1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-seventh
session (2 to 6 December 1996), adopted resolutions MSC.57(67) and
MSC.61(67) respectively amending SOLAS chapter
II-2 and adopting the mandatory International Code for Application
of Fire Test Procedures (FTP Code). These resolutions
entered into force on 1 July 1998.
2 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-first
session (19 to 28 May 1999), approved Interpretations of the International
Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures (FTP Code) and fire test
procedures referred to in the Code (MSC/Circ.916).
The annex to this aforementioned circular provides the following interpretation
regarding paragraph 2.6.2 of Annex 1:
Part 2 of the FTP Code (smoke and toxicity test):
3 In light of discussions of the above smoke and
toxicity test requirements and methodologies, the Maritime Safety
Committee agreed at its seventy-fourth session (30 May to 8 June 2001)
that the gas concentration limit for sulphur dioxide (120 ppm) specified
in Annex 1: Part 2 of the FTP Code
may need to be reviewed and revised for floor coverings. The Committee
further agreed that an interim measure to address the problem of testing
the emissions of sulphur dioxide from floor coverings was needed.
However, the Committee noted that it would not be appropriate as an
interim solution, to amend the relevant requirements of the FTP Code.
Instead, it was agreed that the interpretation reproduced in paragraph
2 above should be replaced with the following:
4 Member Governments are invited to apply the
revised interpretation in paragraph 3 above, when testing floor coverings
on or after 8 June 2001.
5 Member Governments are also invited to bring
these revisions to the attention of all parties involved in the testing
and approval of floor coverings.