Maritime Safety and Legislation

COC1/2
Extinguishing Agents
And
Portable Extinguishers

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 1
Extinguishing Agents
4 main types of extinguishing agents

Water
Foam
Dry Chemical
CO2

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 2
Water
Combats by cooling
Abundantly available
Excellent cooling effect when applied correctly
Brings material below its ignition point
Expands 1700 times its initial volume, creating
smothering effect as well

Conducts electricity
Too much water affects ship stability
Can damage some equipment

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 3
Water
Why do water have excellent cooling
abilities when it is in its spray mode.

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 4
Foam
There are 2 types of foam
Chemical foam
Outcome of 2 chemicals reacting together
Foam is created with CO2 inside foam bubble

Mechanical foam
Foam concentrate mixed with water (or seawater)
Passes through an eductor (foam maker)
Foam is created with air inside the foam bubble

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 5
Foam
Combats by smothering (blanket of bubbles)
Most effective on oil fires
2 types - high and low expansion foam
Water-based, therefore some cooling effect

Since it is water-based conducts electricity

Can damage some equipment
High expansion foam is very light, can only be
used in enclosed spaces

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 6
Foam
Why is it important to apply foam
against a wall/side of a ship?

What can possibly happen when the

foam does not completely blanket the
oil surface?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 7
Dry Chemical
Combat fire by breaking its chain reaction
Extinguish fire very quickly

Limited quantity onboard

No cooling effect possibly of reflash

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 8
Dry powder
Dry powder may be suitable for electrical
fire. Do you support this statement?

Why is there a possibility of re-flash when

using dry powder?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 9
CO2
Combats by smothering
1.5 times heavier than air
Does not damage equipment

Limited supply onboard

Applicable only in enclosed spaces
Little or no cooling effect
Possible re-flash
Dangerous to human - suffocates

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 10
CO2
Why is CO2 deployed as a fixed
extinguishing system in most engine
rooms. Give reasons for your answer.

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 11
chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 12
Portable Extinguishers
Its importance

1st line of defence

Ensure it is fully operational
Individual strengths and weaknesses
Many fires could have been prevented

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 13
Types
There are 4 main types
Water
Foam
Dry Chemical
CO2

Halon (not used commercially)

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 14
Colour Codes
Not universal in application

Water Foam Powder Halon CO2

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 15
 Characteristics
Water Foam Powder CO2
Colour Red Cream Blue Black
Combat Cooling Smothering Breaking smothering
Fire by chain reaction
Throw 9m 79m 3m 3m
Duration Abt 90 secs Abt 60 secs 15 30 secs 30 secs

Most Wood Oil All Classes Electrical

suitable (Class A) (Class B) (A, B & C) (Class C)
for

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 16
Water Type

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 17
Water type
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 18
Foam type

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 19
Foam Type
What are its strength and weaknesses?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 20
Dry
Chemical

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 21
Dry Chemical
What are its strength and weaknesses?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 22
CO2

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 23
CO2
What are its strengths and weaknesses?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 24
All Types
Give reasons why it is preferable, given
the choice, to use two different types of
portable extinguishers to extinguish a
reasonably big fire?

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 25
All Types
If you are allowed to have only one
type of fire extinguisher, irregardless of
condition of the environment, which
type would you choose?

Give reasons to your answer in

comparison with other types of
extinguishers.

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 26
Allocations
Give reasons for selecting the types of
portable extinguishers you would put at
the following locations

Bridge
Engine room
Galley
Electrical switchboard
chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 27
SOLAS
Chapter II-2, Reg 6
13.5 litres<Capacity>9 litres

Ships>1000 gross tonnage

- at least 5 portable extinguishers

A portable foam applicator unit

- at least 20 litres capacity with spare charge
- effective foam at rate of 1.5m3/min

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 28
SOLAS
Oil fired boiler spaces
At least 2 portable foam extinguishers
At least one foam extinguisher > 135 litre
capacity

In engine room spaces

At least 1 fire extinguisher
At least 1 foam extinguisher> 45 litre capacity
Luboil & gearing systems

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 29
Flag State Requirements
Number of portable extinguishers
onboard

First 10 extinguishers
Number of spare charges 100%

Remaining extinguishers
Number of spare charges 50%

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 30
Flag State Requirements
Inspected annually by competent person

Flag State has no objection to maintenance and

servicing of portable extinguisher by crew,
provided that proper facilities and tools are
available and work is carried out to the proper
standard expected from administration.

Attending classification surveyor has a right to

require servicing by a service facility

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 31
Maintenance
Done annually (flag state)

Inspect
Physical condition (internal & external)
Extinguishing agents and gas cartridge
Hose condition

chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 32
chenck/COC1&2/Chapter2 33