Commission Directive 2010/36/EUShow full title

4 Fixed fire-extinguishing systems (R 5 + 8 + 9 + 10)

.1 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems: General (R 5.1)

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

.1 The necessary pipes for conveying fire-extinguishing medium into protected spaces shall be provided with control valves so marked as to indicate clearly the spaces to which the pipes are led. Suitable provision shall be made to prevent inadvertent admission of the medium to any space.

.2 The piping for the distribution of fire-extinguishing medium shall be arranged and discharge nozzles so positioned that a uniform distribution of medium is obtained.

.3 Means shall be provided to close from outside the protected spaces all openings which may admit air to or allow gas to escape from the protected space.

.4 Means shall be provided for automatically giving audible warning of the release of fire-extinguishing medium into any space in which personnel normally work or to which they have access. The alarm shall operate for a suitable period before the medium is released.

.5 The means of control of any fixed gas fire-extinguishing system shall be readily accessible and simple to operate and shall be grouped together in as few locations as possible at positions not likely to be cut off by a fire in a protected space. At each location there shall be clear instructions relating to the operation of the system having regard to the safety of personnel.

.6 Automatic release of fire-extinguishing medium shall not be permitted, except as permitted in respect of local automatically operated units fitted, in addition to and independent of any required fixed fire-extinguishing system, in machinery spaces over equipment having a high fire risk or in enclosed areas of high fire risk within machinery spaces.

.7 Where the quantity of extinguishing medium is required to protect more than one space, the quantity of medium available need not be more than the largest quantity required for any one space so protected.

.8 Except as otherwise permitted, pressure containers required for the storage of fire-extinguishing medium, shall be located outside protected spaces in accordance with paragraph .1.11.

.9 Means shall be provided for the crew or shore personnel to safely check the quantity of medium in the containers.

.10 Containers for the storage of fire extinguishing medium and associated pressure components shall be designed to appropriate codes of practice having regard to their locations and maximum ambient temperatures expected in service.

.11 When the fire-extinguishing medium is stored outside a protected space, it shall be stored in a room which shall be situated in a safe and readily accessible position and shall be effectively ventilated. Any entrance to such a storage room shall preferably be from the open deck and in any case shall be independent of the protected space.

Access doors shall open outwards, and bulkheads and decks including doors and other means of closing any opening therein, which form the boundaries between such rooms and adjoining enclosed spaces shall be gastight. For the purpose of application of the tables for fire integrity of bulkheads and decks in Regulations II-2/B/4 or II-2/B/5, as applicable, such storage rooms shall be treated as control stations.

.12 The use of a fire-extinguishing medium, which either by itself or under expected conditions of use gives off toxic gases in such quantities as to endanger persons or gives off gases which are harmful to the environment, in fire-extinguishing systems on board new ships and in such new installations on board existing ships, is not permitted.

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

.13 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code.

.14 Means shall be provided to close from outside the protected space all openings which may admit air to or allow gas escape from the protected space.

.15 When the fire-extinguishing medium is stored outside a protected space, it shall be stored in a room which is located behind the forward collision bulkhead and is used for no other purposes. Any entrance to such a storage room shall preferably be from the open deck and shall be independent of the protected space. If the storage place is located below deck, it shall be located no more than one deck below the open deck and shall be directly accessible by a stairway or ladder from the open deck.

Spaces which are located below deck or spaces where access from the open deck is not provided shall be fitted with a mechanical ventilation system designed to take exhaust air from the bottom of the space and shall be sized to provide at least 6 air changes per hour. Access doors shall open outwards and bulkheads and decks including doors and other means of closing any opening therein, which form boundaries between such rooms and adjacent enclosed spaces, shall be gastight. For the purpose of the application of tables 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2, in Part B of this Chapter, such storage rooms shall be treated as fire control stations.

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

.16 Where the volume of free air contained in air receivers in any space is such that, if released in such space in the event of fire, such release of air within that space would seriously affect the efficiency of the fixed fire-extinguishing system, an additional quantity of fire-extinguishing medium shall be provided.

.17 Suppliers of fixed fire-extinguishing installations shall provide a description of the installation, including a checklist for maintenance, in English and in the official language(s) of the flag State.

.18 The quantity of the fire-extinguishing medium shall be checked at least once a year by either an expert authorised by the Administration, the supplier of the installation or a recognised organisation.

.19 The periodic checking which is carried out by the ship’s chief engineer or organised by the ship’s management shall be entered in the ship’s logbook stating the scope and the time of such checking.

.20 Non-prescribed fire extinguishing equipment which is installed e.g. in store rooms shall, in its construction and dimensioning, comply with the provisions of this Regulation for the type of installation in question.

.21 All doors to spaces protected by CO₂ installation shall be marked “This space is protected by a CO₂ installation and shall be evacuated when the alarm equipment comes into operation”.

.2 Carbon dioxide systems (R 5.2)

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

.1.1 For cargo spaces the quantity of CO₂ available shall, unless otherwise provided, be sufficient to give a minimum volume of free gas equal to 30 % of the gross volume of the largest cargo space so protected in the ship.

If there is a connection through ventilation ducts between two or more cargo spaces, these shall be considered one space. In ships used for the carriage of vehicles, the necessary quantity of CO₂ shall be calculated as 45 % of the gross cubic content of the largest cargo space.

