The standard has been written for general world-wide application. Governmental regulations may include requirements in excess of the provisions by this standard depending on the size, type, location and intended service of an offshore unit.

The standard provides principles, technical requirements and guidance for metallic materials to be used in the fabrication of offshore structures and equipment. Upon agreement, the scope may be extended to other applications.

The standard gives requirements for the following:

— rolled steel for structural applications

— steel pipes

— forgings and castings

— wrought aluminium alloys.

Unless otherwise agreed, requirements for:

— cold formed, welded hollow sections

— rolled steels for boilers, pressure vessels and special applications

— steel for low temperature service

— clad steel plates

— iron castings

— copper alloy castings

— non-ferrous pipes

are given in DNV-RU-SHIP Pt.2 Ch.2.

The requirements for bars for anchor chain cable (for offshore mooring chain, see DNV-OS-E302), for offshore mooring steel wire ropes see DNV-OS-E304.

Materials, manufacturing methods and procedures complying with proprietary specifications or recognized practices may be accepted provided such documents give reasonable equivalence to the requirements of this standard. See Ch.2 Sec.1 [2.5].

As well as representing DNV’s recommendations on safe engineering practice for general use by the offshore industry, the offshore standards includes the technical basis for DNV classification, certification and verification services as given in Ch.3.