Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Where electrically-operated alarms are used, the arrangements are to be such that the electric operating mechanism is located outside the pump room, see also Ch 2,16.8. The means of control of any fixed gas fire- extinguishing system are to be readily accessible and simple to operate and are to be grouped together in as few locations as possible at positions not likely to be cut off by a fire in a protected space. At each location, there are to be clear instructions relating to the operation of the system having regard to the safety of personnel. Automatic release of fire-extinguishing medium is not permitted. Where the quantity of extinguishing medium is required to protect more than one space, the quantity of medium available need not be more than the largest quantity required for any one space so protected. Means are to be provided for the crew to safely check the quantity of medium in the containers. Containers for the storage of fire-extinguishing media and associated pressure components are to be designed and tested to Codes of Practice recognized by LR, having regard to their locations and the maximum ambient temperatures expected in service. The fire-extinguishing medium is to be stored outside a protected space, in a room which is situated in a safe and readily accessible position and effectively ventilated. Any entrance to such a storage room is to preferably be from the open deck and in any case be independent of the protected space. Access doors are to open outwards, and bulkheads and decks including doors and other means of closing any opening therein, which form the boundaries between such rooms and adjoining enclosed spaces are to be gastight. In systems where containers discharge into a common manifold, nonreturn valves are to be provided at the connections of the container discharge pipes to the manifold to allow any container to be disconnected without preventing the use of other containers in the system and to prevent the discharge of extinguishing medium into the container storage room in the event of the system being operated. Manifolds are to be tested by hydraulic pressure to 1,5 times the design pressure. The design pressure is the maximum gauge pressure to which the system may be subjected and is not to be less than the gauge pressure corresponding to the maximum ambient temperature expected in service. After the hydraulic test, manifolds are to be carefully cleaned and dried before the non-return valves are finally fitted. For ships on unrestricted service, spare parts for the system are to be stored on board. As a minimum, these are to consist of: 1 actuator; 1 flexible hose (cylinder to manifold); and the cylinder bursting discs and sealing washers for all cylinders.
Carbon dioxide systems are to comply with 7.1 in addition to the remaining requirements of this sub-Section. For the purpose of this Chapter, the volume of free carbon dioxide is to be calculated at 0,56 m3/kg. For machinery spaces: the quantity of carbon dioxide carried is to be sufficient to give a minimum volume of free gas equal to the larger of: 30 per cent of the gross volume of the largest machinery space protected, including the casing; the fixed piping system is to be such that 85 per cent of the gas can be discharged into the space within two minutes; and the distribution arrangements are to be such that approximately 15 per cent of the required quantity of carbon dioxide is led to the bilge areas. Two separate controls are to be provided for releasing carbon dioxide into a protected space and each is to ensure the activation of the alarm. One control is to be used to discharge the gas from its storage cylinder(s). A second control is to be used for opening the valve of the piping which conveys the gas into the protected space. The two controls are to be located inside a release box clearly identified for the particular space. If the box containing the controls is to be locked, a key to the box is to be in a break-glass type enclosure conspicuously located adjacent to the box. There is to be a dedicated release box for each protected space, in which personnel normally work or to which they have access, see also 7.1.7. The space served is to be identified at the release box. Distribution pipes for carbon dioxide are not to be smaller than 20 mm bore.
The foam generator, its sources of power supply, foam-forming liquid and means of controlling the system are to be readily accessible and simple to operate and are to be grouped in as few locations as possible at positions not likely to be cut off by fire in the protected space. Foam concentrates carried for use in fixed foam fire-extinguishing systems are to be of an approved type. They are to be tested at least twice during each five year period to verify that they remain fit for service. Evidence in the form of a report from the foam manufacturer or an independent laboratory will be accepted.
As an alternative to 7.4.1 to 7.4.7, the arrangement described in MSC/Circ.668, and amendments thereto contained in MSC/Circ.728 will be accepted or equivalent.