ISO/TC 8/SC 13/WG 1 - Submersibles

This document specifies performance requirements and gives recommendations for the design of breathing air supply and CO2 absorption systems of manned submersibles, capable of maintaining suitable life support conditions in the manned compartments. It is applicable to manned submersibles where the internal pressure of the manned compartment is normally maintained at or near to one atmosphere. It is not applicable to submersibles where the occupants endure pressures higher than one atmosphere (such as in diving bells, for example). It is not applicable to submersibles designed to carry passengers or divers in a separate compartment capable of being pressurised to higher than one atmosphere inside the pressure hull (such as in submarine rescue compartments, for example).

This document specifies a test method for the hydrostatic pressure test for pressure hull and buoyancy materials of submersibles. The test sequence comprises a tightness test and the hydrostatic pressure test itself. It can also include continuous pressurization and depressurization tests, long-term static load and cycling external pressure tests. This document is applicable to the pressure structure of manned submersibles and unmanned submersibles, including the pressure hull, its accessories (such as viewports, hatches and connectors) and buoyancy materials. The long-term static load and cycling external pressure tests are only applicable to buoyancy material. This document is not applicable to submarines and other submersibles parking or operating underwater for more than one week.