Resolution MSC.265(84)

AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED GUIDELINES FOR APPROVAL OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS EQUIVALENT TO THAT REFERRED TO IN SOLAS REGULATION II-2/12
(RESOLUTION A.800(19))

(adopted on 9 May 2008)

amended by MSC 84/24/Add.2/Corr.1 15 October 2008

 

 

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

 

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

 

NOTING the significance of the performance and reliability of the sprinkler systems approved under provisions of regulation II-2/12 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974,

 

DESIROUS of keeping abreast of the advancement of sprinkler technology and further improving fire protection on board ships,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its eighty-fourth session, the text of the proposed amendments to the Revised Guidelines for approval of sprinkler systems equivalent to that referred to in SOLAS regulation II-2/12 (resolution A.800(19)),

 

1. ADOPTS the amendments to the Revised Guidelines for approval of sprinkler systems equivalent to that referred to in SOLAS regulation II-2/12 (resolution A.800(19)), the text of which is set out in the annex to the present resolution;

 

2. INVITES Governments to apply the amendments when approving equivalent sprinkler systems on or after 9 May 2008.

 

 Annex.

AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED GUIDELINES FOR APPROVAL OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS EQUIVALENT TO THAT REFERRED TO IN SOLAS REGULATION II-2/12 (RESOLUTION A.800(19))

 

1. The following new section 1-1 is added after the existing section 1:

 

 "1-1 APPLICATION

 

1-1.1 The present Guidelines apply to equivalent sprinkler systems installed on or after 9 May 2008.

 

1-1.2 Existing type approvals issued to confirm compliance of equivalent sprinkler systems with the Revised Guidelines, adopted by resolution A.800(19), should remain valid until 6 years after 1 July 2009.

 

1-1.3 Existing equivalent sprinkler systems installed before 9 May 2008, based on resolution A.800(19), should be permitted to remain in service as long as they are serviceable."

 

 3. PRINCIPAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SYSTEM

 

2. The existing paragraph 3.3 is replaced by the following:

 

"3.3 The sprinkler system should be capable of continuously supplying the water-based extinguishing medium for a minimum of 30 min. A pressure tank or other means should be provided to meet the functional requirement stipulated in the FSS Code, chapter 8, paragraph 2.3.2.1. The design of the system should ensure that full system pressure is available at the most remote nozzle in each section within 60 s of system activation."

 

3. The existing paragraphs 3.8 and 3.9 are replaced by the following:

 

"3.8 There should be not less than two sources of power for the system. Where the sources of power for the pump are electrical, these should be a main generator and an emergency source of power. One supply for the pump should be taken from the main switchboard, and one from the emergency switchboard by separate feeders reserved solely for that purpose. The feeders should 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 should be run to an automatic changeover switch situated near the sprinkler pump. This switch should permit the supply of power from the main switchboard so long as a supply is available there from, 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 should be clearly labelled and normally kept closed. No other switch should be permitted in the feeders concerned. One of the sources of power supply for the system should be an emergency source. Where one of the sources of power for the pump is an internal combustion engine, it should, in addition to complying with the provisions of the FSS Code, chapter 8, paragraph 2.4.3, be so situated that a fire in any protected space will not affect the air supply to the machinery. Pump sets consisting of two diesel engines each supplying at least 50% of the required water capacity are considered acceptable if the fuel supply is adequate to operate the pumps at full capacity for a period of 36 h on passenger ships and 18 h on cargo ships.

 

3.9 The system should be provided with a redundant means of pumping, including drivers, or otherwise supplying a water-based extinguishing medium to the sprinkler system. The capacity of the redundant means should be sufficient to compensate for the loss of any single supply pump or alternative source.

 

Failure of any one component in the power and control system should not result in a reduction of the automatic release capability or reduction of sprinkler pump capacity by more than 50%. Hydraulic calculations should be conducted to assure that sufficient flow and pressure are delivered to the hydraulically most remote 140 m² in the event of the failure of any one component."

 

4. The existing paragraph 3.13 is replaced by the following:

 

"3.13 Each section of sprinklers should be capable of being isolated by one stop valve only. The stop-valve in each section should be readily accessible in a location outside of the associated section or in cabinets within stairway enclosures. The valve’s location should be clearly and permanently indicated. Means should be provided to prevent the operation of the stop-valves by an unauthorized person. Isolation valves used for service, maintenance or for refilling of antifreeze solutions may be installed in the sprinkler piping in addition to the section stop valves, if provided with a means for giving a visual and audible alarm as required by paragraph 3.17. Valves on the pump unit may be accepted without such alarms if they are locked in the correct position."

 

5. The existing paragraph 3.15 is replaced by the following:

 

"3.15 The sprinkler system water supply components should be outside category A machinery spaces and should not be situated in any space required to be protected by the sprinkler system."

 

6. The existing paragraph 3.19 is replaced by the following:

 

"3.19 Installation plans and operating manuals should be supplied to the ship and be readily available on board. A list or plan should be displayed showing the spaces covered and the location of the zone in respect of each section. Instructions for testing and maintenance should also be available on board. The maintenance instructions should include provisions for a flow test of each section at least annually to check for possible clogging or deterioration in the discharge piping."

