15 Fire Appliances

 15.1 General

15.1.1 A vessel should be provided with efficient fire fighting equipment in accordance with this section. All portable fire extinguishers are to be serviced, by a competent person in accordance with the servicing intervals in Table 1 of MGN 276 (M+F)^footnote. All other fire appliances are to be maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ requirements.

15.1.2 Except where there is a risk of an electrical fire, portable carbon dioxide fire extinguishers should not be located or provided for use in accommodation spaces where the user or occupants may be affected by their use or leakage. Safety considerations should be given to the volume of carbon dioxide that could be released.

15.1.3 Where dangerous goods are carried or transfer of cargoes is undertaken in accordance with Chapter 29, refer to 29.6.2.

15.2 Vessels Less Than 6 Metres in Length Operating in Area Cat 6

15.2.1 In a vessel of less than 6 metres in length, which is not fitted, or is only partially fitted, with a watertight weather deck, and with no cooking appliances, a single extinguisher capable of discharging into the machinery space is to be fitted. The extinguisher should be suitably sized for the machinery space, but be a minimum of 34B.

15.3 Open Vessels, Inflatable Boats and Boats with a Buoyant Collar up to 8 Metres in Length Not Fitted with a Substantial Enclosure.

15.3.1 An open vessel, inflatable boat or boat with a buoyant collar, up to 8 metres in length, not fitted with a substantial enclosure, with no cooking appliances, should be fitted with a minimum of two fire extinguishers, each with a minimum rating of 5A/34B.

15.4 Vessels Less than 15 Metres in Length, and Carrying 15 or Fewer Persons, Not Covered by Sections 15.2 or 15.3

15.4.1 Vessels less than 15 metres in length, and carrying 15 or fewer persons, not covered by sections 15.2 or 15.3 should be fitted with;

• .1 a power driven self-priming fire pump(s)*, in a suitable arrangement which ensure that the fire main pressure and fire main availability can be maintained following the loss of an individual machinery space. It should be fitted with sea and hose connections, capable of delivering one jet of water to any part of the ship through hose and nozzle, and one fire hose of adequate length with a 10mm nozzle and a suitable spray nozzle. Fitment of a power driven pump is considered current best practice.

• .2 In lieu of 15.4.1.1 one hand fire pump (outside machinery space under consideration)* may be fitted, with sea and hose connections, capable of delivering one jet of water to any part of the ship through hose and nozzle, and one fire hose of adequate length, with a 10mm nozzle, and a suitable spray nozzle; or

• .3 where the machinery space is less than 120kW installed power and the engine is powered by diesel, one multi-purpose fire extinguisher sized appropriately and to a recognised standard, see Appendix 13, may be fitted adjacent to the main entrance to each machinery space and for those vessels with an engine casing arrangement they should be arranged to discharge into the machinery space(s) through a fire port, with a minimum fire rating of 13A/113B, or a number of smaller extinguishers, giving the equivalent fire rating, in addition to that required in 15.4.2 below;

15.4.2 Not less than one multi-purpose fire extinguisher to a recognised standard, see Appendix 13, with a minimum fire rating of 5A/34B, provided at each exit from accommodation spaces to the open deck. In no case should there be less than two such extinguishers provided.

15.4.3 At least two fire buckets with lanyards long enough to reach the sea from the weather deck. Buckets may be of metal, plastic or canvas and should be suitable for their intended service.

15.4.4 One fire blanket of a recognised standard, see Appendix 13, in the galley or cooking area, where a fire risk can be identified. 15.5 Vessels of 15 Metres or More in Length, or Carrying 16 or More Persons

15.5.1 Vessels of 15 metres or more in length, or carrying 16 or more persons should be fitted with;

Note: * This may be one of the pumps required by Section 10 (Bilge Pumping), where two power pumps are fitted, when fitted with a suitable change over arrangement which is readily accessible. Such arrangement should not compromise the ability to remove accumulated fire extinguishing water from any space that could be detrimental to the vessel's stability or essential services, nor allow contaminated bilge water to be accidentally applied to a fire via the fire main. Where a dedicated power driven fire pump is fitted the fire main pressure and fire main availability must be maintained following the loss of an individual machinery space.

15.5.2 Not less than two multi-purpose fire extinguishers to a recognised standard, see Appendix 13, with a minimum fire rating of 13A/113B.

15.5.3 One fire blanket of a recognised standard, see Appendix 13, in galley or cooking area, where a fire risk is identified.

15.6.1 Provision for Fire Extinguishing in Machinery Spaces

15.6.1.1 Fire extinguishing, suitable for the volume of the machinery space, should be provided for vessels fitted with inboard engines. A person should not be required to enter the machinery space in order to extinguish a fire.

15.6.2 Portable Fire Extinguishers

15.6.2.1 The means of compliance with 15.6.1 may consist of a portable extinguisher suitably sized for the space being protected and arranged to discharge into that space. An additional extinguisher or one of the multi-purpose fire extinguishers required in 15.2, 15.3, 15.4 or 15.5, can also be the extinguisher required for discharge into the engine space, providing it is a suitable type (B), and suitably sized and stowed in a location appropriate to its dual use.

15.6.3 Fixed Fire Extinguishing Systems

15.6.3.1 When a fixed fire extinguishing system, which is not a portable extinguisher described in 15.6.2.1, is installed in a machinery space, it should be an MCA, or equivalent, approved type appropriate to the space to be protected, and be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.

15.6.3.2 The requirements for fixed fire extinguishing installations are detailed in the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection – Small Ships) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No. 1011), as amended, and the “Fire Protection Arrangements” of the MCA Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors”^footnote, as amended. Further requirements for the installation of fixed fire fighting systems can be found in MSN 1666 (M)^footnote, as amended^footnote.

15.6.3.3 Fixed installations in machinery spaces covered by the references are;

• .1 medium expansion foam;
• .2 high expansion foam;
• .3 carbon dioxide^footnote;
• .4 pressure water spraying;
• .5 vaporising fluids (hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs); and
• .6 aerosols (solid pyrotechnic type).

15.7 Informative Notes

15.7.1 Multi-purpose fire extinguishers have a capability to deal with both Category A fires involving solid materials, and Category B fires involving liquids or liquefiable solids, and may be marked with the multipurpose rating, e.g. 13A/113B in section 15.4.1 above; and 5A/34B in section 15.4.2 above.

15.7.2 BS EN 3 is the MCA accepted national standard for- portable fire extinguishers.

15.7.3 BS EN 3 allows a zone of colour of up to 5% of the external area of the extinguisher body to be used to identify the extinguishing agent. Manufacturers have complied with this by printing the operating instructions in the appropriate extinguishing agent colour.

15.7.4 Manufacturers producing extinguishers certified and marked to BS EN 3 cannot revert to the colour schemes contained in the withdrawn BS 5423:1987. Owners of vessels must not overpaint red BS EN 3 extinguishers to the “old” colours.

15.7.5 EC Regulation 1059/2009, as amended, on ozone depleting substances prohibits the sale and use of Halons, including material that has been recovered or recycled. Therefore, no fire fighting equipment containing Halons must be placed on board any vessel. Marine Guidance Note MGN 191 (M+F) – “Use of Halon for Fire Extinguishing on Board Ships”, provides further information.