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Legislative Requirements
SOLAS - Fire Protection, Fire Detection and Fire Extinction
Basic principles
The purpose of this chapter is to require the fullest
practicable degree of fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction in
ships.
The following basic principles underlie the
regulations in this chapter and are embodied in the regulations as appropriate,
having regard to the type of ships and the potential fire hazard involved:
.1 division of ship into main vertical zones by
thermal and structural boundaries;
.2 separation of
accommodation spaces from the remainder of the ship by thermal and structural
boundaries;
.3 restricted use of combustible materials;
.4 detection of any fire in the zone of origin;
.5 containment and extinction of any fire in the space
of origin;
.6 protection of means of
escape or access for fire fighting;
.7 ready availability of
fire-extinguishing appliances;
.8 minimization of
possibility of ignition of flammable cargo vapour.
Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter, unless expressly
provided otherwise:
Non-combustible material is a material, which neither
burns nor gives off flammable vapours in sufficient quantity for self-ignition
when heated to approximately 750˚C, this being determined in accordance
with the Fire Test Procedures Code. Any other material is a combustible
material.
A standard fire test is one in which the specimens of
the relevant bulkheads and decks are exposed in a test furnace to temperatures
corresponding approximately to the standard time-temperature curve. The test methods shall be in accordance with
the Fire Test Procedures Code.
“A” class divisions are those divisions formed by
bulkheads and decks which comply with the following:
.1 they shall be constructed of steel or other
equivalent material;
.2 they shall be suitably stiffened;
.3 they shall be so constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame to the end of the one-hour standard fire test;
.4 they shall be insulated with approved
non-combustible materials such that the average temperature of the unexposed
side will not rise more than 140˚C above the original temperature, nor
will the temperature, at any one point, including any joint, rise more than
180˚C above the original temperature, within the time listed below:
i.
class “A-60” 60 min
ii.
class “A-30” 30 min
iii.
class “A-15” 15 min
iv.
class “A-0” 0 min
“B” class
divisions are those divisions formed by bulkheads, decks, ceiling or linings
which comply with the following:
.1 they shall be so
constructed as to be capable of preventing the passage of flame to the end of
the first half hour of the standard fire test;
.2 they shall have an insulation value such that the
average temperature of the unexposed side will not rise more than 140˚C
above the original temperature, nor will the temperature at any one point,
including any joint, rise more than 225˚C above the original temperature,
within the time listed below:
i.
class “B-15” 15 min
ii.
class “B-0” 0 min
.3 they shall be constructed of approved non-combustible materials and all materials entering into the construction and erection of “B” class divisions shall be non-combustible, with the exception that combustible veneers may be permitted provided they meet other requirements of this chapter;
Main vertical zones are those sections into which the
hull, superstructure, and deckhouses are divided by “A” class divisions, the
mean length of which on any deck does not in general exceed 40 m.
Accommodation spaces are those spaces used for public
spaces, corridors, lavatories, cabins, offices, hospitals, cinemas, games and
hobbies rooms, barber shops, pantries containing no cooking appliances and
similar spaces.
Public spaces are those portions of the accommodation
which are used for halls, dining rooms, lounges and similar permanently
enclosed spaces.
Service spaces are those spaces used for galleys,
pantries containing cooking appliances, lockers, mail and specie rooms,
store-rooms, workshops other than those forming part of the machinery spaces,
and similar spaces and trunks to such spaces.
Cargo spaces are all spaces used for cargo (including
cargo oil tanks) and trunks to such spaces.
Ro-ro cargo spaces are spaces not normally subdivided
in any way and extending to either a substantial length or the entire length of
the ship in which goods (packaged or in bulk, in or on rail or road cars,
vehicles (including road or rail tankers), trailers, containers, pallets,
demountable tanks or in or on similar stowage units or other receptacles) can
be loaded and unloaded normally in a horizontal direction.
Open ro-ro cargo spaces are ro-ro cargo spaces either open at both ends, or open at one end and provided with adequate natural ventilation effective over their entire length through permanent openings in the side plating or deckhead to the satisfaction of the Administration.
