What is DNV certification?

What is DNV certification?

You have probably heard about DNV certification a bunch of times, but do you know what it actually means?

DNV stands for Det Norske Veritas and is a Norwegian-based classification society for the maritime, energy, and oil and gas industries. Since the company merged with Germanischer Lloyd in 2013 it has been the world’s largest classification society that sets international standards that guarantee safety and high quality offshore.

A DNV 2.7-3 certified Oversized Lifting Frame. This was designed for the transportation of a wide range of cargo including ISO containers and other onshore units within offshore conditions.

Two of the most common standards are:

• DNV 2.7-1 (Offshore Containers)
• DNV 2.7-3 (Portable Offshore Units).

As you can tell by their names, they can easily be mistaken for one another. To help you distinguish between the certifications, we will break down the main similarities and differences.

Similarities between DNV 2.7-1 and DNV 2.7-3

First, DNV 2.7-1 and DNV 2.7-3 standards specify requirements and recommended practices concerning transporting offshore containers and portable offshore units. This includes covering the specific areas of design, manufacturing, testing, certification, and intermittent inspection.

Additionally, both DNV 2.7-1 and DNV 2.7-3 standards cover the safe lifting and handling of offshore units and installations between two floating vessels – as well as between vessels and fixed/floating offshore installations. Altogether, the requirements for both standards are defined based on safe use regarding lives, environment, and hazards to a vessel or offshore installation.

Differences between DNV 2.7-1 and DNV 2.7-3

Now that we have outlined the similarities, let’s explain how they differ. One of the main differences is first and foremost the maximum gross weight (MGW). Whereas a DNV 2.7-1 certified container must have an MGW of less than 25,000 kgs, a DNV 2.7-3 certified container exceeds 25,000 kgs.

Moreover, there is also a noteworthy difference regarding the design approach. While DNV 2.7-1 follows a “Design by Code” philosophy, DNV 2.7-3 uses a “Design by Analysis” approach. The first approach is straightforward since it adheres to more predetermined criteria, while the second approach lays more responsibility on the design engineer to provide the design basis.

A Uniteam Offshore Spooler, certified according to DNV 2.7-1. 

How to achieve DNV certification?

To achieve DNV approval and certification, auditors perform the following procedure:

• Examination of the container’s design. This includes a review of the materials, measurements, frame designs, etc.
• Survey of the production process. This entails monitoring the manufacturing process to ensure employees adhere to proper protocols.
• Inspection and test of the prototype. Checking that the prototype complies with the original design appraisal. To further assure its safety, impact, lift, and tilt tests are carried out.

Uniteam offers DNV-certified products

At Uniteam we design and manufacture all kinds of DNV-certified products – including control modules, skids, waste skips, pressurized modules, etc. Our experienced team knows DNV requirements inside and out and can help you with any questions you may have. This also includes knowledge about the DNV 2.7-2 certification, which covers the requirements for safely installing offshore service modules on offshore installations. So don’t hesitate to contact us today, if you would like to learn more about what we have to offer!