Section
17 Fire safety systems
17.1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems
17.1.1 Fire detection and fire alarm systems are to comply with Chapter 9 of the
Fire Safety Systems Code (FSS Code), SOLAS Chapter II-2, Part C, Regulation 7 - Detection and alarm and the
requirements in this Section.
17.1.2 In passenger ships, a section of detectors and manually operated call points
shall not be situated in more than one main vertical or horizontal zone, except on cabin
balconies.
17.2 Automatic Sprinkler, fire detection and
fire alarm systems
17.3 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems
17.3.4 Means
to activate a system are to be located at easily accessible positions
inside and outside the protected space. Arrangements inside the space
are to be situated such that they will not be cut off by a fire in
the protected areas and are suitable for activation in the event of
escape. Where it is proposed to install local activation means outside
of the protected space, details are to be submitted for consideration.
17.3.5 As far as is practicable, electrical and electronic equipment is not to be
located within protected areas or adjacent areas.
17.3.6 High
voltage equipment and their enclosures are not to be installed in
protected areas or adjacent areas. For high voltage generators enclosures
which cannot be fully located outside of adjacent areas due to close
proximity, a technical justification, including proposed degree of
protection ratings that are normally not to be lower that IP54, may
be submitted for consideration that demonstrates the overall safety
of the installation in the event of system operation.
17.3.7 In
addition to the degree of protection requirements of Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.11 Location and construction 1.11.1, electrical and electronic
equipment enclosures located within protected areas and within adjacent
areas are to provide adequate protection in the event of system operation.
17.3.8 To
demonstrate compliance with Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.3 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 17.3.7,
evidence of the suitability of electrical and electronic equipment
for use in protected areas and adjacent areas is to be submitted in
accordance with Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.2 Documentation required for design review 1.2.13. The
evidence is to demonstrate that additional precautions have been taken,
where necessary, in respect of:
-
satisfying Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.3 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 17.3.5 and Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.3 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 17.3.6;
-
personnel protection
against electric shock;
-
cooling airflow,
where necessary, for equipment required to operate during system operation;
and
-
maintenance requirements
for equipment before return to operation following system activation.
Any test evidence submitted is to consider the overall installation,
including equipment types, system configuration and nozzles and the
potential effects of airflows in the protected space.
17.3.9 The
evidence required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 17.3 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 17.3.8 is
to demonstrate the safe and effective operation of the overall arrangements
in the event of system operation. This evidence is to demonstrate
that exposure to system spray and/or water:
- cannot result in loss of essential services (e.g. unintended activation
of automatic machinery shutdown);
- cannot result in loss of availability of emergency services;
- will not affect the continued safe and effective operation of
electrical and electronic equipment required to operate during the
required period of system operation;
- does not present additional electrical or fire hazards; and
- would require only identified readily replaceable components to
be repaired or replaced.
The installation of electrical and electronic equipment required
to provide essential or emergency services in enclosures with a degree
of protection less than IP44 within areas exposed to direct spray
is to be acceptable to LR, and evidence of suitability is to be submitted
accordingly.
17.3.11 Shared
electrically driven sea-water pumps are to be served by not less than
two circuits reserved solely for this purpose, one fed from the main
source of electrical power and one from the emergency source of electrical
power. Such feeders are to be connected to an automatic changeover
switch situated near the pumps and the switch is to be normally closed
to the feeder from the main source of electrical power. No other switches
are permitted in the feeders. The switches on the main and emergency
switchboards are to be clearly labelled and normally kept closed.
17.3.12 Failure
of a component in the power and control system is not to result in
a reduction of the total available pump capacity below that required
by any of the areas which the system is required to protect. For equivalent
automatic sprinkler systems, a failure is not to prevent automatic
release or reduce sprinkler pump capacity by more than 50 per cent.
17.3.13 Where
fire-fighting systems share fire-fighting pumps, failure of one system
is not to prevent activation of the pumps by any other system.
17.4 Fire pumps
17.4.1 When
the emergency fire pump is electrically driven, the power is to be
supplied by a source other than that supplying the main fire pumps.
This source is to be located outside the machinery spaces containing
the main fire pumps and their source of power and drive units.
17.4.2 The
cables to the emergency fire pump are not to pass through the machinery
spaces containing the main fire pumps and their source of power and
drive units. The cables are to be of a fire-resistant type where they
pass through other high fire risk areas.
