Fire Detection and Extinguishing Equipment Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1422)

32. (1) Every Class A ship under 4,000 tons, gross tonnage, shall be provided with at least two fire pumps operated by power, and every Class A ship of 4,000 tons, gross tonnage, or over, shall be provided with at least three fire pumps operated by power.

(2) In every Class A ship fitted with main or auxiliary oil-fired boilers, or internal combustion propelling machinery, the arrangements of sea connections, pumps, and the sources of power for operating them, shall be such as will ensure that a fire in any one compartment will not put all the fire pumps out of action; fire pumps shall not all be located in the same compartment but shall be arranged so that at least one pump and its source of power will remain available if a fire in any one compartment would make it impossible to use the other pump or pumps or their source of power; in some cases this requirement can be met by utilizing the submersible bilge pump and providing it with power from an emergency generator situated above the bulkhead deck; in such cases the emergency generator, the submersible pump, the controls and electric leads between the pump motor and the generator shall be clear of the engine and boiler room.

(3) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that it is unreasonable or impracticable for any Class A ship of less than 91.4 m in length to comply with subsection (2), the Board may allow such a ship to be fitted with additional smothering gas as an alternative means of extinguishing a fire in any one compartment that would put out of action the pumps provided for fire extinguishing purposes; the smothering gas to be provided as alternative means shall be in accordance with section 7 of Schedule III.

(4) In every Class A ship over 22.9 m in length, at least one of the power fire pumps shall be fitted with an automatic control whereby full pressure will be maintained on the fire mains at all times while passengers are on board, but during conditions that may lead to freezing of sections of the pipelines, pressure need not be maintained on these sections; a pressure gauge shall be fitted on the fire main.

33. (1) Every Class A ship shall be provided with water pipes and hydrants; the diameter of the water pipes shall be sufficient to enable an adequate supply of water to be provided for the simultaneous operation of at least two fire hoses and for the projection thereby of two powerful jets of water; the number and position of the hydrants shall be such that at least two such jets may be directed into any part of the ship by means of two fire hoses each not over 18 m in length, each jet being supplied from a separate hydrant; at least one fire hose shall be provided for each hydrant.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), every Class A ship tied up to or alongside a dock shall be provided with

• (a) auxiliary means of connecting the water pipes of the ship to fire equipment on the shore,

• (b) suitable adapters for connecting to shore hydrants, and

• (c) sufficient certified and uncertified personnel to man the fire stations,

and where the ship has passengers on board, constant pressure shall be maintained on the ship’s fire main either by the ship’s pumping system or by shore supply.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a ship unless it is

• (a) a Safety Convention ship; or

• (b) a passenger steamship, making a home-trade voyage, an inland voyage or a minor waters voyage,

  • (i) that is certified to carry more than 25 berthed passengers or more than 50 berthed and unberthed passengers, or

  • (ii) that does not carry berthed passengers but is certified to carry more than 100 unberthed passengers and the length of the voyage from the point of commencement to the farthest outward point exceeds 15 nautical miles, or the distance from shore at any point exceeds five nautical miles.