Regulation 5 - Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems

 The pipelines may pass through accommodation providing that they are of substantial thickness and that their tightness is verified with a pressure test, after their installation, at a pressure head not less than 5 N/mm². In addition, pipelines passing through accommodation areas should be joined only by welding and should not be fitted with drains or other openings within such spaces. The pipelines should not pass through refrigerated spaces.

 Openings which may admit air to, or allow gas to escape from, a protected space should be capable of being closed from outside the protected space.

 The volume of starting air receivers, converted to free air volume, should be added to the gross volume of the machinery space when calculating the necessary quantity of extinguishing medium. Alternatively, a discharge pipe from the safety valves may be fitted and led directly to the open air.

• 1 Ro-ro cargo spaces and other spaces where personnel can be expected to enter and where the access is therefore facilitated by doors or manway hatches should be provided with an automatic warning of release of the extinguishing medium. However, ordinary or conventional cargo spaces and small spaces (such as compressor rooms, paint lockers, lamp stores, etc.) with a local release only need not be provided with such an automatic warning.

• 2 Advance period of time of alarm sounding: the alarm should sound for the period of time necessary to evacuate the space, but not less than 20 s.

• 3 The pre-discharge alarm should be automatically activated, e.g. by opening of the release cabinet door.

• 4 Reference is made to the Code on Alarms and Indicators (AI Code), 1995 (resolution A.830(19)).

 Two spaces can be considered as separated spaces when fire divisions as required by regulations II-2/26, 27, 44 and 58, as appropriate, or divisions of steel are provided between them.

• 1 Means for checking the quantity of medium in containers should be so arranged that it is not necessary to move the containers completely from their fixing position. This is achieved, for instance, by providing hanging bars above each bottle row for a weighing device or by using suitable surface indicators.

• 2 Surface indicators containing radioactive material should be of a type accepted by the Administration.

• 1 Spaces for storage of cylinders or tanks for extinguishing gas should not be used for other purposes. These spaces should not be located in front of the forward collision bulkhead. Access to these spaces should be possible from the open deck. Spaces situated below the deck should be directly accessible by a stairway or ladder from the open deck. The space should be located no more than one deck below the open deck.

• 2 Spaces where entrance from the open deck is not provided or which are located below deck are to be fitted with mechanical ventilation. The exhaust duct (suction) should be lead to the bottom of the space. Such spaces should be ventilated with at least 6 air changes per hour.