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Fire pumps
For cargo ships of 150 gross tons or more, a minimum of one fixed power pump
and
one
portable
pump
are
to
be
provided.
For cargo ships of less than 150 gross tons, one portable pump or alternative , is
to
be
provided.
which
meets
the
criteria
listed
later
For fishing vessels, not less than one fixed power pump is to be provided.
Sanitary, ballast, bilge or general service pumps may be accepted as fire pumps,
provided that they are not normally used for pumping oil, and that, if they are
subject to occasional duty for the transfer or pumping of fuel oil, suitable
changeover
arrangements
are
fitted.
In cargo ships and fishing vessels classed for navigation in ice, the fire pump sea
inlet valves are to be provided with ice clearing arrangements .
Relief valves are to be provided in conjunction with any fire pump if the pump is
capable of developing a pressure exceeding the design pressure of the water
service pipes, hydrants and hoses. These valves are to be so placed and adjusted
as to prevent excessive pressure in any part of the fire main system.<BR< main.
Portable Pumps
Means to illuminate the stowage area of the portable pump and its
necessary areas of operation are to be provided from the emergency source of
electrical power.
Fire main
The diameter of the fire main is to be based on the required capacity of the fixed
main fire pump(s) and the diameter of the water service pipes are to be sufficient
to ensure an adequate supply of water for the operation of at least one fire hose.
The wash deck line may be used as a fire main provided that the requirements of
this
sub-Section
are
satisfied.
All exposed water pipes for fire-extinguishing are to be provided with drain valves
for use in frosty weather. The valves are to be located where they will not be
damaged
by
cargo.
When the fixed main fire pump is delivering the quantity of water required , or
the fire pump described as the alternative the portable pump , through the fire
main, fire hoses and nozzles, the pressure maintained at any hydrant is to be
sufficient to produce a jet throw at any nozzle of not less than 12 m.
Fire Hoses
Fire-hoses are to be of approved non-perishable material. The hoses are to be
sufficient in length to project a jet of water to any of the spaces in which they
may be required to be used. Their length, in general, is not to exceed 18 m. Each
hose is to be provided with a nozzle and the necessary couplings. Fire-hoses,
together with any necessary fittings and tools, are to be kept ready for use in
conspicuous positions near the water service hydrants or connections.
The number of fire-hoses to be provided, each complete with couplings and
nozzles, is to be one for each 15 m length of the cargo ship or fishing vessel but
in no case is there to be less than three. These numbers do not include any hoses
required in any engine room. If necessary, the number of hoses is to be increased
so as to ensure that hoses in sufficient number are available and accessible at all
times.
Nozzles
For the purpose of this Chapter, standard nozzle sizes are to be 12 mm, 16 mm or
19 mm, or as near thereto as possible, so as to make full use of the maximum
discharge
capacity
of
the
fire
pump(s).
For accommodation and service spaces, the nozzle size need not exceed 12 mm.
The size of nozzles intended for use in conjunction with a portable fire pump need
not
exceed
12
mm.
All nozzles are to be of an approved dual purpose type (i.e. spray/jet type)
incorporating a shut-off.
Typical system
Shown above is a typical system which may be found on most vessel. Of note are
the large number of fire main isolator valves. The system may be so arranged as
to split the supply between port and stbd sides over all deck levels. Thereby in
the event of damage on one side of the vessel a nearby supply of water is
ensured. In addition to the required main and emergency fire pumps, on this
vessel a standy by pump capable of serving the fire main as well as the ballast
and emergency bilge suction systems is available. ( note that a special
arrangement must be made to ensure that bilge water is not delivered through
the fire main.
One vessel I have served on has Main, Emergency, Fire & ballast, Potable
water cargo & Fire pumps all cabable of supplying the main fire main as well
as a 3600m3/hr main engine driven pump for supplying fire monitors.
mm bore.
Toxicity
When comparing toxicity to extinguishing concentration halon is the safest agent.
Concentrations upt to 7% can be breathed for 5 minutes without effect, at 10%
this is reduced to 1 minute.
At a temperature above 510oC halon will decompose. Two of the most
important products are Hydrogen Bromide (HBr) and Hydrogen Fluoride (HF). In
small concentrations these gases are an irritant which will forewarn personnel of
increasing concentrations.
It is considered that these gases pose a much lesser threat than the
other products of fire- poisonous smoke, carbon monoxide etc.
Required concentration
Advantages
Regulations
Montreal convention
Following the Montreal protocol the usage of Halons was agreed to be phased out
by the year 2000 and halved by the year 1995.
In response to this, IMO has planned the following;
No new installations after July 1992
Testing of systems banned by January 1992, integrity test on spaces
required
A requirement that stocks of Halons be recorded
Existing Halon systems phased out by 2000
With regard to the second requirement, guidelines state that Halon should only be
used as a fire fighting medium in a space where there is no other suitable means
of extinguishing the fire to protect personnel and property. This guideline is only
valid until January 2000. Companies are required to replace there fire fighting
Halon with a suitable alternative, it is envisaged that companies will have
difficulty in restocking Halon systems as the production of these gasses is phased
out by industry. It is a requirement that they have a suitable alternative method
fitted should the system be utilised and so it is in the operators best interest to
replace the system at their convenience rather than as necessary. Halon systems
are still in use as of August 2000
Sprinkler systems
Must be fitted to passenger ships carrying less than 36 passengers in the
accommodation spacesand other areas considered necessary be the
administration. For pasenger ships carrying greater than 36 passengers it must
be fitted to accommodation spaces, corridors, stairwells and to control stations
( the latter may be served by an alternative system to prevent damage). The
system must be of an approved type. See below for full requirements.
