Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

Compliance

• 102 (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a vessel’s authorized representative must ensure that the requirements of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — other than those of regulations 1.1 and 1.3 to 1.6 and of Part E — and the requirements of sections 109 to 150 and 153 to 159 are met in respect of the vessel.

• (2) Except as otherwise provided in this Part, a vessel’s master must ensure that the requirements of regulation 7.8.1 and Part E of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS and of sections 117, 118, 151 and 152 are met in respect of the vessel.

• (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), in respect of vessels that are not Safety Convention vessels,

  • (a) the construction requirements set out in Chapter II-2 of SOLAS for vessels carrying more than 36 passengers apply in respect of vessels referred to in paragraph 101(1)(b) that

    • (i) are carrying more than 36 berthed passengers,

    • (ii) are carrying more than 50 passengers, of which more than 12 but not more than 36 are berthed passengers, or

    • (iii) are carrying more than 100 passengers and are engaged on a voyage that is not a sheltered waters voyage or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, limited; and

  • (b) the construction requirements set out in Chapter II-2 of SOLAS for vessels carrying not more than 36 passengers apply in respect of vessels referred to in subparagraph 101(1)(b)(i) that

    • (i) are carrying not more than 50 passengers, of which not more than 36 are berthed passengers,

    • (ii) are carrying not more than 100 passengers, of which not more than 12 are berthed passengers, and are engaged on a voyage that is not a sheltered waters voyage or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, limited, or

    • (iii) are carrying more than 100 passengers, of which not more than 12 are berthed passengers, and are engaged on a voyage that is a sheltered waters voyage or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, limited.

• (4) Despite subsections (1) and (2), the requirements for tankers that are set out in Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — other than those in regulation 1 — apply in respect of tankers subject to regulation 1.6 of that Chapter. The authorized representative of a tanker must ensure that any requirements of that regulation that are in addition to or different from the requirements referred to in those subsections are met. However, the requirement in regulation 1.6.7 of that Chapter that equipment be fitted not later than July 1, 2005 does not apply before

  • (a) if the tanker is a Safety Convention vessel, the day on which it is first registered as a Canadian vessel or the day on which this section comes into force, whichever is later;

  • (b) if the tanker is not a Safety Convention vessel, the day on which it is first registered as a Canadian vessel or the first anniversary of the day on which this section comes into force, whichever is later; and

  • (c) if the tanker is transferred from the register of another state to the Register for the first time on the day on which this section comes into force, the day on which it is transferred to the Register.

Grandfathered Vessels

103 If a vessel that is not a Safety Convention vessel and that was constructed before the day on which this section comes into force held, at any time before that day, a certificate issued under the Vessel Certificates Regulations or under section 318 or 319 of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. S-9, its authorized representative may ensure that the requirements with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment that would have been required under the Act to be met, on the day before that day, are met instead of the requirements referred to in section 102 of these Regulations with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment.

104 If a Safety Convention vessel that was constructed before July 1, 2002 held, at any time before the day on which this section comes into force, a certificate issued under the Vessel Certificates Regulations or under section 318 or 319 of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. S-9,

• (a) its authorized representative may ensure that the requirements with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment that would have been required under the Act to be met, on the day before that day, are met instead of the requirements referred to in section 102 of these Regulations with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment; and

• (b) its master may ensure that the requirements with respect to fire control plans that would have been required under the Act to be met, on the day before that day, are met instead of the requirements referred to in section 102 of these Regulations with respect to fire control plans.

105 For the purposes of sections 103 and 104, the reference to section 318 or 319 of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. S-9, includes any predecessor enactment relating to the same subject matter.

Limitations on Grandfathering

• 106 (1) Except in respect of the requirements referred to in subsection (3), sections 103 and 104 do not apply in respect of

  • (a) parts of a vessel that, beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, undergo repairs, alterations or modifications that

    • (i) substantially alter the vessel’s dimensions or its passenger accommodation spaces, or

    • (ii) substantially increase the vessel’s service life or the life of the vessel’s outfitting;

  • (b) systems and equipment that are related to the parts of a vessel described in paragraph (a);

  • (c) parts of a vessel that, beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, are replaced; or

  • (d) systems and equipment that, beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, are replaced.

• (2) Sections 103 and 104 do not apply if the vessel’s intended service changes in such a manner that any of the requirements with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment that would have been required under the Act to be met are no longer met.

• (3) Sections 103 and 104 apply only until the first anniversary of the day on which this section comes into force in respect of the requirements of regulations 13.3.4.2 to 13.3.4.5 and 13.4.3 and part E — except regulations 16.3.2.2 and 16.3.2.3 — of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS.

• (4) Sections 103 and 104 do not apply in respect of amendments to SOLAS that are adopted by the IMO on or after the day on which this section comes into force if SOLAS provides that the amendments apply regardless of the date of a vessel’s construction.

Exemptions and Equivalents

107 For the purposes of this Part, the Marine Technical Review Board established under section 26 of the Act may exercise the Administration’s powers conferred by regulations 4 and 5 of Chapter I of SOLAS.

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

• 108 (1) A vessel that carries dangerous goods must hold a Document of Compliance issued under subsection (2).

• (2) On application by the authorized representative of a vessel, the Minister must issue a Document of Compliance to the vessel if its construction and equipment meet the requirements referred to in section 102 that apply if the vessel carries dangerous goods.

• (3) For the purposes of this section, dangerous goods does not include

  • (a) dangerous goods in limited quantities; or

  • (b) dangerous goods specified as class 6.2 or 7 in the IMDG Code, except solid bulk cargoes.

