Fire Protection and Fire Extinction

11.1.1 The requirements for tankers in SOLAS Chapter II-2 - Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction shall apply to ships covered by the Code, irrespective of tonnage, including ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, except that:

1. Regulation 10 - Fire fighting and Regulation 10 - Fire fighting shall not apply;

2. Regulation 4 - Probability of ignition (i.e. the requirements for location of the main cargo control station) need not apply;

3. Regulation 10 - Fire fighting shall apply as they would apply to cargo ships of 2,000 tons gross tonnage and over;

4. regulation Regulation 10 - Fire fighting shall apply to ships of 2,000 gross tonnage and over;

5. the provisions of 11.3 shall apply in lieu of 8 Cargo tank protection;

6. the provisions of 11.2 shall apply in lieu of 9 Protection of cargo pump rooms in tankers;

7. 5.10 Protection of cargo pump-rooms shall apply to ships of 500 gross tonnage and over, replacing “hydrocarbon gases” by “flammable vapours” in the regulation; and

8. 3.4 Emergency escape breathing devices and 4.3 Emergency escape breathing devices shall apply to ships of 500 gross tonnage and over.

11.1.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of Ch 1, 11.1 Application 11.1.1, ships engaged solely in the carriage of products which are 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 - Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction, provided that they comply with the requirements for cargo ships of that chapter, except that Regulation 10 - Fire fighting need not apply to such ships and Regulation 11 - Structural integrity, hereunder, need not apply.

11.1.3 For ships engaged solely in the carriage of products with a flashpoint of 60°C and above (entry "Yes" in column i of the table of minimum requirements), the requirements of SOLAS Chapter II-2 - Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction may apply as specified in Regulation 1 - Application1 in lieu of the provisions of this chapter.

11.1.4 In lieu of the provisions of SOLAS 6 Application of requirements for tankers, the requirements of 5.10 Protection of cargo pump-rooms shall apply and a system for continuous monitoring of the concentration of flammable vapours shall be fitted on ships of 500 gross tonnage and over which were constructed before 1 January 2009 by the date of the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 January 2009, but not later than 1 January 2012. Sampling points or detector heads should be located in suitable positions in order that potentially dangerous leakages are readily detected. When the flammable vapour concentration reaches a pre-set level which shall not be higher than 10% of the lower flammable limit, a continuous audible and visual alarm signal shall be automatically effected in the pump-room and cargo control room to alert personnel to the potential hazard. However, existing monitoring systems already fitted having a pre-set level not greater than 30% of the lower flammable limit may be accepted. Notwithstanding the above provisions, the Administration may exempt ships not engaged on international voyages from those requirements.

LR 11.1(a) These requirements for fire protection and fire-extinction are not part of the Classification Rules. However, compliance with the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code - International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in BulkAmended by Resolution MEPC.225(64)), being a requirement of the 1983 Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974, is a prerequisite of Classification. See Pt 1, Ch 2, 1.1 General 1.1.9. This is to be demonstrated by possession of an International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk issued by a National Authority or by LR when so authorised. When issued by LR, the requirements of this Chapter will be applied together with any interpretation of the requirements specified by the appropriate National Authority. When issued by the National Authority, the requirements of this Chapter will be the sole prerogative of the National Authority and will not be applied directly by LR for Classification purposes. See also LR II.1 General and LR II.2 Ship survival capability, fire protection and fire-extinction and operational requirements.

LR 11.1(b) References in Ch 1, 11.2 Cargo pump-rooms and 11.2 to Chapter II- 2 of the 1983 SOLAS amendments should be further referred to Chapter II-2 - Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction of the consolidated text of the 1974 SOLAS Convention.

11.2.1 The cargo pump-room of any ship shall be provided with a fixed carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system as specified in SOLAS Regulation 10 - Fire fighting. A notice shall 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 10 - Fire fighting shall be safe for use in a flammable cargo vapour/air mixture. For the purpose of this requirement, an extinguishing system shall be provided which would be suitable for machinery spaces. However, the amount of gas carried shall be sufficient to provide a quantity of free gas equal to 45% of the gross volume of the cargo pump-room in all cases.