Generally takes the form of a wet pipe (line continuosly flooded) on to which are
connected a number of sprinkler head. These heads consist of a valve held shut
by a high expansion fluid filled quartzoid bulb.A small air space is incorporated.
When a fire occurs in an adjacent area to this bulb the fluid expands
until the air space is filled, increasing internal pressure causes the bulb to
fracture. The size of the air gap determines the temperature at which this failure
occurs. The valve plug falls out and a jet of water exits , striking the spray
generator where it is then distributed evenly over the surrounding area. In acting
this way only the area of the fire is deluged and damage is minimised.
When an isolation valve is opened pressure in the line falls and the
sea water pump is started. The air vessel is there to prevent cycling of the pump
due to slight water leakage. The fresh water pump is there for flushing and initial
filling of wet pipe only.
Regulations
Taken from SOLAS 1974 Regualtion II/2A
Regulation 12 Automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm systems
1.1 Any required automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm
system shall be capable of immediate operation at all times and no
action by the crew shall be necessary to set it in operation. It shall
be of the wet pipe type but small exposed sections may be of the dry
pipe type where in the opinion of the Administration this is a
necessary precaution. Any parts of the system which may be
subjected to freezing temperatures in service shall be suitably
protected against freezing. It shall be kept charged at the necessary
pressure and shall have provision for a continuous supply of water
as required in this regulation.
1.2 Each section of sprinklers shall include means for giving a visual
and audible alarm signal automatically at one or more indicating
units whenever any sprinkler comes into operation. Such alarm
systems shall be such as to indicate if any fault occurs in the
system. Such units shall indicate in which section served by the
system fire has occurred and shall be centralized on the navigation
bridge and in addition, visible and audible alarms from the unit shall
be located in a position other than on the navigation bridge, so as to
ensure that the indication of fire is immediately received by the crew.
2.1 Sprinklers shall be grouped into separate sections, each of
which shall contain not more than 200 sprinklers. In passenger ships
any section of sprinklers shall not serve more than two decks and
shall not be situated in more than one main vertical zone. However,
the Administration may permit such a section of sprinklers to serve
more than two decks or be situated in more than one main vertical
zone, if it is satisfied that the protection of the ship against fire will
not thereby be reduced.
2.2 Each section of sprinklers shall be capable of being isolated by
one stop valve only. The stop valve in each section shall be readily
accessible and its location shall be clearly and permanently
indicated. Means shall be provided to prevent the operation of the
stop valves by any unauthorized person.
2.3 A gauge indicating the pressure in the system shall be provided
at each section stop valve and at a central station.
2.4 The sprinklers shall be resistant to corrosion by marine
atmosphere. In accommodation and service spaces the sprinklers
shall come into operation within the temperature range from 68C to
79C, except that in locations such as drying rooms, where high
ambient temperatures might be expected, the operating temperature
may be increased by not more than 30C above the maximum
deckhead temperature.
2.5 A list or plan shall be displayed at each indicating unit showing
the spaces covered and the location of the zone in respect of each
7.1 In passenger ships there shall be not less than two sources of
power supply for the seawater pump and automatic alarm and
detection system. Where the sources of power for the pump are
electrical, these shall be a main generator and an emergency source
of power. One supply for the pump shall be taken from the main
switchboard, and one from the emergency switchboard by separate
feeders reserved solely for that purpose. The feeders shall be so
arranged as to avoid galleys, machinery spaces and other enclosed
spaces of high fire risk except in so far as it is necessary to reach
the appropriate switchboards, and shall be run to an automatic
change-over switch situated near the sprinkler pump. This switch
shall permit the supply of power from the main switchboard so long
as a supply is available therefrom, and be so designed that upon
failure of that supply it will automatically change over to the supply
from the emergency switchboard. The switches on the main
switchboard and the emergency switchboard shall be clearly
labelled and normally kept closed. No other switch shall be
permitted in the feeders concerned. One of the sources of power
supply for the alarm and detection system shall be an emergency
source. Where one of the sources of power for the pump is an
internal combustion engine it shall, in addition to complying with the
provisions of paragraph 6, be so situated that a fire in any protected
space will not affect the air supply to the machinery.
7.2 In cargo ships there shall not be less than two sources of power
supply for the seawater pump and automatic alarm and detection
system. If the pump is electrically driven it shall be connected to the
main source of electrical power, which shall be capable of being
supplied by at least two generators. The feeders shall be so
arranged as to avoid galleys, machinery spaces and other enclosed
spaces of high fire risk except in so far as it is necessary to reach
the appropriate switchboards. One of the sources of power supply
for the alarm and detection system shall be an emergency source.
Where one of the sources of power for the pump is an internal
combustion engine it shall, in addition to complying with the
provisions of paragraph 6, be so situated that a fire in any protected
space will not affect the air supply to the machinery.
8 The sprinkler system shall have a connection from the ship's fire
main by way of a lockable screw-down non-return valve at the
connection which will prevent a backflow from the sprinkler system
to the fire main.
9.1 A test valve shall be provided for testing the automatic alarm for
each section of sprinklers by a discharge of water equivalent to the
operation of one sprinkler. The test valve for each section shall be
situated near the stop valve for that section.
9.2 Means shall be provided for testing the automatic operation of
the pump on reduction of pressure in the system.
9.3 Switches shall be provided at one of the indicating positions
referred to in paragraph 1.2 which will enable the alarm and the
indicators for each section of sprinklers to be tested.
10 Spare sprinkler heads shall be provided for each section of
sprinklers to the satisfaction of the Administration.