Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)

Article 15.12 Fire-fighting

1. In addition to the portable extinguishers according to Article 10.03, at least the following portable extinguishers shall be available on board:

(a) one portable extinguisher for every 120 m² of gross floor area in passenger areas;

(b) one portable extinguisher per group of 10 cabins, rounded upwards;

(c) one portable extinguisher in each galley and in the vicinity of any room in which flammable liquids are stored or used. In galleys the extinguishing agent shall also be suitable for fighting fat fires.

These additional fire extinguishers shall meet the requirements laid down in Article 10.03, paragraph 2, and be installed and distributed on the vessel so that, in the event of a fire starting at any point and at any time, a fire extinguisher can be reached immediately. In every galley and also in hairdressing salons and perfumeries, there shall be a fire blanket to hand.

2. Passenger vessels shall be provided with a hydrant system consisting of:

(a) two motor-driven fire extinguishing pumps of sufficient capacity, at least one of which is permanently installed;

(b) one fire extinguisher line with a sufficient number of hydrants with permanently connected fire hoses at least 20 m in length and fitted with a nozzle capable of producing both a mist and a jet of water and incorporating a shut-off facility.

3. Hydrant systems shall be designed and dimensioned in such a way that:

(a) any point of the vessel can be reached from at least two hydrants in different places, each with a single hose length of not more than 20 m;

(b) the pressure at the hydrants is at least 300 kPa; and

(c) on all decks a water jet length of at least 6 m can be attained.

If a hydrant chest is provided, an ‘extinguisher hose’ symbol similar to that shown in Figure 5 in Appendix I, of at least 10 cm side length, shall be affixed to the outside of the chest.

4. Hydrant valves with screw threads or cocks shall be such that they can be set so that each of the fire hoses can be separated and removed during operation of the fire extinguishing pumps.

5. Fire extinguisher hoses in the internal area shall be rolled up on an axially connected reel.

6. Materials for fire-fighting equipment shall either be heat-resistant or shall be suitably protected against failure to work when subjected to high temperatures.

7. Pipes and hydrants shall be arranged in such a way that the possibility of freezing is avoided.

8. The fire extinguishing pumps shall:

(a) be installed or housed in separate rooms;

(b) be such that they can be operated independently of each other;

(c) each be capable, on all decks, of maintaining the necessary pressure at the hydrants and achieving the requisite length of water jet;

(d) be installed forward of the aft bulkhead.

Fire extinguishing pumps may also be used for general purposes.

9. Engine rooms shall be fitted with a permanently fitted fire extinguishing system according to Article 10.03b.

10. On cabin vessels there shall be:

(a) two self-contained breathing apparatus sets corresponding to European standard EN 137: 1993 with full-face masks corresponding to European standard EN 136: 1998;

(b) two sets of equipment consisting of at least a protective suit, helmet, boots, gloves, axe, crowbar, torch and safety-line, and

(c) four smoke hoods.