Section 4 Fire pumps and water service pipes

4.1.1 All floating docks are to be provided with fire pumps, water service pipes, hydrants and hoses, complying in general with Pt 2, Ch 3, 2 Pumps, water service pipes, hydrants and hoses.

4.1.2 In floating docks of less than 200 tonnes lift, at least one fixed hand operated pump with a permanent sea suction and discharge to the fire main is to be provided. Floating docks of 200 tonnes lift and over but less than 1000 tonnes lift, are to be provided with one power pump and one fixed hand operated pump with a permanent sea suction and discharge to the fire main.

4.1.3 In floating docks of 1000 tonnes lift and over, not less than two independently driven power pumps are to be provided, preferably one pump being placed in each wing.

4.1.4 In addition, in floating docks of 2000 tonnes lift and over, if a fire in any one compartment could put all the pumps out of action there is to be an alternative means of providing water for fire-fighting. This alternative means is to be a fixed emergency pump independently driven by an engine, or other approved means. This emergency pump is to be capable of supplying two jets of water to the satisfaction of the Surveyor. The pump is to be located in a readily accessible position which is not likely to be rendered inaccessible by a fire in the compartment containing the main fire pumps. The pump is to be provided with its own sea suction and discharge to the fire main. A valve is to be provided for isolating the fire main outside the compartment containing the main fire pumps. This isolating valve is to be situated in a readily accessible position outside that compartment. However, if shore based fire-fighting appliances are readily available, consideration may be given to dispensing with the emergency pump. This will be at the discretion of the Committee.

4.2.1 The number of fire-hoses to be provided, each complete with couplings and nozzles, is to be one for each 30 m length of each wing of the dock and one spare, but in no case less than a total of six (three on each wing) for floating docks of 1000 tonnes lift and over and not less than a total of four for smaller docks. These numbers do not include any hoses required in any engine or boiler room. If necessary, the number of hoses is to be increased to ensure that hoses in sufficient number are available and accessible at all times.

4.2.2 In accommodation, service and machinery spaces, the number and position of hydrants are to be such as to comply with the requirements of Pt 2, Ch 3, 2.5 Number and position of hydrants.

4.2.3 All hydrants in the machinery spaces of floating docks with oil fired boilers, oil engines or gas turbines are to be fitted with hoses having, in addition to the nozzles required by Pt 2, Ch 3, 2.8 Nozzles, nozzles suitable for spraying water on oil, or alternatively, dual purpose nozzles.

4.3.1 Radio rooms, accommodation and service spaces are to be provided with a sufficient number of portable fire-extinguishers to ensure that at least one extinguisher will be readily available for use in every compartment of the crew spaces to the Surveyor’s satisfaction.

4.3.2 For galleys, and for spaces containing domestic boilers, one portable fire-extinguisher suitable for dealing with oil fires or fires in electric cooking equipment is to be provided.

4.4.1 In spaces where oil fired boilers exceeding 3,5 kg/cm² are situated, or in spaces containing fuel oil units or settling tanks in floating docks exceeding 1000 tonnes lift, any one of the following types of fixed fire-extinguishing installations complying with Pt 2, Ch 3, 3 Fire detection and fire-extinguishing systems and equipment is to be provided:

1. a pressurized water-spraying system;

2. a fire-smothering gas installation;

3. a fixed froth installation supplemented, if necessary, by a fixed or mobile arrangement for pressurized water or froth spraying to fight fire above floor plates.

Floating docks that are not within the above category will be specially considered. The fixed installation is to be of type Pt 2, Ch 3, 4.4 Fire-extinguishing appliances in boiler rooms, etc. 4.4.1.(b) in all cases where the flash point of the fuel oil is less than 60ºC (closed cup test). In each case, if the engine and boiler rooms are not entirely separate, or if fuel oil can drain from the boiler room into the engine room bilges, the combined engine and boiler rooms are to be considered as one compartment.

4.4.2 There are to be at least two approved portable extinguishers discharging froth, or other approved medium suitable for extinguishing oil fires, in each firing space in each boiler room and each space in which a part of the fuel oil installation is situated. In addition, there is to be at least one extinguisher of the same description with a capacity of 9 litres for each burner, provided that the total capacity of the additional extinguisher or extinguishers need not exceed 45 litres of any one boiler room.

4.4.3 In each firing space there is to be a receptacle containing at least 0,28 m³ of sand, sawdust impregnated with soda, or other approved dry material and a scoop for distributing this material. Alternatively, an approved portable extinguisher may be substituted therein.

4.5.1 Where engines or gas turbines are used, with a total power not less than 1000 bhp, floating docks of 1000 tonnes lift and over are to be provided with the following arrangements Pt 2, Ch 3, 4.5 Fire-fighting appliances in spaces containing engines or gas turbines 4.5.1 and Pt 2, Ch 3, 4.5 Fire-fighting appliances in spaces containing engines or gas turbines 4.5.1.(b), and floating docks of under 1000 tonnes lift with arrangement Pt 2, Ch 3, 4.5 Fire-fighting appliances in spaces containing engines or gas turbines 4.5.1.(b). For docks of under 200 tonnes lift the provision of a 45 litre extinguisher may be waived:

1. There is to be one of the fixed arrangements required by Pt 2, Ch 3, 4.4 Fire-extinguishing appliances in boiler rooms, etc. 4.4.1.

2. There is to be in each engine space one approved froth type extinguisher of not less than 45 litres capacity or equivalent, and also one approved portable froth extinguisher for each 1000 bhp of the engines or part thereof; but the total number of portable extinguishers so supplied is not to be less than two and need not exceed six.