Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

Vessels Carrying More than 100 Passengers or More than 12 Berthed Passengers

• 320 (1) On a vessel carrying more than 100 passengers or more than 12 berthed passengers, every deck that separates an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse from an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse, and every deck or bulkhead in way of life saving equipment, a muster station or an embarkation station, must

  • (a) in the case of a steel or aluminum vessel, consist of “A-15” class divisions; and

  • (b) in the case of a composite vessel, be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

• (2) On a vessel carrying more than 12 berthed passengers,

  • (a) the vessel must be divided into fire zones that include berths for a maximum of 12 persons;

  • (b) the decks delimiting the fire zones must consist of “A-15” class divisions or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation; and

  • (c) the bulkheads delimiting the fire zones must consist of “F” class divisions or “B-15” class divisions.

Wooden or Composite Vessels

Machinery Spaces

321 On a wooden or composite vessel, the exposed surfaces within a machinery space, including supporting structures and engine seats, must be coated with a final layer of fire retardant coating or fire retardant resin.

• 322 (1) On a wooden or composite vessel, every deck or bulkhead that separates a machinery space from an accommodation space, galley, wheelhouse, space containing a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system, or compartment to store gas containers must consist of “F” class divisions or “B-15” class divisions, or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

• (2) On a vessel that is not more than 15 m in length overall, any area of a deck or bulkhead in which the available space or physical configuration makes it impossible to meet the requirements of subsection (1) may instead be coated with fire retardant coating of the intumescent type or with fire retardant resin.

Composite Passenger-carrying Vessels — Laminate for the Hull, Decks and Superstructures

323 On a composite passenger-carrying vessel carrying more than 100 passengers or more than 12 berthed passengers or that engages on voyages that are not sheltered waters voyages or near coastal voyages, Class 2, limited,

• (a) the laminate for the hull, decks and superstructures must not be a sandwich construction; and

• (b) the resin in the laminate must be a resin that a product certification body or a testing laboratory has certified

  • (i) as having a flame spread rating of 25 or less when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E84, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or

  • (ii) as meeting the requirements of Military Specification Resins, Polyester Low Pressure Laminating Fire-Retardant, MIL-R-21607, published by the Naval Sea Systems Command, United States Department of the Navy.

Steel or Aluminum Vessels

• 324 (1) On a steel or aluminum vessel, every deck or bulkhead that separates a machinery space from an accommodation space, galley, wheelhouse, space containing fixed gas fire-extinguishing equipment, or compartment to store gas containers must

  • (a) if the vessel is a passenger-carrying vessel, consist of “A-15” class divisions or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation; and

  • (b) if the vessel is not a passenger-carrying vessel, consist of “A-0” class divisions.

• (2) On a vessel that is not more than 15 m in length overall, any area of a deck or bulkhead in which the available space or physical configuration makes it impossible to meet the requirements of subsection (1) may instead be coated with fire retardant coating of the intumescent type.

Openings in Boundaries, Decks, Bulkheads and Lockers

• 325 (1) The fire integrity of the boundaries, decks, bulkheads and lockers referred to in sections 318 to 320, 322 and 324 must not be impaired by the passage of electrical cables, pipes, trunks, ducts or other transit devices through the divisions.

• (2) The doors and other closures of openings in the boundaries, decks, bulkheads and lockers referred to in sections 318 to 320, 322 and 324 must have fire-resistant properties equivalent to those of the class divisions of the structures in which they are fitted.

Interior Finish and Furniture

• 326 (1) Subject to section 327, the exposed surfaces within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must

  • (a) be made of a material that

    • (i) a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization has certified as having a flame spread rating or index of 25 or less and a smoke developed classification or index of 100 or less when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S102, entitled Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials and Assemblies, published by the Standards Council of Canada, or the standard ASTM E84, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or

    • (ii) meets the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code; or

  • (b) be coated with fire retardant coating or fire retardant resin.

• (2) Paint, varnish or similar preparation that contains a nitro-cellulose base must not be applied, and a fabric that contains nitro-cellulose must not be fitted, to any interior surface of the vessel or any furniture.

