IS 10291:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for safety code for dress divers in civil engineering works. This standard provides safety regulations for civil engineering works involving divers using standard 'dress' diving equipment. It covers personnel qualifications, medical fitness, equipment specifications, operational procedures, manning levels, communication signals, and decompression schedules to ensure diver safety during underwater construction, inspection, and repair.
Safety code for dress divers in civil engineering works
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Communication Method | Lifeline signals (rope pulls). | Hard-wired, two-way voice communication system. | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.420(c) |
| Minimum Dive Team Size (Surface Air) | 5 persons (1 diver, 1 attendant, 1 linesman, 2 pump men). | 4 persons (1 Diving Supervisor, 1 diver, 1 standby diver, 1 tender). | ADCI Consensus Standards 7.1 |
| Permissible Primary Air Source | Reciprocating hand-operated diver's air pump. | Mechanically-driven compressor with volume tank and secondary (reserve) supply. | ADCI Consensus Standards 7.1 |
| Maximum Depth for Air Diving (General Operations) | Tables provided up to 60 meters (197 ft). | 130 fsw (39.6 m); operations to 190 fsw (58 m) require special procedures and may require an on-site chamber. | ADCI Consensus Standards 7.1 |
| Standby Diver Readiness | Should be fully dressed except for the helmet. | Shall be at the dive station, dressed, and ready to enter the water within one minute. | ADCI Consensus Standards 7.1 |
| Air Hose Pressure Test | 7 kg/cm² (~100 psi) above the pressure corresponding to the maximum depth. | Tested to 1.5 times the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP). | ADCI Consensus Standards 7.1 |