Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

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PART 3Vessels of Less than 24 m in Length

Interpretation

• 300 (1) The following definitions apply in this Part.

  30-minute fire rated insulation

  30-minute fire rated insulation means

  • (a) mineral wool with a density of at least 96 kg/m³ and a thickness of at least 50 mm;

  • (b) calcium-magnesium-silicate wool with a density of at least 64 kg/m³ and a thickness of at least 50 mm; or

  • (c) a material that is non-combustible, has a minimum melting point of 1150°C and, when installed on the fire risk side of a structure, maintains structural integrity at least as well as the material referred to in paragraph (a) or (b). (isolant qui assure une protection contre l’incendie pendant 30 minutes)

  “A-0” class divisions

  “A-0” class divisions has the same meaning as in regulation 3.2 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS. (cloisonnements du type « A-0 »)

  “A-15” class divisions

  “A-15” class divisions has the same meaning as in regulation 3.2 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS. (cloisonnements du type « A-15 »)

  accommodation spaces

  accommodation spaces means the spaces that are used for public spaces, corridors, lavatories, cabins, offices, games or hobby rooms, or pantries that do not contain cooking appliances, and similar spaces. (locaux d’habitation)

  “B-15” class divisions

  “B-15” class divisions has the same meaning as in regulation 3.4 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS. (cloisonnements du type « B-15 »)

  “F” class divisions

  “F” class divisions means divisions that are formed by bulkheads, decks, ceilings or linings and that meet the fire-test requirements for “F” class divisions set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code. (cloisonnements du type « F »)

  length overall

  length overall has the same meaning as in paragraph (a) of the definition length in section 1 of the Vessel Registration and Tonnage Regulations. (longueur hors tout)

  machinery spaces

  machinery spaces means spaces containing propulsion machinery, boilers, oil fuel units, internal combustion engines, generators and major electrical machinery, or ventilation and air conditioning machinery, and similar spaces, as well as trunks to such spaces. (locaux de machines)

  non-combustible

  non-combustible, in respect of a material, means

  • (a) that the material does not burn or give off inflammable vapours in sufficient quantity for self-ignition when heated to 750°C;

  • (b) that a product certification body or a testing laboratory has certified that the material is non-combustible when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S114, entitled Standard Method of Test for Determination of Non-Combustibility in Building Materials, published by the Standards Council of Canada; or

  • (c) that the material meets the non-combustibility test requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code. (incombustible)

  passenger-carrying vessel

  passenger-carrying vessel means a vessel that is carrying one or more passengers. (bâtiment transportant des passagers)

  service spaces

  service spaces means the spaces that are used for galleys, pantries that contain cooking appliances, lockers, storerooms, or workshops other than those forming part of the machinery spaces, and similar spaces, as well as trunks to such spaces. (locaux de service)

• (2) For the purposes of this Part, a vessel is constructed on the day on which

  • (a) its keel is laid;

  • (b) in the case of a composite vessel, its lay-up is started;

  • (c) in the case of a vessel converted to a passenger-carrying vessel, the conversion begins; or

  • (d) in all other cases, its actual construction begins.

Application

• 301 (1) This Part applies in respect of Canadian vessels everywhere that are not Safety Convention vessels and that are

  • (a) vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage but of less than 24 m in length that are not passenger-carrying vessels;

  • (b) passenger-carrying vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage but of less than 24 m in length that, if applicable, are carrying not more than 36 berthed passengers; or

  • (c) passenger-carrying vessels of not more than 15 gross tonnage that are carrying more than 12 passengers.

• (2) This Part does not apply in respect of

  • (a) vessels that carry dangerous goods, other than in limited quantities, and that are referred to in regulation 19.2.2 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS or have cargo spaces referred to in that regulation;

  • (b) pleasure craft;

  • (c) fishing vessels;

  • (d) high-speed craft;

  • (e) vessels that do not have mechanical means of propulsion;

  • (f) wooden vessels of primitive build;

  • (g) vessels that are capable of engaging in the drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas;

  • (h) nuclear vessels; or

  • (i) vessels to which the Special-purpose Vessels Regulations apply.

Compliance

302 A vessel’s authorized representative must ensure that the requirements of sections 305 to 347 are met in respect of the vessel.

Grandfathered Vessels

• 303 (1) If a vessel 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 that were required to be met for the issuance of the certificate are met instead of the requirements of sections 313 to 347 of these Regulations.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), 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

• 304 (1) Section 303 does 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) Section 303 does not apply if the vessel’s intended service changes in such a manner that any of the requirements that were required to be met for the issuance of the certificate are no longer met.

