Chapter 11 — Fire Protection and Extinction
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Chapter 11 — Fire Protection and Extinction

Goal

To ensure that suitable systems are provided to protect the ship and crew from fire in the cargo area.

11.1 Fire safety requirements

  11.1.1 The requirements for tankers in SOLAS chapter II-2 shall apply to ships covered by the Code, irrespective of tonnage including ships of less than 500 gross tonnage, except that:

  • .1 regulations 4.5.1.6 and 4.5.10 do not apply;

  • .2 regulations 10.4 and 10.5 shall apply as they would apply to tankers of 2,000 gross tonnage and over;

  • .3 regulation 10.5.6 shall apply to ships of 2,000 gross tonnage and over;

  • .4 the following regulations of SOLAS chapter II-2 related to tankers do not apply and are replaced by chapters and sections of the Code as detailed below:

    • Regulation: Replaced by:
      10.10 11.6
      4.5.1.1 and 4.5.1.2 Chapter 3
      4.5.5 Relevant sections in the Code
      10.8 11.3 and 11.4
      10.9 11.5
      10.2 11.2.1 to 11.2.4;
  • .5 regulations 13.3.4 and 13.4.3 shall apply to ships of 500 gross tonnage and over.

11.1.2 All sources of ignition shall be excluded from spaces where flammable vapour may be present, except as otherwise provided in chapters 10 and 16.

11.1.3 The provisions of this section shall apply in conjunction with chapter 3.

11.1.4 For the purposes of firefighting, any weather deck areas above cofferdams, ballast or void spaces at the after end of the aftermost hold space or at the forward end of the forwardmost hold space shall be included in the cargo area.

11.2 Fire mains and hydrants

11.2.1 Irrespective of size, ships carrying products that are subject to the Code shall comply with the requirements of regulation II-2/10.2 of the SOLAS Convention, as applicable to cargo ships, except that the required fire pump capacity and fire main and water service pipe diameter shall not be limited by the provisions of regulations II-2/10.2.2.4.1 and II-2/10.2.1.3, when a fire pump is used to supply the water-spray system, as permitted by 11.3.3 of the Code. The capacity of this fire pump shall be such that these areas can be protected when simultaneously supplying two jets of water from fire hoses with 19 mm nozzles at a pressure of at least 0.5 MPa.

11.2.2 The arrangements shall be such that at least two jets of water can reach any part of the deck in the cargo area and those portions of the cargo containment system and tank covers that are above the deck. The necessary number of fire hydrants shall be located to satisfy the above arrangements and to comply with the requirements of regulations II-2/10.2.1.5.1 and II-2/10.2.3.3 of the SOLAS Convention, with hose lengths as specified in regulation II-2/10.2.3.1.1. In addition, the requirements of regulation II-2/10.2.1.6 shall be met at a pressure of at least 0.5 MPa gauge.

11.2.3 Stop valves shall be fitted in any crossover provided and in the fire main or mains in a protected location, before entering the cargo area and at intervals ensuring isolation of any damaged single section of the fire main, so that 11.2.2 can be complied with using not more than two lengths of hoses from the nearest fire hydrant. The water supply to the fire main serving the cargo area shall be a ring main supplied by the main fire pumps or a single main supplied by fire pumps positioned fore and aft of the cargo area, one of which shall be independently driven.

11.2.4 Nozzles shall be of an approved dual-purpose type (i.e. spray/jet type) incorporating a shutoff.

11.2.5 After installation, the pipes, valves, fittings and assembled system shall be subject to a tightness and function test.