 

7. The existing paragraph 3.22 is replaced by the following:

 

"3.22 Pumps and alternative supply components should be capable of supplying the required flow rate and pressure for the space with the greatest hydraulic demand. For the purposes of this calculation, the design area used to calculate the required flow and pressure should be the deck area of the most hydraulically demanding space, separated from adjacent spaces by A-class divisions. The design area need not exceed 280 m². For application to a small ship with a total protected area of less than 280 m², the Administration may specify the appropriate area for sizing of pumps and alternate supply components."

 

3.23 The nozzle location, type of nozzle, and nozzle characteristics should be within the tested limits determined by the fire test procedures in appendix 2 to provide fire control or suppression as referred to in paragraph 3.2.

 

3.24 For atriums with intermediate level deck openings exceeding 100 m², ceiling mounted sprinklers are not required.

 

3.25 The system should be designed in such a way that during a fire occurrence, the level of protection provided to those spaces unaffected by fire is not reduced.

 

3.26 A quantity of spare water mist nozzles should be carried for all types and ratings installed on the ship as follows:

 

 

The number of spare nozzles of any type need not exceed the total number of nozzles installed of that type.

 

3.27 Any parts of the system which may be subjected to freezing temperatures in service should be suitably protected against freezing."

 

 Appendix 1.
COMPONENT MANUFACTURING STANDARDS FOR WATER MIST NOZZLES

 

8. In appendix 1, a new paragraph 5.21.4 is added as follows:

 

"5.21.4 Alternative supply arrangements to the apparatus shown in figure 3 may be used where damage to the pump is possible. Restrictions to piping defined by note 2 of table 5 should apply to such systems."

 

 Appendix 2.
FIRE TEST PROCEDURES FOR EQUIVALENT SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN ACCOMMODATION, PUBLIC SPACE AND SERVICE AREAS ON PASSENGER SHIPS

 

9. The existing title and the text of appendix 2 are replaced by the following:

 

 "Appendix 2.
FIRE TEST PROCEDURES FOR WATER MIST SYSTEMS IN ACCOMMODATION, PUBLIC SPACES AND SERVICE AREAS ON PASSENGER SHIPS

 

 1. Scope

 

1.1 These test procedures describe a fire test method for evaluating the effectiveness of water mist systems equivalent to systems covered by chapter 8 of the FSS Code in accommodation and service areas on board ships. It should be noted that the test method is limited to the systems’ effectiveness against fire and is not intended for testing of the quality and design parameters of the individual components of the system.

 

1.2 In order to fulfil the requirements of paragraph 3.5 of the Guidelines, the system should be capable of fire control or suppression in a wide variety of fire loading, fuel arrangement, room geometry and ventilation conditions.

 

1.3 Products employing materials or having forms of construction differing from the requirements contained herein may be examined and tested in accordance with the intent of the requirements and, if found to be substantially equivalent, may be judged to comply with this document.

 

1.4 Products complying with the text of this document will not necessarily be judged to comply, if, when examined and tested, they are found to have other features which impair the level of safety contemplated by this document.

 

 2. Hazard and occupancy classification

 

For the purposes of identifying the different fire risk classifications, table 1 is given, which correlates the fire tests with the classification of occupancy defined in SOLAS regulations II-2/9.2.2.3 and II-2/9.2.2.4:

 

Table 1
Correlation between fire tests with the classification of occupancy defined in SOLAS regulations II-2/9.2.2.3 and 9.2.2.4

 

 

Notes:

 

¹ For corridors and stairways wider than 1.5 m, use section 6 public space fire test instead of the corridor fire test.

 

² For spaces up to the area of the cabin applied in tests of section 5.

 

³ For spaces over the area of the cabin applied in tests of section 5.

 

⁴ Refer to annex, item 3.24.

 

 3. Definitions

 

3.1 Fire suppression: sharply reducing the heat release rate of a fire and preventing its re-growth by means of a direct and sufficient application of water through the fire plume to the burning fuel surface.

 

3.2 Fire control: limiting the size of a fire by distribution of water so as to decrease the heat release rate and pre-wet adjacent combustibles, while controlling ceiling gas temperatures to avoid structural damage.

 

3.3 Fire source: fire source is defined as the combustible material in which the fire is set and the combustible material covering walls and ceiling.

 

3.4 Igniter: the device used to ignite the fire source.

 

 4. General requirements

 

 4.1 Nozzle positioning

 

The fire test procedures are intended for pressurized wet-pipe systems with individually activated (automatic) nozzles.

 

Water without any fire-extinguishing additives should be used, unless the additives have been approved for fire protection service by an independent authority. The approval of the additives should consider possible adverse health effects to exposed personnel, including inhalation toxicity.

 

These test procedures are applicable to either overhead nozzles installed on the ceiling, or sidewall nozzles installed on bulkheads below the ceiling. Separate approval tests should be conducted for each nozzle type.