Prohibition — Wooden Passenger-carrying Vessels

305 A wooden passenger-carrying vessel must

• (a) carry not more than 100 passengers or not more than 12 berthed passengers; and

• (b) engage only on sheltered waters voyages and near coastal voyages, Class 2, limited.

Amount and Storage of Certain Flammable Liquids

306 Flammable liquids — other than those that are currently being used on a vessel, being carried as cargo or being used as fuel or lubricant in a vessel’s system — must

• (a) be kept to a minimum and in no case exceed 30 kg; and

• (b) be stored in a locker that meets the requirements of subsection 319(3).

Maintenance and Accessibility of Equipment and Systems

• 307 (1) The fire safety equipment and systems on a vessel must

  • (a) be in good working order and ready to use; and

  • (b) be maintained in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations, if any.

• (2) The fire safety equipment and systems that are required by this Part must be readily accessible for immediate use.

Fire Control Plans

• 308 (1) A passenger-carrying vessel must have on board a fire control plan or booklet that is readily accessible to the vessel’s master and crew and that includes the following information:

  • (a) the type of structural fire protection and its location;

  • (b) the types of fire detection and firefighting equipment on board and their location;

  • (c) the location of the exits and escape routes;

  • (d) the details of the ventilation system, including the location of the fan controls and dampers;

  • (e) the type of shut-off means that meets the requirements of paragraph 341(2)(b) and its location; and

  • (f) the location of the fire control stations.

• (2) The fire control plan or booklet must be

  • (a) in the working language of the vessel; and

  • (b) in English or French, or in both languages, according to the needs of the shoreside firefighting personnel.

Portable Firefighting Equipment

Quantity, Type and Location

• 309 (1) A vessel of a length overall set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection must carry the firefighting equipment set out in column 2.

  Item	Column 1	Column 2
  	Length Overall	Firefighting Equipment
  1	Not more than 12 m	(a) one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher; (b) one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher for every space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance; (c) one 10B:C fire extinguisher for every machinery space; (d) one fire axe; and (e) one fire bucket
  2	More than 12 m	(a) one 2A:20B:C fire extinguisher; (b) one 2A:20B:C fire extinguisher for (i) every space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance, and (ii) every accommodation space; (c) one additional 2A:20B:C fire extinguisher for every 70 m2 or fraction of 70 m2 of each accommodation space; (d) one 20B:C fire extinguisher for every 746 kW or fraction of 746 kW of main or auxiliary engine power in each machinery space; (e) one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher for (i) every area with an appliance used to cook or reheat food, and (ii) every flammable material locker; (f) one fire axe; and (g) two fire buckets

• (2) A vessel that is required to carry a portable fire extinguisher of a classification set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection may instead carry one that contains the extinguishing agent and is of the weight set out in column 2, 3 or 4.

  Item	Column 1	Column 2		Column 3		Column 4
  	Classification	Multi-purpose Dry Chemical (ammonium phosphate)		Regular Dry Chemical (sodium bicarbonate)		Carbon Dioxide
  				(Class B and C fires only)		(Class B and C fires only)
  		Net Weight		Net Weight		Net Weight
  		kg	lbs.	kg	lbs.	kg	lbs.
  1	2A:10B:C	2.25	5
  2	2A:20B:C	4.5	10
  3	10B:C	2.25	5	2.25	5	4.5	10
  4	20B:C	4.5	10	4.5	10	9	20

• (3) The letters used in the classification of a fire extinguisher refer to the following classes of fires:

  • (a) Class A fires are fires in combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastic;

  • (b) Class B fires are fires in inflammable liquids, gases and greases;

  • (c) Class C fires are fires that involve energized electrical equipment where the electrical non-conductivity of the extinguishing media is of importance;

  • (d) Class K fires are fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media such as vegetable or animal oils or fats.

• (4) Every portable fire extinguisher must contain an extinguishing agent that is capable of extinguishing any potential fires in the space for which the extinguisher is intended.

• (5) A portable fire extinguisher may be rated for Class K fires instead of Class B fires if it is intended for use in an area with cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media.

• (6) One of the portable fire extinguishers that is required for a space must be stored near the entrance to the space.

• (7) A portable fire extinguisher that contains a gas extinguishing agent must not be used in an accommodation space or stored in that space.