Section 3 Fire Detection and Extinction

301. Fire pumps

1. At least two water supply sources (sea chests, valves, strainers and pipes) are to be provided and so arranged that one supply source failure will not put all supply sources out of action.

2. At least two independently driven power pumps are to be provided, each arranged to draw directly from the sea and discharge into a fixed fire main. However, in units with high suction lifts, boos- ter pumps and storage tanks may be installed.

3. The arrangements of the pumps, sea suctions and sources of power are to be such as to ensure that a fire in any space would not put both the required pumps out of action.

4. At least one of the required pumps specified in Par 2 is to be dedicated for fire-fighting duties and be available for such duties at all times.

5. Every centrifugal pump which is connected to the fire main is to be fitted with a non-return valve.

6. Where either of the required pumps is located in a space not normally manned and is relatively far removed from working areas, suitable means are to be made for remote start-up of that pump and remote operation of associated suction and discharge valves.

7. Except as provided in Par 4, sanitary, ballast, bilge or general service pumps may be accepted as fire pumps, provided that they are not normally used for pumping oil.

8. Each pump is to be capable of delivering at least one jet simultaneously from each of any two fire

hydrants, hoses and 19 mm nozzles while kgÕcmĪ ) at any hydrant. In addition, where copter deck, the pump is to be capable

installation.

maintaining a minimum pressure of 0.35 MPa (3.568 a foam system is provided for protection of the heli-

of maintaining a pressure of 0.7 MPa at the foam

9. Each of the fire pumps is to have a capacity appropriate to the fire-fighting services supplied from the fire main at the pressure specified in Par 8. In addition, where a foam system is provided for protection of the helicopter deck, the water consumption used for foam system is to be added to the pump capacity. If the water consumption for any other fire protection or fire-fighting pur- pose should exceed the rate of the helicopter deck foam installation, this consumption is to be the determining factor in calculating the required capacity of the fire pumps. Where more pumps than required are installed, their capacity should be to the satisfaction of the Society. In no case is the single pump capacity to be less than 25 mĮÕh .

10. Relief valves are to be provided in conjunction with all pumps connected to the fire main if the pumps are capable of developing a pressure exceeding the design pressure of the fire main, hy- drants and hoses. Such valves are to be so placed and adjusted as to prevent excessive pressure in the fire main system.

11. With the required fire pumps operating simultaneously, the pressure maintained in the fire mains is to be adequate for the safe and efficient operation of all equipment supplied therefrom.

302. Fire mains

1. The fire main is, where practicable, to be routed clear of hazardous areas and be arranged in such a manner as to make maximum use of any thermal shielding or physical protection afforded by the structure of the unit.

2. The fire main is to be provided with isolating valves located so as to permit optimum utilization in the event of physical damage to any part of the main.

3. The fire main is not to have connections other than those necessary for fire-fighting purposes.

4. The diameter of the fire main and water service pipes is to be sufficient for the effective dis- tribution of the maximum required discharge from the two fire pumps operating simultaneously.

5. All practical precautions consistent with having water readily available are to be taken to protect the fire main against freezing.

6. Materials readily rendered ineffective by heat are not to be used for fire mains and hydrants unless

adequately protected. The pipes and hydrants are coupled to them.

7. The surface unit is to be provided with at least

to be so placed that the fire hoses may be easily

one international shore connection complying with

Pt 8, Ch 3, 401. 1 (7) of Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships. Facilities are to be available enabling such a connection to be used on any side of the unit.

303. Fire hydrants and fire hoses

1. The number and position of the hydrants are to be such that at least two jets of water, not ema- nating from the same hydrant, one of which is to be from a single length of fire hose, may reach any part of the unit normally accessible to those on board while the unit is being navigated or is engaged in offshore operations. A hose is to be provided for every hydrant.

2. A cock or valve is to be fitted to serve each fire hose so that any fire hose may be removed while the fire pumps are operating.

3. Fire hoses are to be of non-perishable material approved and are to be sufficient in length to proj- ect a jet of water to any of the spaces in which they may be required to be used. Each hose is to be provided with a nozzle and the necessary couplings. Fire hoses, together with any necessary fit- tings and tools, are to be ready for use at any time and should be kept in conspicuous positions near the water service hydrants or connections. Fire hoses are to have a length of at least 10 m, but not more than:

(1) 15 m in machinery spaces;

(2) 20 m in other spaces and open decks; and

(3) 25 m for open decks on ships with a maximum breadth in excess of 30 m .

