Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

Ventilation Ducts

• 219 (1) A ventilation duct that serves a machinery space of category A or a galley must not pass through an accommodation space, service space or control station unless

  • (a) the ventilation duct is made of steel that is supported, stiffened and of one of the following thicknesses:

    • (i) 3 mm, if the width or diameter of the duct is not more than 300 mm,

    • (ii) 5 mm, if the width or diameter of the duct is 760 mm or more, or

    • (iii) the thickness obtained by linear interpolation between the thicknesses set out in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), if the width or diameter of the duct is more than 300 mm but less than 760 mm; and

  • (b) the ventilation duct

    • (i) is insulated to an A-60 class fire rating throughout the accommodation space, service space or control station, or

    • (ii) meets the following requirements:

      • (A) it is fitted, at each of the space’s or station’s divisions that is penetrated by the duct, with a fail-safe automatic-closing fire damper that can be operated from both sides of the division, and

      • (B) it is insulated to an A-60 class fire rating from the machinery space or galley to a point at least 5 m beyond each fire damper.

• (2) A ventilation duct that serves an accommodation space, service space or control station must not pass through a machinery space of category A or a galley unless

  • (a) the ventilation duct meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(a); and

  • (b) the ventilation duct

    • (i) is insulated to an A-60 class fire rating throughout the machinery space or galley, or

    • (ii) meets the following requirements:

      • (A) it is fitted, at each of the space’s or station’s divisions that is penetrated by the duct, with a fail-safe automatic-closing fire damper that can be operated from both sides of the division, and

      • (B) it is insulated to an A-60 class fire rating from the accommodation space, service space or control station to a point at least 5 m beyond each fire damper.

Storerooms that Contain Highly Flammable Materials

• 220 (1) A storeroom that contains highly flammable materials must be provided with a ventilation system that is separate from the ventilation systems serving other spaces.

• (2) The ventilation system must ventilate high and low levels of the storeroom. Every inlet or outlet of the system must be positioned in an area free from flammable gases.

• (3) A wire mesh guard that is corrosion-resistant and arrests sparks must be fitted over the opening of the inlet or outlet.

Independent Ventilation Systems

221 A ventilation system that serves a machinery space, galley, stairway enclosure, cargo space or special category space must not serve another space and must be independent of every other ventilation system.

Non-combustible Materials — Trunks and Ducts

• 222 (1) The trunks and ducts of ventilation systems must be constructed of non-combustible materials.

• (2) If a trunk or duct serves spaces on both sides of an “A” class division, fire dampers must be fitted so as to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between compartments. Manual fire dampers must be operable from both sides of the division.

• (3) If a trunk or duct has a free cross-sectional area of more than 0.02 m² and passes through an “A” class division, the trunk or duct must be fitted with an automatic-closing fire damper.

• (4) If a trunk or duct serves compartments situated on only one side of an “A” class division, the opening in the division must be lined with a steel sheet sleeve unless the trunk or duct passing through the division is of steel in the vicinity of the passage and unless the portion of the trunk or duct in that vicinity

  • (a) has sleeves that are at least 3 mm thick and 900 mm long and is insulated with fire insulation that has at least the same fire integrity as the division, if the trunk or duct has a free cross-sectional area of more than 0.02 m²; or

  • (b) is fitted with automatic fire dampers that can be operated manually, if the trunk or duct has a free cross-sectional area of more than 0.085 m².

• (5) A sleeve referred to in paragraph (4)(a) that passes through a bulkhead must be of the same length on either side of the bulkhead.

• (6) Paragraph (4)(b) does not apply if the trunk or duct passes through a space surrounded by “A” class divisions without serving that space and the trunk or duct has the same fire integrity as the divisions through which it passes.

Electric Radiators

• 223 (1) Every electric radiator must be fixed in position.

• (2) An electric radiator must not be fitted with a heating element exposed to such an extent that clothing, curtains or other similar materials could be scorched or set on fire by heat from the element.

Exposed Surfaces

• 224 (1) The exposed surfaces within accommodation spaces, service spaces, control stations or corridor or stairway enclosures, and the concealed surfaces behind bulkheads, ceilings, panelling or linings in accommodation spaces, service spaces or control stations, must meet the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.

• (2) The exposed surfaces of glass-reinforced plastic within accommodation spaces, service spaces, control stations, machinery spaces of category A or other machinery spaces of similar fire risk to machinery spaces of category A must

  • (a) be coated with a final layer of fire retardant resin;

  • (b) be coated with a fire retardant coating; or

  • (c) be protected by non-combustible materials that meet the requirements for non-combustible materials set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.

• (3) The paints, varnishes and other finishes used on any exposed interior surface must be a fire retardant coating.

Primary Deck Coverings

225 The primary deck coverings within accommodation spaces, service spaces or control stations must meet the flame spread, smoke, toxicity and non-ignitable requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.

Plastic Piping

226 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.