• 327 (1) The primary deck coverings within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must

  • (a) be certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as

    • (i) having a radiant panel index that does not exceed 20 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E162, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials, or

    • (ii) having a critical radiant flux of at least 0.45 W/cm² when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E648, entitled Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASMT E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials; or

  • (b) meet the flame spread, smoke, toxicity and non-ignitable requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.

• (2) The surface finish material, other than soft floor coverings, within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must

  • (a) be certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as

    • (i) having a radiant panel index that does not exceed 20 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E162, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials, or

    • (ii) having a critical radiant flux of at least 0.45 W/cm² when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E648, entitled Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials; or

  • (b) meet the flame spread, smoke, and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.

• (3) Soft floor coverings within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must

  • (a) be certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as

    • (i) having a flame spread rating or index of 300 or less and a smoke developed classification or index of 300 or less, in the case of wool, or a flame spread rating or index of 300 or less and a smoke developed classification or index of 500 or less in the case of nylon or a nylon/wool blend, when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S102.2, entitled Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Flooring, Floor Coverings, and Miscellaneous Materials and Assemblies, published by the Standards Council of Canada, or

    • (ii) having a critical radiant flux of at least 0.45 W/cm² when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E648, entitled Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials; or

  • (b) meet the flame spread, smoke, and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.

• 328 (1) Curtains or other suspended textiles must not be installed within 600 mm of any cooking appliance, any heating or fuel-burning appliance or any similar appliance.

• (2) On a vessel carrying more than 100 passengers or more than 12 berthed passengers,

  • (a) upholstered furniture and mattresses must be

    • (i) certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as being fire-resistant when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S137, entitled Standard Method of Test for Fire Growth of Mattresses (Open Flame Test), published by the Standards Council of Canada, or the IMO Resolution A.652(16), entitled Recommendation on Fire Test Procedures For Upholstered Furniture, or

    • (ii) covered with a flame-resistant fabric; and

  • (b) all permanently installed textiles, such as curtains, canvas and decorative accessories, must be made of flame-resistant fabric.

• (3) In subsection (2), flame resistant fabric means a fabric that a product certification body or testing laboratory has certified as meeting the requirements of the standard CAN/ULC-S109, entitled Flame Tests of Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films, published by the Standards Council of Canada, or the standard NFPA 701, entitled Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films.

Ventilation Systems — Passenger-carrying Vessels

• 329 (1) This section applies in respect of passenger-carrying vessels.

• (2) A ventilation duct that serves an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must not pass through a machinery space unless the duct is gastight, made of steel or aluminum alloy and insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

• (3) Every exhaust ventilation duct from a galley range hood must have a grease trap and be made of steel.

• (4) Means must be provided for closing the main inlets and outlets of every ventilation system from a position outside the space served by the system. The means of closing must

  • (a) be readily accessible;

  • (b) be prominently and permanently marked as being the main inlet or outlet to the space; and

  • (c) indicate whether the inlets and outlets are open or closed.

• (5) Means of control must be provided for stopping the ventilation fans that serve an accommodation space, service space, cargo space, control station or machinery space. The means must be in a readily accessible position outside the space or the station but, in the case of a ventilation fan serving a machinery space, must be located as required by subsection 341(2).

• (6) A ventilation duct that serves a machinery space or galley must not pass through an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse unless the duct is gastight, made of steel or aluminum alloy and insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

• (7) On a composite vessel, if a ventilation duct that serves a machinery space is an integral part of the structure, the internal surfaces of the duct must be coated with a fire retardant coating of the intumescent type or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

Fuel Tanks — Passenger-carrying Vessels

• 330 (1) This section applies in respect of passenger-carrying vessels.

• (2) A fuel tank must

  • (a) if feasible, be located outside the machinery spaces; and

  • (b) be made of steel or of another material of equivalent structural properties.

• (3) If a fuel tank that is not made of steel is located in or adjacent to a machinery space, or is located in or adjacent to a space containing flammable material, the exposed surfaces of the tank must be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

• (4) On a composite vessel, a composite fuel tank that is an integral part of the hull must be coated with a final layer of fire retardant resin. The exposed surfaces of the tank must be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.

Fire Detection, Alarms and Communications

Automatic Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

• 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.