304. Nozzles

1. Dual purpose jet spray nozzles are to be fitted throughout the unit and standard nozzle sizes are to 12 mm , 16 mm and 19 mm or as near thereto as possible.

2. For accommodation and service spaces, a nozzle size greater than 12 mm need not be used.

3. For machinery spaces and exterior locations, the nozzle size is to be such as to obtain the max- imum discharge possible from two jets at the pressure specified in paragraph 301. 7 from the smallest pump, provided that a nozzle size greater than 19 mm need not be used.

305. Intermediate tanks

For water injection type fire extinguishing system in which an intermediate tank is employed due to the height of the units, the intermediate tank is to be in accordance with the requirements in the followings.

(1) The intermediate tanks are to be of such size and so operated that the lowest water level per- mitted will ensure that the supply of water is adequate for two hoses at a minimum of 0.35 MPa (3.568 kgÕcmĪ) nozzle pressure at the uppermost hydrant for at least 15 minutes. Minimum tank capacity is to be 10 mĮ.

(2) A ballast tank which complies with the requirements specified in (1) may be used for the inter-

mediate tank.

(3) Valves and pumps serving the intermediate tank which are not readily accessible are to be pro- vided with means for remote operation.

(4) A low water level alarm is to be fitted.

(5) Two reliable and adequate means to replenish water in the intermediate tank are to be provided.

These pumps are to be arranged in accordance with 301. and at least one of the replenishment pumps is to be arranged for automatic operation.

(6) If the unit is intended to operate in cold weather, the fire-fighting system and the intermediate

tank are to be protected from freezing.

306. Fire extinguishing systems in machinery spaces and in spaces containing fired processes

1. Where main or auxiliary oil-fired boilers and other fired processes of equivalent thermal rating are situated, or in spaces containing oil fuel units or settling tanks, the unit is to be provided with the following:

(1) One of the following fixed fire-extinguishing systems is to be provided.

(A) a fixed pressure water-spraying system

(B) a fixed fire-extinguishing system

(C) a fixed high expansion foam installation

Where the machinery space and spaces containing fired processes are not entirely separate, or if fuel oil can drain from the latter spaces into the machinery space, the combined ma- chinery space and fired process space are to be considered as one compartment.

(2) At least two approved portable foam extinguishers or equivalent in each space containing a fired process and each space in which a part of the oil fuel installation is situated. In addition, at

least one extinguisher of the same description with a capacity of 9 litres for each burner, pro-

vided that the total capacity of the additional extinguisher or extinguishers need not exceed 45 litres for any one space.

(3) A receptacle containing sand, sawdust impregnated with soda, or other approved dry material in such quantity as may be required by the Society. An approved portable extinguisher may be provided as an alternative.

2. The following arrangements are to be provided in the spaces containing internal combustion machi- nery used either for main propulsion or for other purposes when such machinery has a total power output of not less than 750 kW .

(1) One of the fixed arrangements required by 301. 1.

(2) One approved foam-type extinguisher of not less than 45 litres capacity or equivalent in every engine space and one approved portable foam extinguisher for each 750 kW of engine power

output or part thereof. The total number of portable extinguishers so supplied are to be not less than two and need not exceed six.

3. The Society is to give special consideration to the fire extinguishing arrangements to be provided in spaces not fitted with fixed fire extinguishing installations containing steam turbines which are

separated from boiler rooms by watertight bulkheads.

4. Where a fire hazard exists in any machinery space for which no specific provisions for fire ex- tinguishing appliances are prescribed in Par 1 to 3, there is to be provided in, or adjacent to, that

space a number of approved portable fire extinguishers or other means of fire extinction to the sat- isfaction of the Society.

307. Portable fire extinguishers in accommodation space, service spaces, machinery spaces and working spaces

1. Except for the supplemental arrangements provided in Par 2, portable fire extinguishers in accom- modation spaces, service spaces, control stations, machinery spaces of category A, other machinery spaces, cargo spaces, weather deck and other spaces should be provided in number and arrangement in accordance with Pt 8, Ch 3, 402. 2 of Guidance Relating to the Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships.

2. Table 9.3 contains supplemental recommendations for number and distribution of additional portable fire extinguishers on units. Where the recommendations in Table 9.3 differ from Pt 8, Ch 3, 402.

2 of Guidance Relating to the Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships, the provisions of

Table 9.3 is to be followed. Classes of extinguishers are to be in accordance with Res.A 951(23)

Table 9.3 Numbers and distribution of additional portable extinguishers on units

308. Fire detection and alarm system