11.3 Water-spray system

11.3.1 On ships carrying flammable and/or toxic products, a water-spray system, for cooling, fire prevention and crew protection shall be installed to cover:

  • .1 exposed cargo tank domes, any exposed parts of cargo tanks and any part of cargo tank covers that may be exposed to heat from fires in adjacent equipment containing cargo such as exposed booster pumps/heaters/re-gasification or re-liquefaction plants, hereafter addressed as gas process units, positioned on weather decks;

  • .2 exposed on-deck storage vessels for flammable or toxic products;

  • .3 gas process units positioned on deck;

  • .4 cargo liquid and vapour discharge and loading connections, including the presentation flange and the area where their control valves are situated, which shall be at least equal to the area of the drip trays provided;

  • .5 all exposed emergency shut-down (ESD) valves in the cargo liquid and vapour pipes, including the master valve for supply to gas consumers;

  • .6 exposed boundaries facing the cargo area, such as bulkheads of superstructures and deckhouses normally manned, cargo machinery spaces, store-rooms containing high fire-risk items and cargo control rooms. Exposed horizontal boundaries of these areas do not require protection unless detachable cargo piping connections are arranged above or below. Boundaries of unmanned forecastle structures not containing high fire-risk items or equipment do not require water-spray protection;

  • .7 exposed lifeboats, liferafts and muster stations facing the cargo area, regardless of distance to cargo area; and

  • .8 any semi-enclosed cargo machinery spaces and semi-enclosed cargo motor room.

Ships intended for operation as listed in 1.1.10 shall be subject to special consideration (see 11.3.3.2).

11.3.2.1 The system shall be capable of covering all areas mentioned in 11.3.1.1 to 11.3.1.8, with a uniformly distributed water application rate of at least 10 ℓ/m2/min for the largest projected horizontal surfaces and 4 ℓ/m2/min for vertical surfaces. For structures having no clearly defined horizontal or vertical surface, the capacity of the water-spray system shall not be less than the projected horizontal surface multiplied by 10 ℓ/m2/min.

11.3.2.2 On vertical surfaces, spacing of nozzles protecting lower areas may take account of anticipated rundown from higher areas. Stop valves shall be fitted in the main supply line(s) in the water-spray system, at intervals not exceeding 40 m, for the purpose of isolating damaged sections. Alternatively, the system may be divided into two or more sections that may be operated independently, provided the necessary controls are located together in a readily accessible position outside the cargo area. A section protecting any area included in 11.3.1.1 and .2 shall cover at least the entire athwartship tank grouping in that area. Any gas process unit(s) included in 11.3.1.3 may be served by an independent section.

11.3.3 The capacity of the water-spray pumps shall be capable of simultaneous protection of the greater of the following:

  • .1 any two complete athwartship tank groupings, including any gas process units within these areas; or

  • .2 for ships intended for operation as listed in 1.1.10, necessary protection subject to special consideration under 11.3.1 of any added fire hazard and the adjacent athwartship tank grouping,

in addition to surfaces specified in 11.3.1.4 to 11.3.1.8. Alternatively, the main fire pumps may be used for this service, provided that their total capacity is increased by the amount needed for the water-spray system. In either case, a connection, through a stop valve, shall be made between the fire main and water-spray system main supply line outside the cargo area.

11.3.4 The boundaries of superstructures and deckhouses normally manned, and lifeboats, liferafts and muster areas facing the cargo area, shall also be capable of being served by one of the fire pumps or the emergency fire pump, if a fire in one compartment could disable both fire pumps.

11.3.5 Water pumps normally used for other services may be arranged to supply the water-spray system main supply line.

11.3.6 All pipes, valves, nozzles and other fittings in the water-spray system shall be resistant to corrosion by seawater. Piping, fittings and related components within the cargo area (except gaskets) shall be designed to withstand 925°C. The water-spray system shall be arranged with in-line filters to prevent blockage of pipes and nozzles. In addition, means shall be provided to back-flush the system with fresh water.

  11.3.7 Remote starting of pumps supplying the water-spray system and remote operation of any normally closed valves in the system shall be arranged in suitable locations outside the cargo area, adjacent to the accommodation spaces and readily accessible and operable in the event of fire in the protected areas.

11.3.8 After installation, the pipes, valves, fittings and assembled system shall be subject to a tightness and function test.

11.4 Dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems

11.4.1 Ships in which the carriage of flammable products is intended shall be fitted with fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems, approved by the Administration based on the guidelines developed by the Organizationfootnote, for the purpose of firefighting on the deck in the cargo area, including any cargo liquid and vapour discharge and loading connections on deck and bow or stern cargo handling areas, as applicable.

