3 Fire Tests

  3.1.1 These tests are intended to evaluate the fire-extinguishing capabilities of individual nozzles and grids of nozzles used as local application fire-fighting systems on light diesel oil fuel spray fires.

  3.1.2 The tests also define the following design and installation criteria:

• .1 maximum spacing between nozzles;

• .2 minimum and maximum distance between the nozzles and the protected area;

• .3 the need for nozzles to be positioned outside of the protected area; and

• .4 minimum operating pressure.

  3.2.1 Test enclosure

  3.2.1.1 The test enclosure, if any, should be sufficiently large and provided with adequate natural or forced ventilation during the fire test to ensure that the oxygen concentration throughout the fire test remains above 20% (by volume) for 5 min after ignition at the locations specified in paragraph 4.2.2.

  3.2.1.2 The test enclosure, if any, should be at least 100 m² in area. The height of the test enclosure should be at least 5 m.

  3.2.2 Fire scenarios

  3.2.2.1 The fire scenarios should consist of nominal 1 and 6 MW spray fires. These fires should be produced using light diesel oil as the fuel as described in table 3.2.2.1 below.

  3.2.2.2 The fuel spray nozzles should be installed horizontally and directed toward the centre of the nozzle grid as shown in figure 3.3.2.

  3.2.2.3 The fuel spray nozzle should be located 1 m above the floor and at least 4 m away from the walls of the enclosure, if any.

  3.2.3 Installation requirements for tests

  3.2.3.1 The local application system should consist of uniformly spaced nozzles directed vertically downward or to the side, or installed at an inclined angle, if any, and tested in accordance with paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4.

  3.2.3.2 The system should consist of either a 2 x 2 or 3 x 3-nozzle grid in general.

  3.2.3.3 The nozzles should be installed at least 1 m below the ceiling of the enclosure.

  3.2.3.4 The maximum spacing of the nozzles should be in accordance with the manufacturer's system design and installation manual.

  3.2.3.5 Additional nozzles may be installed at the test in accordance with manufacturer's instruction. In this case, details for additional nozzles should be included in the test report and reflected in the individual ship's design.

  3.3.1 The fire-extinguishing capabilities of the system should be evaluated for the minimum and maximum separation distances (the distance between the nozzle grid and the fuel spray nozzle). These distances should be as defined in the manufacturer's system design and installation manual.

  3.3.2 Each separation distance should be evaluated against the two fire scenarios (1 and 6 MW spray fires). Tests should be conducted with the fuel spray nozzles horizontally positioned in the following locations:

• .1 under one nozzle in the centre of the grid;

• .2 between two nozzles in the centre of the grid;

• .3 between four nozzles;

• .4 under one nozzle at the edge of the grid (corner); and

• .5 between two nozzles at the edge of the grid.

 These fire locations are shown in figures 3.3.2, and 3.4.2.1 to 3.4.2.3 below.

  3.4.1 The local application fire-fighting system is required to extinguish the test fires within 5 min of the start of water discharge. The fuel oil spray and water spray are required to continue in operation after this, as specified in paragraph 4.3. If the fire re-ignites after this five-minute water discharge period the test is considered to be a failure.

  3.4.2 The results of the tests should be interpreted as follows:

• .1 Systems (utilizing a 3 x 3 nozzle grid) that extinguish fires referred to in paragraphs 3.3.2.1 to 3.3.2.3 are considered to have successfully completed the protocol with the condition that the outer nozzles should be installed outside of the protected area a distance of at least 1/4 of the maximum nozzle spacing as shown in figure 3.4.2.1.

 For this system, the outer nozzles should be installed outside of the protected area a distance of at least 1/4 of the maximum nozzle spacing.

• .2 Systems (utilizing either a 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 nozzle grid) that extinguish fires referred to in paragraphs 3.3.2.3 to 3.3.2.5 are considered to have successfully completed the protocol and can be designed with the outer nozzles located at the edge of the protected area as shown in figures 3.4.2.2 and 3.4.2.3. This does not prohibit the location of the nozzles outside of the protected area.

 For systems which utilize a 2 x 2 nozzle grid, the outer nozzles can be located either at the edge of the protected area or outside of the protected area.

 For systems which utilize a 3 x 3 nozzle grid, the outer nozzles can be located either at the edge of the protected area or outside the protected area.

• .3 The requirements stated in either paragraph 3.4.2.1 or 3.4.2.2 should be met for both the minimum and maximum separation distances as well as the minimum operating pressure.

• .4 For installations which may be adequately protected using individual nozzles or a single row of nozzles, the effective nozzle coverage (width and length) is defined as 1/2 the maximum nozzle spacing as shown in figures 3.4.2.4 to 3.4.2.6. Note: the fuel spray nozzle locations shown in figures 3.4.2.4 to 3.4.2.6 are shown for information only.

 For systems with a single row of nozzles that extinguishes fires referred to in paragraphs 3.3.2.3 to 3.3.2.5, the outer nozzles should be placed at least at the edge of the protected area.

 For systems with a single row of nozzles that extinguishes fires referred to in paragraphs 3.3.2.1 to 3.3.2.3, the outer nozzles should be placed outside the protected area a distance of at least 1/4 of the maximum nozzle spacing.

 For a single nozzle installation, the spacing should be as shown in figure 3.4.2.6.

• .5 For installations where the protected area is next to a bulkhead or similar vertical obstruction, the first row of nozzles should be located at 1/2 the maximum nozzle spacing away from the bulkhead for either of the conditions described in paragraph 3.4.2.1 or 3.4.2.2.