Closed ro-ro cargo spaces are ro-ro cargo spaces which
are neither open ro-ro cargo spaces nor weather decks.
Weather deck is a deck which is completely exposed to
the weather from above and from at least two sides.
Special category spaces are those enclosed spaces
above or below the bulkhead deck intended for the carriage of motor vehicles
with fuel in their tanks for their own propulsion, into and from which such
vehicles can be driven and to which passengers have access.
Machinery spaces of category A are those spaces and
trunks to such spaces, which contain:
.1 internal combustion machinery used for main
propulsion; or
.2 internal combustion machinery used for purposes other than main propulsion where such machinery has in the aggregate a total power output of not less than 375 kW; or
.3 any oil-fired boiler or
oil fuel unit.
Machinery spaces are all machinery spaces of category
A and all other spaces containing propulsion machinery, boilers, oil fuel
units, steam and internal combustion engines, generators and major electrical
machinery, oil filling stations, refrigerating, stabilizing, ventilation and
air-conditioning machinery, and similar spaces, and trunks to such spaces. Oil fuel unit is the equipment used for the
preparation of oil fuel for delivery to an oil-fired boiler, or equipment used
for the preparation for delivery of heated oil to an internal combustion
engine, and includes any oil pressure pumps, filters and heaters dealing with
oil at a pressure of more than 0.18 N/mm2.
Control stations are those spaces in which the ship’s
radio or main navigating equipment or the emergency source of power is located
or where the fire recording or fire control equipment is centralized.
Central control station is a control station in which
the following control and indicator functions are centralized:
.1 fixed fire detection and alarm systems;
.2 automatic sprinklers, fire detection and alarm
systems;
.3 fire door indicator panels;
.4 fire door closures;
.5 watertight door indicator panels;
.6 watertight door closures;
.7 ventilation fans;
.8 general/fire alarms;
.9 communication systems including telephones; and .10
microphones to public address systems.
Continuously manned central control station is a central control station which is continuously manned by a responsible member of the crew.
Fire
control plans and fire drills
(This regulation applies to all ships)
In all ships general arrangement plans shall be
permanently exhibited for the guidance of the ship’s officers, showing clearly
for each deck the control stations, the various fire sections enclosed by “A”
class divisions, the sections enclosed by “B” class divisions together with
particulars of the fire detection and fire alarm systems, the sprinkler
installation, the fire extinguishing appliances, means of access to different
compartments, decks, etc. and the ventilating system including particulars of
the fan control positions, the position of dampers and identification numbers
of the ventilating fans serving each section. Alternatively, at the discretion
of the Administration, the aforementioned details may be set out in a booklet,
a copy of which shall be supplied to each officer, and one copy shall at all
times be available on board in an accessible position. Plans and booklets shall
be kept up to date, any alterations being recorded thereon as soon as
practicable. Description in such plans and booklets shall be in the official
language of the flag State. If the language is neither English nor French, a
translation into one of those languages shall be included. In addition,
instructions concerning the maintenance and operation of all the equipment and
installations on board for the fighting and containment of fire shall be kept
under one cover, readily available in an accessible position.
In all ships a duplicate set of fire control plans or a booklet containing such plans shall be permanently stored in a prominently marked Weathertight enclosure outside the deckhouse for the assistance of shore side firefighting personnel.
Fire drills
shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS.
In ships carrying more than 36 passengers, plans and
booklets required by this regulation shall provide information regarding fire
protection, fire detection and fire extinction based on the guidelines issued
by the Organization.
Ready availability of fire-extinguishing appliances
(This regulation applies to all ships)
Fire-extinguishing appliances shall be kept in good
order and be available for immediate use at all times.
States that fire hoses should be
used only for the purposes of extinguishing fires or testing the apparatus at
fire drills and surveys
States that
instructions concerning the maintenance and operation of all firefighting
equipment and installations on board should be kept under one cover in an accessible position
Fire patrols, detection, alarms and public address systems
(Paragraph 2 of this regulation applies to ships
constructed on or after 1 February 1992; paragraph 7 of this regulation applies
to ships constructed on or after 1 January 1994)
1 Manually operated call points complying with the
requirements of regulation 13 shall be installed.
