Section 2 Fire Safety

201. General

1. The requirements in this Section are additional to those given in Pt.8 of the Rules for Steel Ships.

2. A compressor room is to be regarded as a machinery space of category A for fire protections purposes.

202. Fire protection

1. Tanks or tank batteries located above deck are to be shielded with class A-60 insulation towards accommodation, service stations, cargo spaces and machinery spaces.

2. The tank room boundaries and ventilation trunks to such spaces below the bulkhead deck are to be constructed to class A-60. However, where the room is adjacent to tanks, voids, auxiliary machi- nery spaces of little or no fire risk, sanitary and similar spaces, the insulation standard may be re- duced to class A-0.

3. The fire and mechanical protection of gas pipes lead through ro-ro spaces on open deck is to be subject to special consideration by the Society depending on the use and expected pressure in the pipes. Gas pipes lead through ro-ro spaces on open deck are to be provided with guards or bol- lards to prevent vehicle collision damage.

4. The bunkering station is to be separated by class A-60 divisions towards other spaces, except for spaces such as tanks, voids, auxiliary machinery spaces of little or no fire risk, sanitary and similar spaces where the insulation standard may be reduced to class A-0.

5. When more than one machinery space is required and these spaces are separated by a single bulk- head, the bulkhead is to be class A-60.

6. A compressor room in a ship not subject to Pt.7, Ch.5 of the Rules for Steel Ships is to be re- garded as a machinery space of category A for fire insulation requirements.

203. Fire extinction

1. Fire main

(1) The water spray system required below may be part of the fire main system provided that the required fire pump capacity and working pressure is sufficient to operation of both the required numbers of hydrants and hoses and the water spray system simultaneously.

(2) When the storage tank main in order to isolate

is located on open deck, isolating valves are to be fitted in the fire damage sections of the main. Isolation of a section of fire main is not

to deprive the fire line ahead of the isolated section of water.

2. Water spray systems

(1) A water spray system is to be fitted for cooling and fire prevention and to cover exposed parts of gas storage tank located above deck.

(2) The system is to be designed to cover all areas as specified above with an application rate of

10ℓ/min/m² for horizontal projected surfaces and 4ℓ/min/m² for vertical surfaces.

(3) For the purpose of isolating damage sections, stop valves are to be fitted at least every 40 m or the system may be divided into two or more sections with control valves located in a safe and readily accessible position not likely to be cut-off in case of fire.

(4) The capacity of the water spray pump is to be sufficient to deliver the required amount of wa- ter to the hydraulically most demanding area as specified above in the areas protected.

(5) A connection to the ship's fire main through a stop valve is to be provided.

(6) Remote start of pumps supplying the water spray system and remote operation of any normally closed valves to the system are to be located in a readily accessible position which is not like- ly to be cut off in case of fire in the areas protected.

(7) The nozzles are to be of an approved full bore type and they are to be arranged to ensure an effective distribution of water throughout the space being protected.

(8) An equivalent system to the water spray system may be fitted provided it has been tested for its on-deck cooling capability to the satisfaction of the Society.

3. Dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing system

(1) In the bunkering station area, a permanently installed dry chemical powder extinguishing system is to cover all possible leak points. The capacity is to be at least 3.5 kg/s for a minimum of 45s discharges. The system is to be arranged for easy manual release from a safe location out- side the protected area.

(2) One portable dry powder extinguisher of at least 5 kg capacity is to be located near the bun- kering station.

4. Fire detection and alarm system

(1) Detection

(A) An approved fixed fire detection system is to be provided for the tank room and the ven- tilation trunk for tank room below deck.

(B) Smoke detectors alone are not to be considered sufficient for rapid fire detection.

(C) Where the fire detection system does not include means of remotely identifying each de- tector individually, the detectors are to be arranged on separate loops.

(2) Alarms and safety actions

Required safety actions at fire detection in the machinery space containing gas-fuelled engines

and tank room are given in Table 3.1 of Sec.4. In addition, the ventilation is to stop auto- matically and fire dampers are to close.