3.1 Principles
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.677 – Revised Standards for the Design, Testing and Locating of Devices to Prevent the Passage of Flame into Cargo Tanks in Tankers – (Adopted on 30 December 1994)1 Amended by MSC/Circ.1009 - Annex - Revised Standards for the Design, Testing and Locating of Devices to Prevent the Passage of Flame into Cargo Tanks in Tankers - 3 Type Test Procedures - 3.1 Principles

3.1 Principles

  3.1.1 Tests should be conducted by a laboratory acceptable to the Administration.

  3.1.2 Each size of each model should be submitted for type testing. However, for flame arresters testing may be limited to the smallest and the largest sizes and one additional size in between to be chosen by the Administration. Devices should have the same dimensions and most unfavourable clearances expected in the production model. If a test device is modified during the test programme, the testing should be started over again.

  3.1.3 Tests described in this section using gasoline vapours (a non-leaded petroleum distillate consisting essentially of aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds with a boiling range approximating 65°C/75°C), technical hexane vapours, or technical propane, as appropriate, and referred to in this section, are suitable for all devices protecting tanks containing a flammable atmosphere of the cargoes referred to in 1.2.1. This does not preclude the use of gasoline vapours or technical hexane vapours for all tests referred to in this section.

  3.1.4 After the relevant tests, the device should not show mechanical damage that affects its original performance.

  3.1.5 Before the tests the following equipment as appropriate should be properly calibrated:

  • .1 gas concentration meters;

  • .2 thermometers;

  • .3 flow meters;

  • .4 pressure meters; and

  • .5 time recording devices.

  3.1.6 The following characteristics should be recorded, as appropriate, throughout the tests:

  • .1 concentration of fuel in the gas mixture;

  • .2 temperature of the test gas mixture at inflow of the device; and

  • .3 flow rates of the test gas mixtures when applicable.

  3.1.7 Flame passage should be observed by recording, e.g., temperature, pressure, or light emission by suitable sensors on the protected side of the device; alternatively, flame passage may be recorded on video tape.

Parent topic: 3 Type Test Procedures
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.