Section 4 General requirements
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Naval Ships, January 2023 - Volume 3 Additional Class Notations - Part 2 Naval Ship Safety - Chapter 2 Fire Protection - Section 4 General requirements

Section 4 General requirements

Parent topic: Chapter 2 Fire Protection

4.1 The Rules

4.1.1 The Rule requirements are arranged in terms of eight fundamental objectives which all contribute to the overall performance of the fire protection arrangements, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 4.2 Fire protection objectives 4.2.1 to Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 4.2 Fire protection objectives 4.2.1.(h).

4.1.2 Each of the eight objectives has a series of Rule requirements attributed to them, these Rules are arranged in a ‘top-down’ manner such that the objective is stated as the highest level requirement. At the next level, a goal, or series of goals, is detailed; the goals are then developed as performance requirements; and ultimately the specified guidance/technical references.

4.1.3 In general, a system is to be compliant with the SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea convention; however, where this cannot be achieved, the performance criteria, goals and objectives are to be satisfied by assignment of a concession or through the application of an Alternative Design Justification Report, see the Naval Survey Guidance. The referenced SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea regulations to satisfy different goals are provided for guidance purposes. Alternative standards consistent with the overall SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea philosophy can be applied where the compliance with the Objective can be demonstrated to an equivalent level to those in SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

4.2 Fire protection objectives

4.2.1 The fire protection objectives to be satisfied by all fire protection systems are as follows:

  1. Fire Prevention Objective. Every ship is to be designed and equipped so as to prevent the occurrence of fire or explosion, taking due account of its civil and military operational role, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 5 Fire prevention.

  2. Fire Detection Objective. Every ship is to be designed and equipped, as far as is practicable, to detect any potentially hazardous fire or explosion, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 6 Fire detection.

  3. Fire Extinguishing Objective. Every ship is to be equipped, so far as is practicable, so that all detected fires can be safely and effectively extinguished, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 7 Fire extinguishing.

  4. Containment Objective. Every ship is to be arranged, so far as is practicable, to limit the spread of fire, smoke and toxic by-products to the space of origin, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 8 Fire and by-product containment.

  5. Personnel Hazard Objective. All reasonable measures are to be taken to prevent hazards to personnel as a result of fire, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 9 Personnel fire hazards.

  6. System Interaction Objective. The possibility of fire protection measures or systems causing fire related, or non-fire related hazards is to be kept to a level that is as low as is reasonably practicable, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 10 System interaction.

  7. Command and Control Objective. Suitable means are to be provided to ensure any active fire control measures can be safely and effectively orchestrated, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 11 Command and control.

  8. Structural Integrity Objective. Sufficient structural integrity is to be maintained following a fire so as to prevent the whole or partial collapse of the ship’s structures due to strength deterioration by heat, see Vol 3, Pt 2, Ch 2, 12 Structural integrity.

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