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Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.668 – Alternative Arrangements For Halon Fire-extinguishing Systems In Machinery Spaces And Pump-rooms – (Adopted on 22 December 1994)Amended by MSC/Circular.728 - Annex - Guidelines for the Approval of Equivalent Water-Based Fire-extinguishing Systems as Referred to in SOLAS 74 for Machinery Spaces and Cargo Pump-rooms - Appendix B - Interim Test Method for Fire Testing Equivalent Water-Based Fire-Extinguishing Systems for Machinery Spaces of Category A and Cargo Pump-Rooms - 1 Scope

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 This test method is intended for evaluating the extinguishing effectiveness of water-based total flooding protect the volume fire-extinguishing systems for engine-room and possible fire scenarios the engine types are divided into different classes according to table 1.

Table 1 Classification of Category A Engine-Room

Class Typical engine facts Typical net volume Typical oil flow and pressure in fuel and lubrication system
1 Auxiliary engine-room, small main machinery or purifier room, etc. 500 m³ Fuel:
Low pressure 0.15–0.20 kg/s 3–6 bar
High pressure 0.02 kg/s 200–300 bar
Lubrication oil: 3–5 bar
Hydraulic oil: 150 bar
2 Main diesel machinery in medium-sized ships such as ferries 3,000 m³ Fuel:
Low pressure 0.4–0.6 kg/s at 3–8 bar
High pressure 0.030 kg/s at 250 bar
Lubrication oil: 3–5 bar
Hydraulic oil: 150 bar
3 Main diesel machinery in large ships such as oil tankers and container ships > 3,000 m³ Fuel:
Low pressure 0.7–1.0 kg/s at 3–8 bar
High pressure 0.20 kg/s
Lubrication oil: 3–5 bar
Hydraulic oil: 150 bar

 The test method covers the minimum fire-extinguishing requirement and prevention against reignition for fires in engine-rooms.

 It was developed for systems using ceiling mounted nozzles for class 1 and class 2 engine-rooms and multiple level nozzles for class 3 engine-rooms, that may be utilized in conjunction with a separate bilge area protection system. In the tests, the use of additional nozzles to protect specific hazards by direct application is not permitted. However, if referenced in the manufacturer's design and installation instructions, additional nozzles may be installed along the perimeter of the compartment to screen openings.

Parent topic: Appendix B - Interim Test Method for Fire Testing Equivalent Water-Based Fire-Extinguishing Systems for Machinery Spaces of Category A and Cargo Pump-Rooms
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