Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations (SOR/95-191)

26. (1) The fire hydrant system referred to in section 24 and a water deluge system referred to in section 25 may be connected to the same water main and main pump systems.

(2) Every water main referred to in section 24 or 25 shall

• (a) be routed clear of hazardous areas as far as practicable;

• (b) be arranged in relation to any thermal barriers and structural elements of the installation so as to obtain the maximum protection from damage due to heat;

• (c) be equipped with valves that will permit a damaged part of the system to be isolated from the undamaged parts; and

• (d) be used solely for the purpose of firefighting.

(3) Every sea suction and source of power for each of the pump systems referred to in section 24 or 25 shall

• (a) be designed and arranged to start automatically in response to

  • (i) any drop in water pressure that indicates a demand on the system,

  • (ii) the receipt of a signal from the fire detection system, and

  • (iii) the receipt of a signal from any manual control point;

• (b) be capable of being started manually from the control station and started and stopped manually from a location close to the pump system;

• (c) be capable of functioning continuously without attendance for at least 24 hours; and

• (d) be designed and arranged so that a fire, explosion or flooding in any one space of the installation will not put more than one pump system out of operation.

(4) When any of the pump systems referred to in section 24 or 25 is started, an audible alarm shall be given automatically at the pump and an audible and visual alarm shall be given automatically at the fire and gas indicator panel in the control station.

(5) Every pump system provided pursuant to section 24 or 25 shall be located in a part of the installation remote from spaces that contain equipment used for storing, conveying or processing petroleum that is not used as fuel on the installation.

27. (1) The accommodation areas in every manned installation shall be equipped with a sprinkler system that is supplied with water from

• (a) two dedicated pump systems connected to the water main referred to in section 24 or 25 by way of a lockable screwdown non-return valve that will prevent backflow from the sprinkler system to the water main; or

• (b) one dedicated sprinkler pump connected to

  • (i) the water main referred to in section 24 or 25 by way of a lockable screwdown non-return valve that will prevent backflow from the sprinkler system to the water main, and

  • (ii) a pressurized fresh water tank having a volume equal to at least twice the volume of water required pursuant to subsection (2) to be supplied for a period of one minute.

(2) The volume of water supplied by the pump systems or pump and fresh water tank described in subsection (1) shall be at a pressure sufficient to ensure, at the level of the highest sprinkler, continuous coverage of at least 280 m² at the rate of at least 6 L/minute/m².

(3) The sprinkler pump required by paragraph (1)(b) shall

• (a) serve only the sprinkler system;

• (b) be activated automatically by a pressure drop in the system before the water in the fresh water tank is depleted; and

• (c) be powered from at least two sources.

(4) When the sprinkler system is activated, an audible and visual alarm that shows the location of the activated sprinklers shall be given automatically at the fire and gas indicator panel in the control station.

(5) The sprinkler system shall be designed to prevent the passage of sea water into the fresh water tank.

(6) The sprinkler system shall be provided with at least one stop valve for every 200 sprinklers that can prevent the flow of water into those sprinklers without affecting the rest of the system.

(7) Each of the stop valves provided pursuant to subsection (6) shall be protected from accidental operation.

(8) A gauge indicating the pressure in the sprinkler system shall be fitted at each stop valve and at the control station.

(9) The sprinkler heads shall be placed in positions and spaced in a pattern that will ensure an average application rate of 6 L/minute/m² throughout each space in the accommodation areas.

(10) The pump system or pump and fresh water tank required by subsection (1) shall be situated outside the accommodation areas and as far as possible from the main machinery space.

(11) The sprinkler system shall be

• (a) installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems; and

• (b) tested and maintained in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 13A, Recommended Practice for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Sprinkler Systems.