 

The testing organization should be responsible for assuring that the nozzles for each fire test are installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s design and installation instructions. The tests should be performed at the maximum specified spacings, installation height and distances below the ceiling. In addition, if the testing organization finds it necessary, selected fire tests should also be conducted at minimum specified spacings, installation height and distances below the ceiling. Where two types of nozzles are installed in the same area, an overlap of the different nozzle spray patterns should be provided equal to at least one half of the maximum approved nozzle spacing.

 

 4.2 Water pressure and flow rates

 

The testing organization should be responsible for assuring that all fire tests are conducted at the operating pressure and flow rates specified by the manufacturer.

 

For all tests, the system should either be:

 

.1 pressurized to the minimum operating pressure specified by the manufacturer. Upon activation of the first nozzle, the flowing water pressure should be maintained at the minimum system operating pressure; or

 

.2 pressurized to the minimum stand-by pressure specified by the manufacturer. Upon activation of the first nozzle, the flowing water pressure should be gradually increased to the minimum system operating pressure, specified by the manufacturer. The delay time until the minimum system operating pressure is reached should be at least 15 s. The delay time recorded during the tests should be documented and included in the approval of the system.

 

 4.3 Temperature measurements

 

Temperatures should be measured as described in detail under each chapter. Chromelalumel thermocouple wires not exceeding 0.5 mm in diameter welded together should be used. The temperatures should be measured continuously, at least every 2 s, throughout the tests.

 

 4.4 Fire test hall and environmental conditions

 

The fire tests are to be conducted inside a well-ventilated fire test hall, in order to minimize enclosure effects affecting the outcome of the testing. The enclosure effects include accumulation of heat, smoke and water droplets within the test area.

 

The fire test hall should have an ambient temperature of 20 ±5°C at the start of each test. Standing water should not be permitted on the floor of the test hall at the start of each test. The suspended ceiling should be dry at the start of each test.

 

Details of the fire test hall geometry, the ventilation conditions as well as of the environmental conditions with respect to the above should be given in the fire test report.

 

 4.5 Tolerances

 

Unless otherwise stated, the following tolerances should apply:

 

.1 length  ±2% of value;

 

.2 volume  ±5% of value;

 

.3 pressure  ±3% of value; and

 

.4 temperature ±5% of value. These tolerances are in accordance with ISO Standard 6182-1:1994.

 

 4.6 Observations

 

The following observations should be made during and after each test: .1 time of ignition; .2 activation time of each nozzle; .3 time when water flow is shut off; .4 damage to the fire source; .5 temperature recordings; .6 system flow rate and pressure; and .7 total number of operating nozzles.

 

 4.7 Fire sources

 

If the requirements for fire sources specified in the following sections of this test method cannot be fulfilled, it is the responsibility of the test laboratory to show that alternative materials used have burning characteristics similar to those of specified materials.

 

 4.8 Product and documentation requirements

 

The fire test report should identify the critical parameters to be incorporated into the design, installation and operating instruction manual. The instruction manual should reference the limitations of each device and should include at least the following items:

 

.1 description and operating details of each device and all accessory equipment, including identification of extinguishing system components or accessory equipment by part or model number;

 

.2 nozzle design recommendation and limitations for each fire type;

 

.3 type and pressure rating of pipe, tubing and fittings to be used;

 

.4 equivalent length values of all fittings and all system components through which water flows;

 

.5 discharge nozzle limitations, including maximum dimensional and area coverage, minimum and maximum installation height limitations, and nozzle permitted location in the protected volume;

 

.6 range of filling capacities for each size storage container;

 

.7 details for the proper installation of each device, including all component equipment;

 

.8 reference to the specific types of detection and control panels (if applicable) to be connected to the equipment;

 

.9 operating pressure ranges of the system;

 

.10 method of sizing pipe or tubing;

 

.11 recommended orientation of tee fittings and the splitting of flows through tees; and

 

.12 maximum difference in operating (flowing) pressure between the hydraulically closest and most remote nozzle.

 

 5. Cabin and corridor tests

 

 5.1 Test arrangement

 

5.1.1 The fire tests should be conducted in a 3 m x 4 m, 2.5 m high cabin connected to the centre of a 1.5 m x 12 m long corridor, 2.5 m high with both ends open. The cabin area may be increased up to the maximum size to be protected with one nozzle. The disabled nozzle test should be conducted in a 3 m x 4 m cabin.

 

5.1.2 The cabin should be fitted with one doorway opening, 0.8 m wide and 2.2 m high, which provides for a 0.3 m lintel above the opening.

 

5.1.3 The walls of the cabin should be constructed from an inner layer of nominally 12 mm thick non-combustible wall board with a nominally 45 mm thick mineral wool liner. The walls and ceiling of the corridor and ceiling of the cabin should be constructed of nominally 12 mm thick non-combustible wall boards. The cabin may be provided with a window, having a maximum area of 1 m², in the wall opposite the corridor for observation purposes during the fire tests.

 

5.1.4 The cabin and corridor ceiling should be covered with cellulosic acoustical panels. The acoustical panels should be nominally 12 mm to 15 mm thick and should not ignite when tested in