Piping Penetrating Decks and Bulkheads

227 The piping penetrating an “A” class division or “B” class division in an accommodation space, service space or control station must be able to withstand the temperature that the division is able to withstand.

Materials for Overboard Scuppers, Sanitary Discharges or Other Outlets

• 228 (1) On a vessel whose hull is constructed of combustible materials, materials that are readily rendered ineffective by heat must not be used for overboard scuppers, sanitary discharges or other outlets that are close to the waterline if failure of the materials in the event of fire would give rise to danger of flooding.

• (2) On a vessel whose hull is constructed of non-combustible materials, materials that are used for overboard scuppers, sanitary discharges or other outlets that are close to the waterline must be at least as fire-resistant as the hull.

Remote Means To Stop Pumps

• 229 (1) Remote means must be provided to stop fuel oil transfer pumps, oil fuel unit pumps and other similar fuel pumps, and must be operable from outside the spaces served by those pumps. The main fire control station must be provided with a remote means to stop the pumps and with a visual indicator of whether the pumps are running.

• (2) The remote means must be arranged so that a source of power to stop the pumps is provided

  • (a) from each individual motor control circuit; or

  • (b) from a dedicated source of power feeding an individual motor, or a group of motors connected to a motor control centre for a particular space, without any shunt-trip arrangements.

• (3) A stop circuit of the remote means that is activated manually must be manually reset.

Highly Flammable Liquids or Liquefied Gases

• 230 (1) If highly flammable liquids or liquefied gases are in a space, the space

  • (a) must be directly accessible from an open deck and must not be otherwise accessible; and

  • (b) must be provided with

    • (i) if the deck area of the space is 4 m² or more, a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system, fixed foam fire-extinguishing system or fixed pressure water-spraying fire-extinguishing system that meets the applicable requirements of the FSS Code for the system, and

    • (ii) if the deck area of the space is less than 4 m²,

      • (A) an ABC-type dry-chemical fire extinguisher that has a capacity of at least 4.5 kg, or

      • (B) a fire extinguisher that has a fire-extinguishing capability at least equivalent to the fire extinguisher referred to in clause (A).

• (2) The pressure-adjusting devices and relief valves on cylinders that contain highly flammable liquids or liquefied gases must exhaust within the space where the cylinders are located. The space must be gastight if it adjoins another enclosed space.

• 231 (1) A space that is used to store highly flammable liquids or liquefied gases must

  • (a) be kept clear of sources of heat; and

  • (b) prominently display signs bearing the following clearly legible words:

    • (i) “NO NAKED LIGHTS” and “PAS DE FLAMMES NUES”, and

    • (ii) “NO SMOKING” and “DÉFENSE DE FUMER”.

• (2) Electrical wiring and fittings must not be installed within a space that is used to store highly flammable liquids or liquefied gases unless

  • (a) the installation is necessary for service within the space;

  • (b) the wiring and fittings are certified or type approved as being intrinsically safe by a product certification body that certifies electrical equipment for marine use or by a recognized organization; and

  • (c) the temperature of the exposed surface of the wiring and fittings does not exceed the ignition temperature of the explosive atmosphere that may exist in the space.

Separate Storage Compartments for Compressed Gases

• 232 (1) Each type of compressed gas must be stored in a separate compartment from other types of compressed gas.

• (2) A compartment that is used for the storage of compressed gas must not be used for the storage of any other combustible material or for the storage of any object that is not part of the gas distribution system.

Means of Escape

• 233 (1) In this section and section 234, means of escape does not include a lift.

• (2) Stairways and ladders must be arranged to provide ready means of escape to the lifeboat and life-raft embarkation deck from accommodation spaces and from spaces in which the crew is normally employed, other than machinery spaces.

• (3) Two means of escape that are separated as widely as possible must be provided from all accommodation levels. The means of escape may include normal means of access from each restricted space or group of spaces.

• (4) Below the weather deck, the means of escape must be stairways. The most direct route to one of the stairways must be independent of any watertight doors.

• (5) Above the weather deck, the means of escape must be stairways or doors, or a combination of stairways and doors, to an open deck.

• (6) Despite subsections (4) and (5), if it is not feasible to install stairways or doors, one of the means of escape from below the weather deck and one of the means of escape from above the weather deck may be a porthole of at least 400 mm in diameter or a hatch of at least 560 mm x 560 mm that is protected, if necessary, against ice accretion.

• (7) Despite subsections (4) and (5), if it is not feasible to install a stairway, a vertical ladder may be used as a second means of escape.

• (8) The width, number and continuity of the means of escape must meet the applicable requirements of the FSS Code.

• (9) A corridor, or part of a corridor, from which there is only one means of escape must not exceed 5 m in length.

• 234 (1) Every machinery space of category A must have two means of escape that are separated as widely as possible. If a means of escape is vertical, it must consist of a steel stairway or a steel ladder.

• (2) If a cabin door leads directly into a machinery space of category A, the cabin must have a means of escape that is separate from the means of escape from the space.