Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

331 (1) An automatic fire detection and alarm system must be installed in order to detect the presence and location of a fire in an accommodation space, machinery space and service space.

(2) The system must indicate the presence of the fire by an audio signal given at one or more points on the vessel so as to come rapidly to the notice of the vessel’s master and crew. In an occupied machinery space with high ambient noise level, the system must also indicate the presence of the fire by flashing red lights or beacons of sufficient intensity and number to alert the occupants of the space.

(3) The system must be designed so that

• (a) power supplies and electric circuits necessary for the operation of the system are monitored for losses of power and fault conditions;

• (b) a loss of power or a fault condition initiates a visual and audible fault signal at the control panel that is distinct from a fire signal;

• (c) there are at least two sources of power supply for the system, one of which is an emergency source;

• (d) visual and audible alarm signals at the control panel indicate when the normal supply has failed and the system is operating on the emergency source of power;

• (e) the power supply for the system is provided by separate feeders reserved solely for that purpose;

• (f) the smoke and heat detectors for the system are grouped into sections and the activation of any detector initiates a visual and audible fire signal at the control panel;

• (g) if the vessel has a public address system, the audio signal to indicate the presence of a fire is automatically interrupted during communication from the system; and

• (h) the control panel is located at the main control position.

(4) The system must be installed so that

• (a) there is at least one smoke detector in each cabin, corridor, escape route or stairway, and in each service space not containing cooking appliances;

• (b) there is at least one heat detector in each public room or machinery space, and in each service space containing cooking appliances;

• (c) the smoke detectors and heat detectors are located for optimum performance, and the surface coverage of each detector does not exceed its manufacturer’s specifications; and

• (d) the wiring that forms part of the system does not enter any galley or machinery space, or any other enclosed space of high fire risk, except to the extent that the wiring is necessary to provide for fire detection or alarm in the space or to connect to the appropriate power supply in the space.

(5) The smoke and heat detectors must be certified by a product certification body or be of a type approved by a recognized organization.

(6) The heat detectors must be

• (a) dual-action rate-of-rise and fixed-temperature; and

• (b) set at a temperature appropriate for the protected space but in no case more than 78°C.