3 Principal Requirements

  3.1 The system may be automatically activated, manually activated or automatically activated with manual release capabilities. Automatic activation should be approved by the Administration, taking into account the implications of such activations.

  3.2 The system should be capable of fire suppression and control and be tested to the satisfaction of the Administration in accordance with the appendix to these Guidelines.

  3.3 The capacity of the system water supply should be sufficient for the total simultaneous coverage of the hydraulically most demanding area defined by the minimum coverage area of table 3-1 and the vertically applicable area as defined in paragraph 3.5, and the requirements of paragraph 3.4 below.

  3.4 The section arrangement for a deluge system with automatic and manual release (system B) should be such that a fire in any location of the border zone between two or more sections would be completely surrounded by activated spray heads, either by activating more than one section or by overlapping sections (whereby two or more sections cover the same area in the vicinity of the border between sections). In case of overlapping sections, such overlap should be a minimum of two times the required spray head spacing of the section in question or five metres, whichever is larger. These overlapping sections need not comply with the minimum width and length requirements of paragraph 3.6 below.

  3.5 Vertically the applicable area of all decks, including hoistable decks or other intermediate decks, between reasonably gas-tight steel decks (or equivalent materials), should be included for simultaneous coverage (example: with one hoistable deck, both the layer above and below this deck with a dimensioning area complying with table 3-1 should be included in the water supply calculations). Decks with ramps are accepted as reasonably gas-tight decks, assuming that the ramps are always in their closed position at sea and the ramps and the decks which these ramps are part of are reasonably gas-tight.

  3.6 The system should be divided into sections, each with its own section valve. The length of a section (along the lanes) should not be less than 20 m and the width of the section should not be less than 14 m. Further, the sections need not be longer or wider than the distance between reasonably gas-tight steel bulkheads (or equivalent materials). The maximum size of a section on any single deck should be 48 m multiplied with width of cargo space (measured as distance between tight steel divisions). Vertically one section can cover up to three decks.

  3.7 Each section should be capable of being isolated by one section control valve. The section control valves should be located outside the protected space, be readily accessible, independent of the protected spaces and their locations should be clearly and permanently indicated. It should be possible to manually open and close the section control valves either directly on the valve or via a control system routed outside the structural fire protection of the protected spaces. Means should be provided to prevent the operation of the section control valves by an unauthorized person.

  3.8 The piping system should be sized in accordance with a hydraulic calculation technique such as the Hazen-Williams hydraulic calculation technique^footnote and the Darcy-Weisbach hydraulic calculation technique, to ensure availability of flows and pressures required for correct performance of the system. The design of the system should ensure that full system pressure is available at the most remote nozzle in each section within 60 s of activation.

  3.9 The system supply equipment should be located outside the protected spaces and all power supply components (including cables) should be installed outside of the protected space. The electrical components of the pressure source for the system should have a minimum rating of IP 54.

  3.10 The system should be provided with a redundant means of pumping or otherwise supplying a water-based extinguishing medium to the system. The capacity of the redundant means should be sufficient to compensate for the loss of any single supply pump or alternative source. Failure of any one component in the power and control system should not result in a reduction of the automatic release capability or reduction of required pump capacity by more than 50% in case of automatic sprinklers and 100% in case of open head systems. However, systems requiring an external power source need only be supplied by the main power source. Hydraulic calculations should be conducted to assure that sufficient flow and pressure are delivered to the hydraulically most demanding section both in normal operation and in the event of the failure of any one component.

  3.11 The system should be fitted with a permanent sea inlet and be capable of continuous operation during a fire using seawater.

  3.12 The system and its components should be designed to withstand ambient temperatures, vibration, humidity, shock, impact, clogging and corrosion normally encountered.

  3.13 The system and its components should be designed and installed based on international standards acceptable to the Organization^footnote. The nozzles should be manufactured and tested based on the relevant sections of appendix A to MSC/Circ.1165.

  3.14 The nozzle location, type of nozzle and nozzle characteristics should be within the limits tested to provide fire suppression and control as referred to in paragraph 3.2. In addition, nozzles should be located to protect spaces above and below intermediate decks, hoistable decks and ramps. Nozzles below hoistable decks should be capable of protecting all applicable heights.

  3.15 System designs should be limited to the use of the maximum and minimum temperature ratings of the thermally sensitive fire detection devices tested to provide fire suppression and control as referred to in paragraph 3.2.

  3.16 Activation of the system should give a visual and audible alarm at a continuously manned station. The visual and audible alarms should be activated when for instance an automatic sprinkler operates or when a section valve is opened. The alarm in the continuously manned station should indicate the specific section of the system that is activated. The system alarm requirements described within this paragraph are in addition to, and not a substitute for, the detection and fire alarm system required by SOLAS regulation II-2/20.4.

  3.17 A means for testing the automatic operation of the system and, in addition, assuring the required pressure and flow should be provided.

  3.18 If the system is pre-primed with water containing a fire suppression enhancing additive and/or an antifreeze agent, periodic inspection and testing, as specified by the manufacturer, should be undertaken to assure that their effectiveness is being maintained. Fire suppression enhancing additives should be approved for fire protection service by an independent authority. The approval should consider possible adverse health effects to exposed personnel, including inhalation toxicity.

  3.19 Wet pipe systems on board vessels that can operate in areas where temperatures below 0^oC can be expected, shall be protected from freezing either by having temperature control of the ro-ro space, heating coils on pipes, antifreeze agents or other equivalent measures.

  3.20 Operating instructions for the system should be displayed at each operating position.

  3.21 Installation plans and operating manuals should be supplied to the ship and be readily available on board. A list or plan should be displayed showing spaces covered and the location of the zone in respect of each section. Instructions for testing and maintenance should be available on board.

  3.22 Spare parts and operating and maintenance instructions should be provided as recommended by the manufacturer. In the case of automatic sprinkler systems, the total number of spare sprinkler heads for each type of sprinklers should be 6 for the first 300, 12 for the first 1,000.

  3.23 Where automatically operated fire-fighting systems are installed, a warning notice should be displayed outside each entry point stating the type of medium used and the possibility of automatic release.

  3.24 All installation, operation and maintenance instruction/plans for the system should be in the working language of the ship. If the working language of the ship is not English, French, nor Spanish, a translation into one of these languages should be included.