Overview
EN ISO 10438-1:2007 / ISO 10438-1:2007 specifies the general requirements for lubrication systems, oil-type shaft-sealing systems, dry‑gas face‑type shaft‑sealing systems and control‑oil systems used in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Intended for equipment such as compressors, gears, pumps and drivers, this part covers design, documentation, inspection and testing requirements and is used together with Parts 2–4 for application‑specific guidance.
Key topics and technical requirements
This standard addresses the fundamental engineering and quality aspects of oil and control‑oil systems, including:
- Scope and definitions for lubrication, shaft‑sealing and control‑oil systems (general vs special purpose; general‑purpose limited to lubrication systems).
- Design fundamentals: units and dimensions, system selection, pressure design code, welding and basic design considerations.
- Piping: layout and requirements for oil piping, instrument and process lines, and intercoolers/aftercoolers.
- Instrumentation, control and electrical: alarms, shutdowns, control schemes, instrumentation selection and electrical protection (including references to explosion‑proof requirements).
- Inspection, testing and shipment: factory inspection, functional and cleanliness testing, and preparation for transport.
- Vendor data and documentation: proposal and contract data, vendor drawing and data requirements (VDDR), and required datasheets.
- Informative annexes: datasheets, symbols, filter performance and oil‑system cleanliness testing, international materials specifications and reservoir level explanations.
The document harmonizes with relevant industry standards and codes and was developed jointly with API 614 (noted as equivalent), ensuring alignment with established best practices.
Practical applications and users
EN ISO 10438-1 is essential for:
- Equipment OEMs and vendors designing lubrication and sealing systems for rotating machinery.
- Engineering procurement and construction (EPC) firms specifying system requirements for compressors, pumps, gearboxes and drivers.
- Asset owners/operators in onshore and offshore petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas facilities requiring consistent design, testing and procurement criteria.
- QA/QC, inspection and maintenance teams responsible for commissioning, oil cleanliness testing and documentation control.
Using this standard helps reduce procurement risk, ensures interoperable vendor deliverables, and supports safe, reliable operation of lubrication and shaft‑sealing systems.
Related standards
- ISO 10438-2, ISO 10438-3, ISO 10438-4 (application‑specific parts)
- API 614 (equivalent guidance)
- Referenced codes for piping, valves, heat exchangers and electrical protection (listed in the normative references of the standard).
Keywords: ISO 10438-1:2007, EN ISO 10438-1, lubrication systems, shaft‑sealing systems, control‑oil systems, petroleum industry, API 614, oil‑system testing, machinery lubrication.