Requirements

Regulation 4 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Probability of Ignition

Oil Fuel Tanks

109 For the purposes of regulation 4.2.2.3.5.1, if sounding pipes are used, they must terminate on an open deck, if feasible.

Prevention of Overpressure

110 For the purposes of regulation 4.2.2.4, the air pipes on any oil tank or part of the oil fuel system must be flame-screened and, if feasible, terminate on an open deck.

Ventilation Systems in Cargo Pump-rooms

111 The mechanical ventilation system required by regulation 4.5.4.1 must

• (a) permit the extraction of air from the cargo pump room bilges or from immediately above the transverse floor plates or bottom longitudinals;

• (b) have an emergency intake that is

  • (i) situated in the ventilation ducts at a height of at least 2 m above the lower platform of the cargo pump room, and

  • (ii) fitted with a fire damper that is capable of being opened and closed from the weather deck or the lower platform of the cargo pump-room; and

• (c) provide a means of ensuring a free flow of gases through the lower platform of the cargo pump-room to the ventilation duct intakes.

Regulation 5 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Fire Growth Potential

Closing Appliances and Stopping Devices of Ventilation

• 112 (1) In addition to the requirements of regulation 5.2, a vessel must be fitted with means to automatically shut down the ventilation fans for a space when a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system for that space is activated.

• (2) In addition to the requirements of regulation 5.2.2.3, a vessel must be fitted with a means of control if the vessel is provided with any other equipment than that referred to in that regulation, including hydraulic power systems, that could contribute to sustaining a fire or create any other unsafe condition in the case of fire, in the space in which that other equipment is fitted.

Insulating Materials

• 113 (1) In addition to the restriction in regulation 5.3.1.1 on the use of combustible insulating materials, organic foam must not be used in the mail rooms or baggage rooms of a passenger vessel.

• (2) If organic foam is used in a cargo space or a refrigerated compartment of a service space,

  • (a) the exposed surfaces of the foam must be

    • (i) sealed with an intumescent coating that meets the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code, and

    • (ii) covered with a steel-sheet protective facing;

  • (b) in the case of organic foam used in a cargo space or a refrigerated compartment of a service space on a vessel of steel construction, the boundaries to the space must be of steel construction; and

  • (c) in the case of organic foam used in a refrigerated compartment of a service space on a vessel of aluminum construction, the boundaries to the space must be of steel or aluminum construction.

Regulation 6 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Smoke Generation Potential and Toxicity

114 In addition to the requirements of regulation 6, plastic piping fitted on a vessel must meet the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code and must be subject of a Minister’s type approval indicating that it meets the requirements set out in the IMO Resolution A.753(18), entitled Guidelines for the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships.

Regulation 7 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Detection and Alarm

Smoke Detectors

115 In addition to the requirements of regulation 7.5, a smoke detector must be installed in every cabin and every service space, regardless of the method of fire protection chosen.

Protection of Cargo Spaces in Passenger Vessels

116 For the purposes of regulation 7.6, “where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Administration that the ship is engaged on voyages of such short duration that it would be unreasonable to apply this requirement” is to be read as “in the case of voyages of not more than 48 hours’ duration during which the cargo holds are opened to load or unload cargo”.

Fire Patrols in Passenger Vessels

• 117 (1) Regulation 7.8.1 applies in respect of a vessel that is not a Safety Convention vessel only if it

  • (a) is carrying more than 50 passengers or more than 25 berthed passengers; or

  • (b) is carrying more than 100 unberthed passengers and is on a voyage during which it is more than 15 nautical miles from the point of departure or 5 nautical miles from shore.

• (2) The fire patrols required by regulation 7.8.1 must be performed at least once every hour and must include a patrol of the entire vessel.

Passenger Vessels at Dock

118 In addition to the requirements of regulation 7, every passenger vessel that is scheduled to be at a dock for more than one hour must, immediately on arrival at the dock, be connected to the shore fire-alarm system or to the local fire-station telephone system, if either system is fitted at the dock.

Regulation 9 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Containment of Fire

Protection of Stairways and Lift Trunks in Accommodation Spaces, Service Spaces and Control Stations

119 The class division requirements of regulation 9.2.3.4 for stairways that penetrate more than a single deck apply to any area, such as a landing or corridor, between the stairways, if those stairways provide continuous fire shelter as described in subsection 147(6).

Openings in Decks and Bulkheads in Passenger Vessels

• 120 (1) In addition to the requirements of regulation 9.4.1.1.2, every door in an “A” class division must meet the following requirements:

  • (a) the gap between the door leaf and its frame, as installed on board the vessel, must not exceed the gap measured when the door was tested in accordance with the FTP Code, but, in the case where the door was approved without a sill being part of the frame, the gap under the door, as installed on board the vessel, must not exceed the gap set out in regulation 9.4.1.1.2; and

  • (b) a grille or louvre must not be fitted in the door.

• (2) The hose port requirements of regulation 9.4.1.1.8 apply in respect of every hose port fitted in a door in an “A” class division.

• (3) If a ventilation duct passes through a main horizontal zone division on a passenger vessel, a fail-safe automatic-closing fire damper must be fitted in accordance with regulation 9.4.1.1.9, and the duct between the division and the damper must meet the requirements of that regulation.

• (4) In addition to the requirements of regulations 9.4.1.1 and 9.4.1.2, every door in an “A” or “B” class division must be fitted with a thin metal identification plate that

  • (a) has clearly stamped on it the door manufacturer’s name, the “A” or “B” class rating, the type approval certificate number and the number of the drawing to which the door has been manufactured; and

  • (b) is screwed or riveted to either of the vertical edges of the door panel.