11.2.2 Cargo pump-rooms of ships which are dedicated to the carriage of a restricted number of cargoes shall be protected by an appropriate fire-extinguishing system approved by the Administration.

11.2.3 If cargoes are to be carried which are not suited to extinguishment by carbon dioxide or equivalent media, the cargo pump-room shall 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 for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk shall reflect this conditional requirement.

11.3.1 Every ship shall be provided with a fixed deck foam system in accordance with the requirements of Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.2 to Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.12.

11.3.2 Only one type of foam concentrate shall be supplied, and it shall be effective for the maximum possible number of cargoes intended to be carried. For other cargoes for which foam is not effective or is incompatible, additional arrangements to the satisfaction of the Administration shall be provided. Regular protein foam shall not be used.

11.3.3 The arrangements for providing foam shall be capable of delivering foam to the entire cargo tanks deck area as well as into any cargo tank, the deck of which is assumed to be ruptured.

11.3.4 The deck foam system shall be capable of simple and rapid operation. The main control station for the system shall 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.

11.3.5 The rate of supply of foam solution shall be not less than the greatest of the following:

1. 2 l/min per square metre of the cargo tanks deck area, where cargo tanks deck area means the maximum breadth of the ship times the total longitudinal extent of the cargo tank spaces;

2. 20 l/min per square metre of the horizontal sectional area of the single tank having the largest such area;

3. 10 l/min per square metre of the area protected by the largest monitor, such area being entirely forward of the monitor, but not less than 1,250 l/min. For ships less than 4,000 tonnes deadweight, the minimum capacity of the monitor shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

11.3.6 Sufficient foam concentrate shall be supplied to ensure at least 30 min of foam generation when using the highest of the solution rates stipulated in Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.5, Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.5.(b) and Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.5.(c).

11.3.7 Foam from the fixed foam system shall be supplied by means of monitors and foam applicators. At least 50% of the foam rate required in Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.5 or Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.5.(b) shall be delivered from each monitor. The capacity of any monitor shall be at least 10 l/min of foam solution per square metre of deck area protected by that monitor, such area being entirely forward of the monitor. Such capacity shall be not less than 1,250 l/min. For ships less than 4,000 tonnes deadweight, the minimum capacity of the monitor shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

11.3.8 The distance from the monitor to the farthest extremity of the protected area forward of that monitor shall be not more than 75% of the monitor throw in still air conditions.

11.3.9 A monitor and hose connection for a foam applicator shall be situated both port and starboard at the poop front or accommodation spaces facing the cargo area.

11.3.10 Applicators shall be provided for flexibility of action during fire- fighting operations and to cover areas screened from the monitors. The capacity of any applicator shall be not less than 400 l/min and the applicator throw in still air conditions shall be not less than 15 m. The number of foam applicators provided shall be not less than four. The number and disposition of foam main outlets shall be such that foam from at least two applicators can be directed to any part of the cargo tanks deck area.

11.3.11 Valves shall be provided in the foam main, and in the fire main where this is an integral part of the deck foam system, immediately forward of any monitor position to isolate damaged sections of those mains.

11.3.12 Operation of a deck foam system at its required output shall permit the simultaneous use of the minimum required number of jets of water at the required pressure from the fire main.

11.3.13 Ships which are dedicated to the carriage of a restricted number of cargoes shall be protected by alternative provisions to the satisfaction of the Administration when they are just as effective for the products concerned as the deck foam system required for the generality of flammable cargoes.

11.3.14 Suitable portable fire-extinguishing equipment for the products to be carried shall be provided and kept in good operating order.

11.3.15 Where flammable cargoes are to be carried, all sources of ignition shall be excluded from hazardous locations unless such sources conform with Ch 1, 10.1 General.

11.3.16 Ships fitted with bow or stern loading and unloading arrangements shall be provided with one additional foam monitor meeting the requirements of Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.7 and one additional applicator meeting the requirements of Ch 1, 11.3 Cargo area 11.3.10. The additional monitor shall be located to protect the bow or stern loading and unloading arrangements. The area of the cargo line forward or aft of the cargo area shall be protected by the above-mentioned applicator.

11.4.1 All fire-extinguishing media determined to be effective for each product are listed in column l in the table of chapter 17.