11.4.2 The system shall be capable of delivering powder from at least two hand hose lines, or a combination of monitor/hand hose lines, to any part of the exposed cargo liquid and vapour piping, load/unload connection and exposed gas process units.

11.4.3 The dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing system shall be designed with not less than two independent units. Any part required to be protected by 11.4.2 shall be capable of being reached from not less than two independent units with associated controls, pressurizing medium fixed piping, monitors or hand hose lines. For ships with a cargo capacity of less than 1,000 m3, only one such unit need be fitted. A monitor shall be arranged to protect any load/unload connection area and be capable of actuation and discharge both locally and remotely. The monitor is not required to be remotely aimed, if it can deliver the necessary powder to all required areas of coverage from a single position. One hose line shall be provided at both port- and starboard side at the end of the cargo area facing the accommodation and readily available from the accommodation.

11.4.4 The capacity of a monitor shall be not less than 10 kg/s. Hand hose lines shall be non-kinkable and be fitted with a nozzle capable of on/off operation and discharge at a rate not less than 3.5 kg/s. The maximum discharge rate shall allow operation by one man. The length of a hand hose line shall not exceed 33 m. Where fixed piping is provided between the powder container and a hand hose line or monitor, the length of piping shall not exceed that length which is capable of maintaining the powder in a fluidized state during sustained or intermittent use, and which can be purged of powder when the system is shut down. Hand hose lines and nozzles shall be of weather-resistant construction or stored in weather resistant housing or covers and be readily accessible.

11.4.5 Hand hose lines shall be considered to have a maximum effective distance of coverage equal to the length of hose. Special consideration shall be given where areas to be protected are substantially higher than the monitor or hand hose reel locations.

11.4.6 Ships fitted with bow/stern load/unload connections shall be provided with independent dry powder unit protecting the cargo liquid and vapour piping, aft or forward of the cargo area, by hose lines and a monitor covering the bow/stern load/unload complying with the requirements of 11.4.1 to 11.4.5.

11.4.7 Ships intended for operation as listed in 1.1.10 shall be subject to special consideration.

11.4.8 After installation, the pipes, valves, fittings and assembled systems shall be subjected to a tightness test and functional testing of the remote and local release stations. The initial testing shall also include a discharge of sufficient amounts of dry chemical powder to verify that the system is in proper working order. All distribution piping shall be blown through with dry air to ensure that the piping is free of obstructions.

11.5 Enclosed spaces containing cargo handling equipment

11.5.1 Enclosed spaces meeting the criteria of cargo machinery spaces in 1.2.10, and the cargo motor room within the cargo area of any ship, shall be provided with a fixed fire-extinguishing system complying with the provisions of the FSS Code and taking into account the necessary concentrations/application rate required for extinguishing gas fires.

11.5.2 Enclosed spaces meeting the criteria of cargo machinery spaces in chapter 3.3, within the cargo area of ships that are dedicated to the carriage of a restricted number of cargoes, shall be protected by an appropriate fire-extinguishing system for the cargo carried.

11.5.3 Turret compartments of any ship shall be protected by internal water spray, with an application rate of not less than 10 ℓ/m2/min of the largest projected horizontal surface. If the pressure of the gas flow through the turret exceeds 4 MPa, the application rate shall be increased to 20 ℓ/m2/min. The system shall be designed to protect all internal surfaces.

11.6 Firefighter's outfits

11.6.1 Every ship carrying flammable products shall carry firefighter's outfits complying with the requirements of regulation II-2/10.10 of the SOLAS Convention, as follows:

  • Total cargo capacity Number of outfits
    5,000 m3 and below 4
    Above 5,000 m3 5

11.6.2 Additional requirements for safety equipment are given in chapter 14.

11.6.3 Any breathing apparatus required as part of a firefighter's outfit shall be a self-contained compressed air-operated breathing apparatus having a capacity of at least 1,200 ℓ of free air.


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