Regulation 17 - Alternative design and arrangements

 The purpose of this regulation is to provide a methodology for alternative design and arrangements for fire safety.

  2.1 Fire safety design and arrangements may deviate from the prescriptive requirements set out in parts B, C, D, E or G, provided that the design and arrangements meet the fire safety objectives and the functional requirements.

  2.2 When fire safety design or arrangements deviate from the prescriptive requirements of this chapter, engineering analysis, evaluation and approval of the alternative design and arrangements shall be carried out in accordance with this regulation.

 The engineering analysis shall be prepared and submitted to the Administration, based on the guidelines developed by the Organization,^footnote and shall include, as a minimum, the following elements:

• .1 determination of the ship type and space(s) concerned;

• .2 identification of prescriptive requirement(s) with which the ship or the space(s) will not comply;

• .3 identification of the fire and explosion hazards of the ship or the space(s) concerned, including;

• .3.1 identification of the possible ignition sources;

• .3.2 identification of the fire growth potential of each space concerned;

• .3.3 identification of the smoke and toxic effluent generation potential for each space concerned;

• .3.4 identification of the potential for the spread of fire, smoke or of toxic effluents from the space(s) concerned to other spaces;

• .4 determination of the required fire safety performance criteria for the ship or the space(s) concerned addressed by the prescriptive requirement(s) in particular:

• .4.1 performance criteria shall be based on the fire safety objectives and on the functional requirements of this chapter;

• .4.2 performance criteria shall provide a degree of safety not less than that achieved by using the prescriptive requirements; and

• .4.3 performance criteria shall be quantifiable and measurable;

• .5 detailed description of the alternative design and arrangements, including a list of the assumptions used in the design and any proposed operational restrictions or conditions; and

• .6 technical justification demonstrating that the alternative design and arrangements meet the required fire safety performance criteria.

  4.1 The engineering analysis required in paragraph 3 shall be evaluated and approved by the Administration taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization. ^footnote

  4.2 A copy of the documentation, as approved by the Administration, indicating that the alternative design and arrangements comply with this regulation shall be carried on board the ship.

 The Administration shall communicate to the Organization pertinent information concerning alternative design and arrangements approved by them for circulation to all contracting governments.

 If the assumptions, and operational restrictions that were stipulated in the alternative design and arrangements are changed, the engineering analysis shall be carried out under the changed condition and shall be approved by the Administration.