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Fire
Safety Issues
Machinery
Space Fire Extinguishing
The
MSC agreed to the provisions of a new draft SOLAS regulation II-2/7
which, if adopted at a future Session, will require a fixed water-based
fire-fighting system, or an equivalent system, to be fitted in category
A machinery spaces above 500 m3 in volume for passenger
ships of 500gt and above and cargo ships of 2000gt and above built
after 1 July 2002. Passenger ships of 2000gt and above built before
1 July 2002 will need to comply by 1 October 2005.
The
fixed local system is to protect internal combustion machinery,
boiler fronts, portions of incinerators and fuel oil purifiers without
the necessity of engine shutdown, personnel evacuation or sealing
of the spaces.
The
draft regulation refers to a newly approved MSC/Circ.913, which
contains recommended standards for the design and testing of locally
applied water-based fire-fighting systems. The test method is intended
to verify the design criteria for vertical and horizontal grids
of nozzles by evaluating maximum nozzle spacing, distance of the
nozzle to the hazard, flow rate and upper and lower pressure limits. 5.14
Smoke
Detectors Retrofit
Pursuant
to the ongoing comprehensive review of SOLAS Chapter II-2, the MSC
noted the proposal of the Fire Protection Sub-Committee to retrofit
fixed fire detection and alarm systems in accommodation spaces of
all existing ships and all corridors, stairways and escape
routes within accommodation spaces of existing tankers constructed
before 1 July 1984 by the first periodical survey after 1 July
2002. The effective date as well as the need for these alarms to
be audible at the fitted location will be the subject of further
discussions. 5.4
Fire
Safety Interpretations
The
testing requirements of aluminum load-bearing divisions has been
clarified by new MSC/Circ.915 to indicate that no deck coverings
or insulation can be applied unless the covered/insulated arrangement
was tested to verify that the material’s core does not exceed
200oC during the standard fire test.
Also,
control and indicator requirements to the continuously manned central
control station for "A" class elevator lift doors were
specified in new MSC/Circ.915. 5.19
To
facilitate uniform application of the Fire Test Procedures (FTP)
Code, the Committee approved interpretations for smoke and toxicity
tests and testing arrangements for "A", "B"
and "F" class divisions as contained in the new MSC/Circ.916. 5.20
Finally,
guidance relative to the structural fire protection of accommodation
spaces for passenger and cargo ships was approved in the form of
MSC/Circ917.
The
Circular contains typical arrangements for the required class divisions,
ceiling accesses and window thickness and composition. 5.21
Fixed
Fire-Fighting System Alternatives
The
Committee approved MSC/Circ.914 which provides performance standards
and testing procedures for fixed water-based fire fighting systems
for special category spaces (ro-ro spaces used to carry vehicles
with fuel in the tank which can be accessed by passengers). Minimum
areas of coverage for each section of the system are specified for
continuous and subdivided vehicle decks. The system should be provided
with a redundant means of water supply and be fitted with local
and remote visual and audible alarms.
The
prototype tests are to be conducted at minimum system water pressure
with min/max ceiling heights and nozzle distance from the ceiling.
A range of fire sources and arrangements commensurate with vehicle
loading scenarios together with acceptance criteria are established
by Circular. 5.15
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