Directive 2009/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

3 Fire pumps, fire mains, hydrants, hoses and nozzles (R 4)

NEW CLASS B, C AND D AND EXISTING CLASS B SHIPS:

.1.1 Every ship shall be provided with fire pumps, fire mains, hydrants, hoses and nozzles complying as applicable with the requirements of this regulation.

NEW CLASS B, C AND D SHIPS CONSTRUCTED BEFORE 1 JANUARY 2003:

.1.2 Where more than one independent fire pump is required, isolating valves to separate the section of the fire main within the machinery space containing the main fire pump or pumps from the rest of the fire main shall be fitted in an easily accessible and tenable position outside this machinery space. The fire main shall be so arranged that when the isolating valves are shut all the hydrants on the ship, except those in the machinery space referred above, can be supplied with water by a fire pump not located in this machinery space through pipes which do not enter this space. Exceptionally, short lengths of the emergency fire pump suction and discharge piping may penetrate the machinery space if it is impracticable to route it externally provided that the integrity of the fire main is maintained by the enclosure of the piping in a substantial steel casing.

NEW CLASS B, C AND D SHIPS CONSTRUCTED ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY 2003:

.1.3 Isolating valves to separate the section of the fire main within the machinery space containing the main fire pump or pumps from the rest of the fire main shall be fitted in an easily accessible and tenable position outside the machinery spaces. The fire main shall be so arranged that when the isolating valves are shut all the hydrants on the ship, except those in the machinery space referred to above, can be supplied with water by another pump or an emergency fire pump. The emergency pump, its seawater inlet and suction and delivery pipes and isolating valves shall be located outside the machinery space. If this arrangement cannot be made, the sea-chest may be fitted in the machinery space if the valve is remotely controlled from a position in the same compartment as the emergency pump and the suction pipe is as short as practicable. Short lengths of suction or discharge piping may penetrate the machinery space, provided they are enclosed in a substantial steel casing or are insulated to A-60 standards. The pipes shall have substantial wall thickness, but in no case less than 11 mm and shall be welded except for the flanged connection to the sea inlet valve.

ALL NEW AND EXISTING CLASS B SHIPS AND NEW CLASS C AND D SHIPS OF 24 METRES IN LENGTH AND ABOVE:

.2 Capacity of fire pumps

.1 The required fire pumps shall be capable of delivering for fire-fighting purposes a quantity of water, at the pressure specified in paragraph .4.2 not less than two thirds of the quantity required to be dealt with by the bilge pumps when employed for bilge pumping.

.2 In every ship which is required by this regulation to be provided with more than one power fire pump, each of the required fire pumps shall have a capacity not less than 80 % of the total required capacity divided by the minimum number of required fire pumps but in any case not less than 25 m³/h and each such pump shall in any event be capable of delivering at least the two required jets of water. These fire pumps shall be capable of supplying the fire main system under the required conditions.

.3 In ships constructed on or after 1 January 2003 where more pumps than the minimum required pumps are installed such additional pumps shall have a capacity of at least 25 m³/h and shall be capable of delivering at least the two jets of water required in paragraph .5 of this regulation.

.3 Arrangements of fire pumps, fire mains and ready availability of water supply

.1 Ships shall be provided with power-driven fire pumps as follows:

.1

ships certified to carry more than 500 passengers: at least three, one of which may be a main engine-driven pump;

.2

ships certified to carry up to 500 passengers or fewer: at least two, one of which may be a main engine-driven pump.

.2 Sanitary, ballast, bilge or general service pumps may be accepted as fire pumps, provided that they are not normally used for pumping oil and that if they are subject to occasional duty for the transfer or pumping of oil fuel, suitable changeover arrangements are fitted.

.3 The arrangement of sea connections, fire pumps and their sources of power shall be such as to ensure that in a ship certified to carry more than 250 passengers, in the event of a fire in any one compartment all the fire pumps will not be put out of action.

In new class B ships certified to carry up to 250 passengers or fewer, if a fire in any one compartment could put all the pumps out of action, the alternative means of providing water for fire-fighting purposes shall be an independently driven, power-operated emergency fire pump and with its source of power and sea connection located outside the machinery space. Such an independently driven, power-operated emergency fire pump shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code for ships constructed on or after 1 January 2003.

.4 In new class B ships certified to carry more than 250 passengers, the arrangements for the ready availability of water supply shall be such that at least one effective jet of water is immediately available from any hydrant in an interior location and so as to ensure the continuation of the output of water by the automatic starting of a required fire pump.

.5 In ships with a periodically unattended machinery space or when only one person is required on watch, there shall be immediate water delivery from the fire main system at a suitable pressure, either by remote starting of one of the main fire pumps with remote starting from the navigating bridge and fire control station, if any, or permanent pressurisation of the fire main system by one of the main fire pumps.

.6 The delivery valve of each fire pump shall be fitted with a non-return valve.

.4 Diameter of and pressure in the fire mains

.1 The diameter of the fire main and water service pipes shall be sufficient for the effective distribution of the maximum required discharge from two fire pumps operating simultaneously.

.2 With two pumps simultaneously delivering through nozzles specified in paragraph .8 and sufficient hydrants to provide for the quantity of water specified in paragraph .4.1, the following minimum pressures shall be maintained at all hydrants:

Class B ships certified to carry	New	Existing
more than 500 passengers	0,4 N/mm2	0,3 N/mm2
up to 500 passengers	0,3 N/mm2	0,2 N/mm2

.3 The maximum pressure at any hydrant shall not exceed that at which the effective control of a fire hose can be demonstrated.

