Section 6 Fire and explosion safety
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships, July 2022 - Part 5 Main and Auxiliary Machinery - Chapter 26 Fuel Cell Power Installations - Section 6 Fire and explosion safety

Section 6 Fire and explosion safety

Parent topic: Chapter 26 Fuel Cell Power Installations

6.1 Fire protection

6.1.1 The fuel cell space shall be regarded as a machinery space of category A according to SOLAS Chapter II-2 for fire protection purposes.

6.1.2 A fuel cell space shall be bounded by A-60 class divisions. Where this is deemed to be impracticable, LR and the Administration may approve alternative boundary designs that provide for an equivalent level of safety.

6.1.3 The fire-extinguishing system is to be suitable for use with the specific fuel and fuel cell technology. LR and the Administration may allow any alternative fire safety measures if the equivalence of the measure is demonstrated by a risk assessment considering the characteristics of fuels for use.

6.1.4 Where any part of the fuel cell power system is intended to operate with a continuous leakage of hydrogen rich gas, the fire and safety provisions are to be derived from the engineering and safety justification, as identified in Pt 5, Ch 26, 2.1 Risk assessment 2.1.7.

6.2 Explosion prevention and protection

6.2.1 Fuel cell spaces separated by a single bulkhead shall have sufficient strength to withstand the effects of a local gas explosion in either space, without affecting the integrity of the adjacent space and equipment within that space.

6.2.2 Failures leading to dangerous overpressure, e.g. gas pipe ruptures or blow out of gaskets, shall be mitigated by suitable explosion pressure relief devices and ESD arrangements.

6.2.3 The probability of a gas accumulation and explosion in fuel cell spaces shall be minimised by one or more of the following strategies:
  1. purging the fuel cell power system before initiating the reaction;
  2. purging the system as necessary after shutdown;
  3. providing failure monitoring in the fuel cell fuel containment systems;
  4. monitoring potential contamination of air into fuel cell fuel lines, or of fuel cell fuel into air pipes;
  5. monitoring pressures and temperatures;
  6. implementing a pre-programmed sequence to contain or manage the propagation of the reaction to other sections of the fuel cell system or to the surrounding space; and
  7. any other strategy proposed by the manufacturer to the satisfaction of LR.

6.3 Fire detection

6.3.1 A fixed fire detection and fire alarm system complying with the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) shall be provided.

6.3.2 A fire detection and alarm system, satisfying the requirements of Pt 6, Ch 1, 2.8 Fire detection and fire alarm systems is to be fitted in all spaces containing potential sources of flammable fuel leakage and ignition.

6.3.3 The type and arrangement of the fire detection system shall be selected with due consideration of the reformed fuels and combustible gases which may be present in fuel cell power installations.

6.3.4 Fuel cell spaces shall be fitted with suitable fire detectors (note: for the selection of suitable fire detectors, ISO/TR 15916 Basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems can be taken into account). Smoke detectors alone are not considered sufficient for rapid detection of a fire when gaseous fuels are used. For the selection of suitable fire detectors, ISO/TR 15916 Basic considerations for the safety of hydrogen systems can be taken into account.

6.3.5 Fire detection within the fuel cell space should initiate automatic shutdown and isolation of the fuel supply.

6.3.6 Fire detection is to be arranged such that the activation of any fire detectors in, or adjacent to, hazardous areas or spaces containing gaseous, cryogenic liquid, toxic, corrosive or liquid fuels with a flash point below 60°C will automatically shut down any part of the fuel cell power system within or adjacent to such spaces.

6.4 Fire extinguishing

6.4.1 A fixed fire-extinguishing system shall be required for fuel cell spaces.

6.4.2 The fire-extinguishing system shall be suitable for use with the specific primary and reformed fuel and fuel cell technology proposed.

6.4.3 Fixed fire-extinguishing systems shall be selected having due regard to the fire growth potential of the protected spaces and are to be readily available.

6.5 Fire dampers

6.5.1 Air inlet and outlet openings shall be provided with fail safe automatic closing fire dampers which shall be operable from outside the fuel cell space.

6.5.2 Before actuation of the fire-extinguishing system the fire dampers shall be closed.

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