The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Large Ships) Regulations 1998

Bulkheads within a main vertical zone

55.—(1) Every bulkhead within the accommodation spaces or service spaces not being a bulkhead required to consist of an “A” Class division, shall consist of a “B” Class division or “C” Class division as required in the case of—

(a) ships carrying more than 36 passengers, by the Tables set out in Schedule 1 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1667; and

(b) ships carrying 36 passengers or less, by the Tables set out in Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1667.

• All such divisions may be faced with combustible materials in accordance with regulation 62.

(2) Except in the case of ships constructed on or after 1st October 1994 carrying more than 36 passengers, all corridor bulkheads where not required to be “A” Class divisions shall be “B” Class divisions which shall extend from deck to deck except that—

(a) when continuous “B” Class ceilings and/or linings are fitted on both sides of the bulkhead, the portion of the bulkhead behind the continuous ceiling or lining shall be of material which in thickness and composition meets the requirements of “B” Class divisions, but which is required to meet “B” Class fire integrity standards only so far as is reasonable and practicable; and

(b) in the case of a ship protected by an automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm system complying with the provisions of Schedule 1 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666 the corridor bulkheads of “B” Class materials may terminate at a ceiling in the corridor, provided that such a ceiling is of material which in thickness and composition meets the requirements of “B” Class divisions; notwithstanding the requirements for fire integrity of bulkheads in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1667 such bulkheads and ceilings shall be required to meet “B” Class fire integrity standards only so far as is reasonable and practicable; all doors and their frames in such bulkheads shall be of non-combustible materials and shall be constructed and erected so as to provide substantial fire resistance.

(3) Except as provided in paragraph (2), every bulkhead required to be a “B” Class division shall extend from deck to deck and to the shell or other boundaries unless continuous “B” Class ceilings and/or linings fitted on both sides of the bulkhead are of at least the same fire resistance as the bulkhead in which case the bulkhead may terminate at the continuous ceiling or lining.