17.5 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing
systems
17.5.2 Where there are electrically driven refrigeration units for carbon dioxide
fire-extinguishing systems, one unit is to be supplied by the main source of electrical
power and the other unit from the emergency source of electrical power.
17.5.3 Each electrically driven carbon dioxide refrigerating unit is to be arranged
for automatic operation in the event of loss of the alternative unit.
17.5.4 Where it is required that alarms be provided to warn of the release of a
fire-extinguishing medium, and these are electrically operated;
- they are to be provided with an emergency source of electrical
power, as required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 3.3 Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships or Pt 6, Ch 2, 3.4 Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships;
- also connected to the main source of electrical power, with
automatic changeover facilities located in, or adjacent to, the fire-extinguishing
media release panel, see also
Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.14 Alarms; and
- Failure of any power supply is to operate an audible and visual
alarm, see also
Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.14 Alarms and Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.16 Operation under fire conditions
17.5.5 The opening of the fire-extinguishing media control cabinet door, or panel,
for any purpose other than for the release of the fire-extinguishing media, is not to
cause the loss of any essential services, see
Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.6 Definitions 1.6.1.
17.6 Fire safety stops
17.6.1 In order to limit the fire growth potential in every space of the ship,
means for controlling the air supply to the spaces and flammable liquids within the
spaces are to comply with SOLAS Chapter II-2, Part B, Regulation 5 - Fire growth potential.
17.6.2 In passenger ships, the control and indication arrangements at the central
control station are to comply with SOLAS Chapter II-2, Part A, Regulation 3 - Definitions.
17.6.3 In passenger ships and cargo ships, to which SOLAS 1974 as amended applies,
exhaust ducts from main laundries, drying rooms and galley ranges are to be fitted with
additional remote-control arrangements as required by SOLAS, Chapter II-2, Part C, Regulation 9 - Containment of fire, Section 7.
17.6.4 To
control flammable liquids, a means of stopping all fuel oil, lubricating
oil, hydraulic oil, cargo oil and thermal oil pumps, oil purifiers
from outside the spaces being served is to be provided. The position
is not to be cut off in the event of a fire.
17.6.5 Means
of cutting off all electrical power to the galley except lighting
circuits, in the event of a fire, is to be provided outside the galley
exits, at positions which will not readily be rendered inaccessible
by such a fire. Consideration may be given to relaxing this requirement
for supplies to equipment not used for heating or cooking (e.g. alarm
and clock systems) that do not present an electrical shock risk to
fire-fighting personnel.
17.6.6 Following
activation of any fire safety stops, a manual reset is to be provided
in order to restart the associated equipment.
17.6.7 Fire
safety stop systems are to be designed on the fail safe principle
or alternatively the power supplies to, and the circuits of, the fire
safety stop systems are to be continuously monitored and an alarm
initiated in the event of a fault. Cables are to be of a fire-resistant
type, see
Pt 6, Ch 2, 11.5 Construction 11.5.3. See also
Pt 6, Ch 2, 5.2 Essential services 5.2.1.
17.7 Fire doors
17.7.1 The
electrical power required for the control, indication and alarm circuits
of fire doors is to be provided by an emergency source of electrical
power as required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 3.3 Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships. In
passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers an alternative supply
fed from the main source of electrical power, with automatic change
over facilities, is to be provided at the central control station.
Failure of any power supply is to operate an audible and visual alarm, see also
Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.14 Alarms and Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.16 Operation under fire conditions.
17.7.2 The
control and indication systems for the fire doors are to be designed
on the fail-safe principle with the release system having a manual
reset.
17.8 Fire dampers
17.8.2 The
control and indication systems for the fire dampers are to be designed
on the fail-safe principle with the release system having a manual
reset.
17.8.3 In passenger ships and cargo ships, to which SOLAS 1974 as amended applies,
where electrically operated fire dampers are fitted in main laundries, drying rooms and
galley ranges, they are to be as required by SOLAS, Ch II-2, Part C, Regulation 9 - Containment of fire, Section 7.
17.9 Safety centre on passenger ships
17.9.2 Operation,
control and/or monitoring facilities provided at the safety centre
are additional to any dedicated facilities required at other locations
by the Rules or the National Administration.
17.10 Electrically powered air compressors for breathing air cylinders
17.10.1 In passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers where electrically
powered air compressors are installed they are to be in accordance with SOLAS, Chapter
II-2, Part C, Regulation 10 - Fire fighting, Section 10.2.6.1.
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