.1.2 For machinery spaces the quantity of carbon dioxide carried shall be sufficient to give a minimum volume of free gas equal to the larger of the following volumes, either:

.1

40 % of the gross volume of the largest machinery space so protected, the volume to exclude that part of the casing above the level at which the horizontal area of the casing is 40 % or less of the horizontal area of the space concerned taken midway between the tank top and the lowest part of the casing; or

.2

35 % of the gross volume of the largest machinery space protected, including the casing; provided that if two or more machinery spaces are not entirely separated they shall be considered as forming one space.

.2 For the purpose of this paragraph the volume of free carbon dioxide shall be calculated at 0,56 m³/kg.

.3 The fixed piping system shall be such that 85 % of the gas can be discharged into the space within 2 min.

.4 Release mechanism of carbon dioxide:

.1

Two separate controls shall be provided for releasing carbon dioxide into a protected space and to ensure the activities of the alarm. One control shall be used to discharge the gas from its storage containers. A second control shall be used for opening the valve of the piping which conveys the gas into the protected space.

.2

The two controls shall be located inside a release box clearly identified for the particular space. If the box containing the controls is to be locked, a key to the box shall be in a break-glass type enclosure conspicuously located adjacent to the box.

.5 The Administration of the flag State shall ensure that the spaces in which the CO₂ batteries are located will be properly arranged as regards their access, ventilation and communication equipment. It shall take the necessary safety measures regarding the construction, installation, marking, filling and testing of CO₂ cylinders, pipes and fittings, and for the control and alarm equipment for such installation.

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

.6 Carbon dioxide systems shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code.

.7 The Administration of the flag State shall ensure that the spaces in which the CO₂ batteries are located will be properly arranged as regards their access, ventilation and communication equipment. It shall take the necessary safety measures regarding the construction, installation, marking, filling and testing of CO₂, cylinders piping and fittings and for control and alarm equipment for such installation.

.3 Fixed low-expansion foam fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces (R 8)

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

.1 Where in any machinery space a fixed low-expansion foam fire-extinguishing system is fitted in addition to the requirements of Regulation 6, such system shall be capable of discharging through fixed discharge outlets in not more than five minutes a quantity of foam sufficient to cover to a depth of 150 mm the largest single area over which oil fuel is liable to spread. The system shall be capable of generating foam suitable for extinguishing oil fires. Means shall be provided for effective distribution of the foam through a permanent system of piping and control valves or cocks to suitable discharge outlets and for the foam to be effectively directed by fixed sprayers on other main fire hazards in the protected space. The expansion ratio of the foam shall not exceed 12 to 1.

.2 The means of control of any such systems shall be readily accessible and simple to operate and shall be grouped together in as few locations as possible at positions not likely to be cut off by a fire in the protected space.

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

.3 Fixed low-expansion foam fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code.

.4 Fixed high-expansion foam fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces (R 9)

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

.1 Any required fixed high-expansion foam system in machinery spaces shall be capable of rapidly discharging through fixed discharge outlets a quantity of foam sufficient to fill the greatest space to be protected at a rate of at least 1 metre in depth per minute. The quantity of foam-forming liquid available shall be sufficient to produce a volume of foam equal to five times the volume of the largest space to be protected. The expansion ratio of the foam shall not exceed 1 000 to 1.

.2 Supply ducts for delivering foam, air intakes to the foam generator and the number of foam-producing units shall be such as will provide effective foam production and distribution.

.3 The arrangement of the foam generator delivery ducting shall be such that a fire in the protected space will not affect the foam generating equipment.

.4 The foam generator, its sources of power supply, foam forming liquid and means of controlling the system shall be readily accessible and simple to operate and shall be grouped in as few locations as possible at positions not likely to be cut off by a fire in the protected space.

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

.5 Fixed high expansion foam fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code.

.5 Fixed pressure water-spraying fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces (R 10)

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

.1 Any required fixed pressure water-spraying fire-extinguishing system in machinery spaces shall be provided with spraying nozzles of an approved type.

.2 The number and arrangement of the nozzles shall be such as to ensure an effective average distribution of water of at least 5 litres/m² per minute in the spaces to be protected. Increased application rates may be considered if necessary for particular hazardous areas. Nozzles shall be fitted above bilges, tank tops and other areas over which oil fuel is liable to spread and also above other specific fire hazards in the machinery spaces.

.3 The system may be divided into sections, the distribution valves of which shall be operated from easily accessible positions outside the spaces to be protected and will not be readily cut off by a fire in the protected space.

.4 The system shall be kept charged at the necessary pressure and the pump supplying the water for the system shall be put automatically into action by a pressure drop in the system.

.5 The pump shall be capable of simultaneously supplying at the necessary pressure all sections of the system in any one compartment to be protected. The pump and its controls shall be installed outside the space or spaces to be protected. It shall not be possible for a fire in the space or spaces protected by the water-spraying system to put the system out of action.

.6 Precautions shall be taken to prevent the nozzles from becoming clogged by impurities in the water or corrosion of piping, nozzles, valves and pump.

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

.7 The pump may be driven by an independent internal combustion machinery but, if it is dependent upon power being supplied from the emergency generator fitted in compliance with the provisions of Part D of Chapter II-1, that generator shall be so arranged as to start automatically in case of main power failure so that power for the pump required by paragraph .5 is immediately available. When the pump is driven by independent internal combustion machinery it shall be so situated that a fire in the protected space will not affect the air supply to the machinery.

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

.8 Fixed pressure water-spraying fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code.