3.9 Fire-fighting requirements

  3.9.1 For the carriage of flammable liquids identified in appendix 1, the requirements for tankers in chapter II-2 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, should apply to vessels covered by the Guidelines, irrespective of tonnage, including vessels of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, except that:

• .1 Regulations 4.5.5, 10.8 and 10.9 should not be applied;

• .2 Regulation 4.5.1.1 (i.e., positioning of machinery spaces aft of cargo tanks, slop tanks, cargo pump-rooms and cofferdams), Regulation 4.5.1.2 (i.e., the requirements for location of the main cargo control station), Regulations 4.5.1.4, 4.5.2.1 to 4.5.2.3 need not be applied. Additionally, Regulation 9.2.4.2.5 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 spaced at least 7 m away from the cargo area. The insulation of such boundaries should however be to the satisfaction of the Administration;

• .3 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 where considered appropriate;

• .4 the requirements of Regulation 9.2.3 may be applied in lieu of those in Regulation 9.2.4.2, where considered appropriate by the Administration;

• .5 the provisions of Regulations 4.5.3, 4.5.4 and 4.5.6 to 4.5.8 need be applied only where considered appropriate by the Administration, taking into account the requirement in 3.6.2 of the Guidelines that cargo tank vent systems should meet the relevant requirements of the International Bulk Chemical Code;

• .6 regulations 10.2, 10.4 and 10.5, except regulation 10.5.6, should apply as they would apply to tankers of 2,000 gross tonnage and over;

• .7 the provisions of 3.9.2.3 should be applied in lieu of Regulation 10.8; and

• .8 the provisions of 3.9.2.5 should be applied in lieu of Regulation 10.9.

  3.9.2 The following provisions also apply for the carriage of flammable liquids identified in appendix 1:

• .1 During cargo transfer, water pressure should be maintained on the fire main system.

• .2 Fire hoses, fitted with approved dual-purpose nozzles (i.e. spray/jet type with a shutoff), should be attached to each fire hydrant in the vicinity of the flammable liquid to be carried.

• .3 Either a fixed deck foam system or a fixed fire-extinguishing system of the dry chemical type complying with the following:

  • .3.1 the system should be located to protect the deck within the cargo area;

  • .3.2 the system should be capable of covering the deck within the cargo area without being moved;

  • .3.3 when a fixed deck foam system is provided, it should comply with the requirements of 11.3.3 to 11.3.12 of the International Bulk Chemical Code. Only foam suitable for the products carried should be used.

  • .3.4 Administrations may approve a fixed fire-extinguishing system provided that:

    • .3.4.1 on a deck area of 45 m² or less, there are two or more dry chemical extinguishers whose total capacity is not less than 135 kg;

    • .3.4.2 on a deck areas of more than 45 m², there are three or more dry chemical extinguishers whose total capacity of extinguishing agent is not less than:

      C

      =

      3A kg

      where A is the deck area (in square metres);

    • .3.4.3 the minimum rate of supply of the extinguishing agent is not less than 3 kg/min.

• .4 An alternative to the systems required in 3.9.2.3 above may be approved in accordance with the procedures contained in SOLAS regulation II-2/17.

• .5 The cargo pump-room where flammable liquids are handled should be provided with a fixed fire-extinguishing system in accordance with 11.2 of the International Bulk Chemical Code.

  3.9.3 For vessels which carry only liquids identified as non-flammable in appendix 1, the fire-fighting requirements should be to the satisfaction of the Administration.