Electrical Heat Tracing for Surface Heating on Arctic Vessels and Structures to Prevent Snow and Ice Accumulation

The proposed “IEEE 45.8 Recommended Practice for Electrical Installations on Shipboard-Cable Systems” will reference electrical heat tracing (EHT) for heating pipes, tanks, and instrumentation onboard ocean-going vessels. The globally recognized IEEE 515 Standard for resistance heat tracing addresses “traditional” freeze protection and temperature maintenance applications onboard tankers and floating production, storage, and off-loading facilities but not for keeping uninsulated surfaces above freezing. As fossil fuels are discovered offshore in arctic regions, their development requires increasing resources to prevent the accumulation (by melting) of snow and ice. Outdoor stairs, handrails, walkways, and other exposed and uninsulated surfaces require protection in these harsh environments. These represent growing requirements for EHT to be installed on, in, or under surfaces to reduce unsafe conditions during normal operations or during emergency conditions.