Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations

NAVIGATION (CONSTRUCTION) REGULATIONS 1968 - FOURTH SCHEDULE

(regulation 129)

Method I

Bulkheads within main vertical zones

1. An enclosure bulkhead in an accommodation space or service space, not being a bulkhead required by these Regulations to consist of A class divisions, shall consist of B class divisions.

2. A B class division referred to in the last preceding item shall be constructed of, but, subject to item 12 of this Method, need not necessarily be faced with, incombustible material.

3. All doorways and similar openings in a bulkhead shall provide resistance to fire and have a method of closure consistent with the type of bulkhead in which they are situated.

4. The bulkheads in an accommodation space or service space shall be joined together in a manner which ensures the maximum resistance to fire.

5. A bulkhead in an accommodation space or service space shall extend from deck to deck or, except in the case of a corridor bulkhead, from the deck to a ceiling consisting of incombustible material.

6. Where the shell plating of the ship forms the boundary of an accommodation space or service space, the transverse bulkheads adjacent to the shell plating shall extend to the shell plating or, except in the case of a corridor bulkhead, to a lining consisting of incombustible material.

7. Where the external plating of a deckhouse in the ship forms the boundary of an accommodation space or service space, the transverse or longitudinal bulkheads adjacent to the plating shall extend to the plating or, except in the case of a corridor bulkhead, to a lining consisting of incombustible material.

8 A ventilation opening in a door in a B class division:

(a)

shall be in the lower part of the door; and

(b)

shall be provided with a grille constructed of incombustible material.

Automatic fire alarm and fire detection systems

9. There shall be installed in the ship a fire alarm and fire detection system of an approved type capable of:

(a)

detecting the presence of fire in an accommodation space or service space; and

(b)

indicating automatically to the master and crew of the ship, by means of a signal or signals given at one or more points in the ship, the presence and position of the fire.

Use of combustible and incombustible material

10. The linings, grounds and ceilings in an accommodation space or service space, other than a mail room, a bullion room, a baggage room, cargo space or a refrigerated store room, shall be constructed of incombustible materials.

11. The facings, mouldings, decorations and veneers installed in an accommodation space or service space consisting of a corridor or stairway enclosure shall consist of incombustible materials.

12. The total volume of combustible materials installed as facings, mouldings, decorations or veneers in an accommodation space or public space, except a corridor or stairway enclosure, shall not exceed a volume equal to that of a veneer of one-tenth of an inch on the combined area of the walls and ceiling of the space.

Method II

Automatic sprinkler, fire alarm and fire detection system

1. There shall be installed in the ship so as to protect all accommodation spaces and service spaces in the ship an automatic sprinkler and fire alarm and fire detection system which complies with the requirements set out in this Method.

2. The system shall be:

(a)

of the wet type with overhead sprinklers; and

(b)

kept fully charged at all times.

Pressure tank

3. The system shall be provided with a pressure tank which:

(a)

is of adequate strength and construction having regard to the charge of water specified in the next succeeding item; and

(b)

has a capacity of not less than twice the standing charge of fresh water required for the automatic operation of the system.

4. A standing charge of not less than the number of gallons of fresh water equal to twenty-five times the number of gallons discharged per minute from the largest sprinkler when operating at the rated output and pressure shall be capable of being maintained in the pressure tank under an air pressure of not less than the air pressure sufficient to operate at the rated pressure the highest sprinkler in the system.

5. The pressure tank shall be fitted with an efficient relief valve and with a water-gauge glass and a pressure gauge.

6. Stop valves or cocks shall be provided at each of the gauge connexions.

Air compressor

7. The pressure tank shall be connected to an air supply capable of maintaining in the tank the pressure required by item 4 of this Method.

Pipes

8. The pipes forming part of the system:

(a)

shall be made of steel or other material of adequate strength having regard to the pressure to which they may be subjected; and

(b)

shall be properly jointed and supported.

9. Connexions shall be provided which:

(a)

will supply a replenishment of the standing fresh water charge in the pressure tank; and

(b)

will enable the pipes to be flushed with fresh water after the use of salt water in the system.

10. A pipe which may be affected by frost shall be insulated so as to prevent the water in the pipe from freezing.

External connexions

11. (1) The sprinkler system shall be a self-contained unit.

(2)

A connexion with the ship's fire main provided with a lockable screw-down valve and a non-return valve at the connexion to prevent a backflow from the sprinkler system to the fire main shall be fitted to the sprinkler system.

(3)

Hose couplings with shut-off valves and non-return valves situated close to the couplings for the purpose of coupling to a shore supply may be fitted to the sprinkler system.

12. Shut-off valves for the shore supply and the ship's fire-main connexion shall be clearly and permanently marked to show their purpose and shall be capable of being locked in the closed position.

Pumps

13. The system shall be provided with an independent power pump the sole purpose of which shall be the automatic continuation of the discharge of water from the sprinkler heads.

14. The pump shall be so connected to the system that the pump is brought into action automatically by a pressure drop in the system before the standing fresh-water charge in the pressure tank is completely exhausted.

15. The pump shall have a suction direct from the sea and independent of any other suction.

16. There shall be fitted close to the pump on the delivery side a waste valve having an effective discharge area at least equivalent to the total discharge area of fifteen sprinklers, with a short open-ended discharge pipe for testing purposes.

17. The pump shall be capable of maintaining the rated sprinkler operating pressure at the level of the highest sprinkler with the waste valve referred to in the last preceding item fully open.