.5 Number and position of hydrants

.1 The number and position of hydrants shall be such that at least two jets of water not emanating from the same hydrant, one of which shall be from a single length of hose, may reach any part of the ship normally accessible to the passengers or crew while the ship is being navigated and any part of any cargo space when empty, any ro-ro cargo space or any special category space in which latter case the two jets shall reach any part of such space, each from a single length of hose. Furthermore, such hydrants shall be positioned near the accesses to the protected spaces.

.2 In the accommodation, service and machinery spaces the number and position of the hydrants shall be such that the requirements of paragraph .5.1 may be complied with when all watertight doors and all doors in main vertical zone bulkheads are closed.

.3 Where access is provided to a machinery space at a low level from an adjacent shaft tunnel, two hydrants shall be provided external to, but near the entrance to, that machinery space. Where such access is provided from other spaces, in one of those spaces two hydrants shall be provided near the entrance of the machinery space. Such provision need not be made where the tunnel or adjacent spaces are not part of the escape route.

.6 Pipes and hydrants

.1 Materials readily rendered ineffective by heat shall not be used for fire mains and hydrants unless adequately protected. The pipes and hydrants shall be so placed that the fire hoses may be easily coupled to them. The arrangement of pipes and hydrants shall be such as to avoid the possibility of freezing. In ships where deck cargo may be carried, the positions of the hydrants shall be such that they are always readily accessible and the pipes shall be arranged as far as practicable to avoid risk of damage by such cargo.

.2 A valve shall be fitted to serve each fire hose so that any fire hose may be removed while the fire pumps are at work.

.3 On ships constructed on or after 1 January 2003 isolating valves shall be installed for all open deck fire main branches used for purposes other than fire-fighting.

.7 Fire hoses

.1 Fire hoses shall be of non-perishable material, approved by the Administration of the flag State, and shall be sufficient in length to project a jet of water to any of the spaces in which they may be required to be used. Each hose shall be provided with a nozzle and the necessary couplings. There shall be complete interchangeability of hose couplings and nozzles. Hoses specified in this chapter as ‘fire hoses’ shall, together with any necessary fittings and tools, be kept ready for use in conspicuous positions near the water service hydrants or connections. Additionally, in interior locations in ships carrying more than 36 passengers fire hoses shall be permanently connected to the hydrants.

.2 There shall be at least one fire hose for each of the hydrants required by paragraph .5. The length of a fire hose should be restricted to not more than 20 metres on deck and in superstructures and to 15 metres in machinery spaces and on smaller ships to 15 metres and 10 metres respectively.

.8 Nozzles

.1.1 For the purposes of this chapter, standard nozzle sizes shall be 12 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm or as near thereto as possible. In cases where other systems are used – such as fog systems – different diameter nozzles may be permitted.

.1.2 All nozzles shall be of an approved dual-purpose type (i.e., spray/jet type), and shall have a shut-off facility.

.2 For accommodation and service spaces, a nozzle size greater than 12 mm need not be used.

.3 For machinery spaces and exterior locations, the nozzle size shall be such as to obtain the maximum discharge possible from two jets at the pressure mentioned in paragraph .4 from the smallest pump, provided that a nozzle size greater than 19 mm need not be used.

NEW CLASS C AND D SHIPS OF LESS THAN 24 METRES IN LENGTH:

.9 Fire pumps, fire mains, hydrants, hoses, nozzles and ready availability of water supply

.1 One independent fire pump is required, which shall be capable of delivering for fire-fighting purposes at least one jet of water from any fire hydrant, at the pressure specified below. The quantity of water so delivered shall not be less than two thirds of the quantity required to be dealt with by the bilge pumps when employed for bilge pumping. Such fire pump shall be capable, when discharging the maximum amount referred to above through fire hydrants with nozzles of 12 or 16 or 19 mm, of maintaining at any hydrant minimum pressures as required in class B ships.

.2 Every ship carrying over 250 passengers shall be provided with an additional fire pump which shall be permanently connected to the fire main. Such pump shall be operated by power. Such pump and its source of power shall not be situated in the same compartment as the pump required by paragraph .9.1 and shall be provided with a permanent sea connection situated outside the machinery space. Such pump shall be capable of delivering at least one jet of water from any fire hydrants provided in the ship maintaining a pressure of at least 0,3 N/mm².

.3 Sanitary, ballast, bilge or general service pumps may be accepted as fire pumps.

.4 Every ship shall be provided with a fire main having a diameter sufficient for the effective distribution of the maximum discharge given above. The number and position of the hydrants shall be such that at least one jet of water may reach any part of the ship using one single maximum length of hose as given for class B ships in paragraph .7.2.

.5 Every ship shall be fitted with at least one fire hose for every hydrant fitted.

.6 In ships with a periodically unattended machinery space or when only one person is required on watch, there shall be immediate water delivery from the fire main system at a suitable pressure, either by remote starting of one of the main fire pumps with remote starting from the navigating bridge and fire control station, if any, or permanent pressurisation of the fire main system by one of the main fire pumps.

.7 The delivery valve of each fire pump shall be fitted with a non-return valve.