing capacity, and safety factor.
- Plans must be signed and sealed by a professional mechanical engineer and owner.
- Minimum scale 1:100 with title block details including engineer's registration and owner information.
Portable/Mobile Internal Combustion Engines
- Installation application filed with Regional Labor Office with technical plans in five (5) copies.
- Plans must be metric scale, minimum 1:100.
- Documents signed by owner/manager and professional mechanical engineer.
- Annual inspection required before permit expiration; new permit valid one year irrespective of location changes.
Definition and Coverage of Power Piping Lines
- Power piping includes piping for steam, water, air, gas, hazardous substances, oil, and components such as valves, flanges, bolting, etc.
- Installation means assembly designed for safe operation.
- Cleared means acceptance by Regional Labor Office after plan verification.
General Provisions for Power Piping Lines
- Installation requires application with working drawings, piping layout, and specifications in five (5) copies.
- No power piping installation or connection without clearance from the Regional Labor Office.
- No operation until final inspection and safety permit issuance.
- Repairs must be documented and available during inspections.
Standards for Design and Construction
- Compliance with Chapter 11 of PSME Code on Power Piping System is mandatory.
- Pipelines must be structurally sufficient for intended use.
- Safety and relief valves, controls must be accessible, maintained, and capable of discharging capacity.
- Safety valve outlets must avoid hazard to personnel.
- Installation practices for pressure relief devices must follow approved engineering standards.
- Indicating and recording devices shall be protected and clearly visible.
- Relief valves required on low-pressure sides of pressure reducing valves.
- Pressure gauges to be installed on low-pressure sides.
- Flange connections and materials per PSME specifications.
- Piping lines must include bends, loops, and expansion joints to prevent mechanical failures.
- Welding on pipelines must be performed by qualified welders.
- Color coding of pipes per Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
- Adequate support, hangers, and guards against damage to pipelines are compulsory.
Testing Requirements
- Newly installed or repaired pipelines must undergo Non-Destructive Testing (Radiographic or Ultrasonic) randomly before operation.
- Hydrostatic tests required with pressure at 1.5 times service pressure for 24 hours (new) or 4 hours (repaired).
- Pipeline ends and equipment blanks must be secured and protected during tests.
This comprehensive set of rules ensures safety, reliability, and compliance in the installation and operation of internal combustion engines and power piping lines in Philippine industrial and service settings.