To ensure that suitable systems are provided to protect the vessel and crew from fire in
the cargo area.
9.1 Application
9.1.1 For the carriage of liquids covered by the present Code, the requirements for
tankers in chapter II-2 of SOLAS should apply to vessels covered by the
present Code, irrespective of tonnage, including vessels of less than 500 GT, except
that:
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.1 regulations 10.8 (cargo tank protection) and 10.9 (protection of cargo
pump-rooms in tankers) should not be applied;
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.2 the provisions of 9.3 of the present Code should be applied in lieu of
regulation 10.8 (cargo tank protection);
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.3 the provisions of 9.2 of the present Code should be applied in lieu of
regulation 10.9 (protection of cargo pump-rooms in tankers);
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.4 regulation 4.5.1.1 (positioning of machinery spaces aft of cargo tanks, slop
tanks, cargo pump-rooms and cofferdams), regulation 4.5.1.2 (requirements for
location of the main cargo control station), regulations 4.5.1.4 (combination
carriers) and 4.5.2.1 (access to accommodations and boundary bulkheads) to 4.5.2.3
(windows facing cargo area) need not be applied;
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.5 with regard to regulation 9.2.4.1, the Administration may permit use of a
method other than IC as defined in regulation 9.2.3.1.1.1;
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.6 for spaces other than cargo pump-room spaces, the requirements of regulation
9.2.3 (cargo vessels except tankers) may be applied in lieu of those in regulation
9.2.4.2; additionally, regulation 9.2.4.2.5 (A-60 standard) need not be applied
provided that the exterior boundaries of superstructures and deckhouses enclosing
accommodation and including any overhanging decks which support such accommodation
are located outside the cargo deck area defined in 1.2.7.3;
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.7 regulations 4.5.3 (cargo tank venting), 4.5.4 (ventilation), 4.5.7 (gas
measurement) and 4.5.8 (air supply to double hull spaces and double bottom spaces)
need not be applied where alternative arrangements are provided, having due regard
to the provisions of the present Code;
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.8 for vessels below 2,000 GT, regulations 10.2 (water supply systems), 10.4
(fixed fire-extinguishing systems) and 10.5 (fire-extinguishing arrangements in
machinery spaces) should apply as they would apply to cargo vessels of 2,000 GT
and over;
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.9 regulation 4.5.10 should apply to vessels of 500 GT and over, replacing
"hydrocarbon gases" by "flammable vapours" in the regulation; and
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.10 regulations 13.3.4 (EEBDs) and 13.4.3 (EEBDs) should apply to vessels of 500
GT and over.
9.1.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of 9.1.1, vessels engaged solely in the carriage of
products which are identified in chapter 17 of the IBC Code as non-flammable (entry "NF"
in column i of the table of minimum requirements) need not comply with requirements for
tankers specified in SOLAS chapter
II-2, provided that they comply with the requirements for cargo vessels of
that chapter, except that regulation 10.7 (fire-extinguishing arrangements in cargo
spaces) need not apply to such vessels and 9.2 and 9.3 hereunder need not apply.
9.1.3 For vessels engaged solely in the carriage of products with a flashpoint exceeding
60°C (entry "Yes" in column i of the table of minimum requirements), the requirements of
SOLAS chapter II-2 may apply as specified in regulation II-2/1.6.4 (tankers
carrying petroleum products with a flashpoint exceeding 60°C) in lieu of the provisions
of this chapter.
9.1.4 For vessels engaged in both carriage of products with a flashpoint exceeding 60°C
and products with a flashpoint not exceeding 60°C, the provisions of 9.2 and 9.3 are
only applicable to the cargo areas and pump-rooms in connection with the tanks for
carriage of products with a flashpoint not exceeding 60°C. Further, the requirement for
tankers in SOLAS chapter II-2, as referred to in 9.1.1 above, is only applicable
to cargo areas, cargo space, cargo tanks, pump-rooms, control stations and other spaces
in connection with the tanks for carriage of products with a flashpoint not exceeding
60°C.
9.2 Cargo pump-rooms
9.2.1 The cargo pump-room of any vessel to which the provisions of 9.1.4 apply should be
provided with a fixed carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system as specified in SOLAS
regulation II-2/10.9.1.1. A notice should be exhibited at the controls
stating that the system is only to be used for fire-extinguishing and not for inerting
purposes, due to the electrostatic ignition hazard. The alarms referred to in SOLAS
regulation II-2/10.9.1.1.1 (safe alarms) should be safe for use in a
flammable cargo vapour/air mixture. For the purpose of this requirement, an
extinguishing system should be provided which would be suitable for machinery spaces.
However, the amount of gas carried should be sufficient to provide a quantity of free
gas equal to 45% of the gross volume of the cargo pump-room in all cases.
9.2.2 Cargo pump-rooms of vessels which are dedicated to the carriage of a restricted
number of cargoes should be protected by an appropriate fire-extinguishing system
approved by the Administration.
9.2.3 If cargoes are to be carried which are not suited to extinguishment by carbon
dioxide or equivalent media, the cargo pump-room should be protected by a
fire-extinguishing system consisting of either a fixed pressure water spray or
high-expansion foam system. The International Certificate of Fitness should reflect this
conditional requirement.
9.3 Protection of the cargo area
9.3.1 Every vessel should be provided with a fixed deck foam system in accordance with
the provisions of 9.3.2 to 9.3.8.
9.3.2 The system should be located and sized to supply simultaneously foam to the deck
area as defined in 1.2.7.3 to 1.2.7.5 and 1.2.7.7.
9.3.3 All parts of the areas are to be protected by either fixed foam monitor(s) or
fixed nozzles or a combination of both.
9.3.4 In case of foam monitors, one monitor may be sufficient and the distance from the
monitor to the farthest extremity of the protected area should not be more than 75% of
the monitor throw in still air conditions. The monitor(s) should be in a location that
is not above the cargo tanks and is readily accessible and operable in the event of fire
in the areas protected.
9.3.5 The deck foam system should be capable of simple and rapid operation. The main
control station for the system should be suitably located outside of the cargo area,
adjacent to the accommodation spaces and readily accessible and operable in the event of
fires in the areas protected.
9.3.6 Application rate should be 10 l/min/m2 with sufficient supply
for at least 30 min for tanks without an overlying cofferdam and 20 min for tanks with
an overlying cofferdam. Water supply to the fixed foam fire-extinguishing system should
be in addition to the water supply required for the vessels fire main.
9.3.7 The foam concentrates should be compatible with the cargo carried.
9.3.8 In addition, the vessel should carry in a readily available position, at cargo
deck level, two portable foam applicator units with at least four portable 20 l
containers with foam concentrate, for use with water supplied by the vessels fire
main.
9.4 Special requirements
All fire-extinguishing media determined to be effective for each product are listed in
column l in the table of chapter 17 in the IBC Code. Refer to the Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) for each product to be carried.