2 A fixed fire detection and fire alarm system
complying with the requirements of regulation 13 or a sample extraction smoke
detection system complying with the requirements of regulation 13-1 shall be
provided in any cargo space which, in the opinion of the Administration, is not
accessible, except where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Administration
that the ship is engaged on voyages of such short duration that it would be
unreasonable to apply this requirement.
3 All ships shall at all times when at sea, or in port
(except when out of service), be so manned or equipped as to ensure that any
initial fire alarm is immediately received by a responsible member of the
crew.
4 A special alarm, operated from the navigation bridge or fire control station, shall be fitted
to summon the crew. This alarm may be part of the ship’s general alarm system
but it shall be capable of being sounded independently of the alarm to the
passenger spaces.
5 A public address system or other effective means of
communication shall be available throughout the accommodation and service spaces
and control stations and open decks.
6 For ships carrying more than 36 passengers an
efficient patrol system shall be maintained so that an outbreak of fire may be
promptly detected. Each member of the
fire patrol shall be trained to be familiar with the arrangements of the ship
as well as the location and operation of any equipment he may be called upon to
use. Each member of the fire patrol shall be provided with a two-way portable
radiotelephone apparatus.
7 Where public spaces span three or more open decks
and contain combustibles such as furniture and enclosed spaces such as shops,
offices and restaurants, the entire main vertical zone containing the space
shall be protected throughout with a smoke detection system complying with
regulation 13, with the exception of paragraph 1.9.
7.1 Passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers
shall have the detection alarms for the systems centralized in a continuously
manned central control station. In addition, controls for remote closing of the
fire doors and shutting down the ventilation fans shall be centralized in the
same location. The ventilation fans shall be capable of reactivation by the
crew at the continuously manned control station. The control panels in the
central control station shall be capable of indicating open or closed positions
of fire doors and closed or off status of the detectors, alarms and fans. The
control panel shall be continuously powered and should have an automatic
change-over to standby power supply in case of loss of normal power supply. The
control panel shall be powered from the main source of electrical power and the
emergency source of electrical power unless other arrangements are permitted by
the regulations, as applicable.
Special requirements for ships carrying dangerous goods
(Paragraph 2.3 of this regulation applies to ships
constructed on or after 1 February 1992)
1 General
1.1 In addition to complying with the requirements for
cargo ships and with the requirements for passenger ships as appropriate, ship
types and cargo spaces, referred to in paragraph 1.2, intended for the carriage
of dangerous goods shall comply with the requirements of this regulation, as
appropriate, except when carrying dangerous goods in limited quantities{
unless such requirements have already been met by compliance with the
requirements elsewhere in this chapter. The types of ships and modes of
carriage of dangerous goods are referred to in paragraph 1.2
, where the numbers appearing in paragraph 1.2 are referred to in the
top line. Cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage
constructed on or after
1.2 The following ship types and cargo spaces shall
govern the application of tables 54.1 and 54.2 (see SOLAS):
.1 Ships and cargo spaces not specifically designed
for the carriage of freight containers but intended for the carriage of
dangerous goods in packaged form including goods in freight containers and
portable tanks.
.2 Purpose-built container ships and cargo spaces
intended for the carriage of dangerous goods in freight containers and portable
tanks.
.3 Ro-ro ships and ro-ro cargo spaces intended for the
carriage of dangerous goods.
.4 Ships and cargo spaces intended for the carriage of
solid dangerous goods in bulk.
.5 Ships and cargo spaces intended for carriage of
dangerous goods other than liquids and gases in bulk in Shipborne
barges.
2 Special requirements
Unless otherwise specified the following requirements
shall govern the application of tables 54.1, 54.2 and 54.3 to both “on-deck”
and “underdeck” stowage of dangerous goods where the numbers of the following
paragraphs are indicated in the first column.
3 Document of compliance
The Administration shall provide the ship with an
appropriate document as evidence of compliance of construction and equipment
with the requirements of this regulation.