18. The system shall be so arranged that the pump cannot pass sea water into the pressure tank.

Sprinkler heads

19. (1) Sprinkler heads shall be grouped into separate sections.

(2)

A section of sprinkler heads shall not contain more than one hundred and fifty sprinkler heads.

20. A section of sprinkler heads:

(a)

shall not serve more than two decks; and

(b)

shall not be in more than one main vertical zone or in more than one watertight compartment.

21. (1) Each section of sprinkler heads shall be controlled by one control valve and no other valves shall be provided for controlling any of the sprinklers in that section.

(2)

The control valve shall be readily accessible and its location shall be clearly and permanently indicated.

22. A control valve shall be so constructed as to be capable of being operated only by means of a key or special tool which does not form part of the valve.

23. A pressure gauge shall be provided at each control valve and at a central station to indicate the pressure of water available throughout the system.

24. The sprinkler heads shall be capable of operating with salt water.

25. The temperature at which sprinkler heads come into operation shall be not less than one hundred and fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit and, except in the case of sprinkler heads in drying rooms and similar spaces, shall be not more than 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

26. A sprinkler head shall be capable of discharging water at a rate of not less than twenty gallons per minute under a supply pressure of twenty-five pounds per square inch.

27. The placing of sprinkler heads shall be such that:

(a)

there is not a point on the ceiling of the space that is more than nine feet two and one-half inches from a sprinkler head;

(b)

a point on the edge of the ceiling of the space that is required by a surveyor to be not more than a distance specified in writing by the surveyor from a sprinkler head is not more than that distance from a sprinkler head;

(c)

all combustible material in the space is well sprayed when the system is in operation; and

(d)

each sprinkler head is, as far as practicable, clear of beams and other objects likely to obstruct the projection of water from the head.

28. At least six spare sprinkler heads shall be provided for each section of sprinkler heads. The spare heads shall be stowed in boxes or holders near the control valve for the section, and the boxes or holders shall be clearly and permanently marked to show their contents.

29. The sprinkler system shall include means for giving a visible and audible alarm signal automatically whenever any sprinkler comes into operation.

30. The alarm signal shall indicate at one or more points in the ship, so as to come rapidly to the attention of the master and crew of the ship, the presence and position of any fire in the spaces served by the system.

31. If the alarm is operated by electricity, it shall be constructed so as to operate if any derangement occurs in the electrical circuit.

32. Not less than two sources of power, one of which shall be anemergency source of power, shall be provided to operate the independent pump, air compressor and automatic alarm.

Provisions for testing

33. (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 head.

(2)

The test valve for each section shall be situated near the control valve for that section.

34. Means shall be provided for testing the automatic cutting in of the pump.

35. Switches shall be provided at one of the points referred to in item 30 of this Method so that the alarm and the indicators for each section of sprinklers may be tested.

36. In a passenger ship the superstructure of which is constructed from a material other than steel, the whole unit, including the sprinkler pump, tank and air compressor shall be situated in an approved position remote from the boiler and machinery spaces.

METHOD III

Bulkheads within main vertical zones

1. An enclosure bulkhead in an accommodation space or service space, not being a bulkhead required by these Regulations to consist of A class divisions, shall be constructed of B class divisions of incombustible materials, which may, subject to item 12 of this Method, be faced with combustible materials.

2. All doorways and similar openings in a bulkhead shall provide resistance to fire and have a method of closure consistent with the type of bulkhead in which they are situated.

3. The bulkheads in an accommodation space or service space shall extend from deck to deck and shall be joined together so as to form a continuous network of B class divisions or of A class divisions and B class divisions, as the case may be.

4. The area of a compartment formed by the network of bulkheads referred to in the last preceding item:

(a)

shall not, where practicable, exceed thirteen hundred square feet; and

(b)

shall not, in any case, exceed sixteen hundred square feet.

5. Each public space in a ship larger than sixteen hundred square feet shall be surrounded by B class divisions of incombustible materials.

6. The insulation of A class divisions and B class divisions, except those constituting the separation of the main vertical zones, the control stations, the stairway enclosures, and the corridors, may be omitted when the divisions constitute the outside part of the ship or when the adjoining compartment does not contain fire hazard.

7. A corridor bulkhead in an accommodation space or service space, if it is not a bulkhead which is required by these Regulations to consist of A class divisions, shall consist of B class divisions which shall extend from deck to deck and, if ceilings are fitted, the ceilings shall be of incombustible material.

8. All other partition bulkheads shall extend from deck to deck vertically and to the shell or other boundaries transversely except where incombustible ceilings or linings are fitted in which case the bulkhead may terminate at the ceiling or lining.

9. A ventilation opening may be installed in the lower portion of a door in a B class division.

10. B class divisions other than those required to be of the incombustible type, shall have an incombustible core and shall be assembled with internal layers of sheet asbestos or other approved material.

Automatic fire alarm and fire detection systems

11. There shall be installed in the ship a fire alarm and fire detection system capable of:

(a)

detecting the presence of fire in an accommodation space or service space other than a space that affords no substantial fire hazard; and

(b)

indicating automatically to the master and crew of the ship, by means of a signal or signals given at one or more points in the ship, the presence and position of the fire.

Use of combustible and incombustible material

12. the provision of combustible materials for linings, grounds, ceilings, fittings or furnishings in an accommodation space or service space shall be restricted to the minimum compatible with the use for which the space is appropriated.

13. The grounds and supports for the linings and ceilings in a public room shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material.