The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975

Requirements for fixed fire smothering gas and steam installations

113.—(1) In every vessel to which these Rules apply fixed fire smothering gas or steam installations shall where fitted comply with the requirements of this Rule except that in vessels to which Rules 103(1), 104(2) and 105(2) apply the quantity of gas carried shall be sufficient to give the minimum quantity of free gas required by those Rules.

(2) In every such vessel in every installation provided for the injection of gas or steam into machinery or hold spaces for fire extinguishing purposes, the pipes for conveying the gas or steam shall be provided with control valves or cocks which shall be so placed that they will be easily accessible and not readily cut off from use by an outbreak of fire. These control valves or cocks shall be permanently marked to indicate clearly the compartments to which the pipes are led. Suitable provision shall be made to prevent inadvertent admission of the gas or steam to any compartment.

(3) In every such vessel the piping shall be so arranged as to provide effective distribution of fire smothering gas or steam. Where steam is used in any hold exceeding 18 metres in length there shall be at least two pipes one of which shall be fitted in the forward part and one in the after part of the hold.

(4) In every such vessel—

(a) where carbon dioxide is used as the extinguishing medium in hold spaces, the quantity of gas available shall be sufficient to give a minimum volume of free gas equal to 30 per cent of the gross volume of the largest hold compartment in the vessel which is capable of being sealed;

(b) where carbon dioxide is used as an extinguishing medium for spaces containing boilers or machinery, the quantity of gas carried shall be sufficient to give a minimum quantity of free gas equal to the larger of the following quantities, either:—

(i) 40 per cent of the gross volume of the largest space containing boilers or machinery, such volume being measured up to the level at which the horizontal area of the casing is 40 per cent or less of the gross area of such space; or

(ii) 35 per cent of the gross volume of the largest space containing boilers or machinery, including the casing;

provided that the aforesaid percentages may be reduced to 35 per cent and 30 per cent respectively for vessels of under 70 metres in length and provided that if two or more spaces containing boilers or machinery are not entirely separate they shall, for the purposes of this Rule, be considered as forming one compartment;

(c) where carbon dioxide is used as the extinguishing medium for a space containing any oil-fired boiler or oil fuel installation a quantity of gas which can be discharged without danger to the operator shall be available for manual application, by means of a suitable applicator, in the firing area of the boiler and in the vicinity of the oil fuel unit;

(d) where carbon dioxide is used as the extinguishing medium both for hold spaces and for spaces containing boilers or machinery the quantity of gas shall not be required to be more than the maximum required either for the largest hold compartment or machinery space. For the purpose of this paragraph the volume of gas shall be calculated at 0·56 cubic metres to 1 kilogramme;

(e) when carbon dioxide is used as the extinguishing medium for any space containing boilers or machinery the fixed piping system shall be such that 85 per cent of the gas required to provide the concentration referred to in paragraph (b) above, when applied to the space concerned, can be discharged into that space within two minutes;

(f) means shall be provided for giving audible warning to persons within the space when carbon dioxide, other than that specified in paragraph (c) above, is about to be released into any working space.

(5) In every such vessel when steam is used as the extinguishing medium in hold spaces the boiler or boilers available for supplying steam shall have an evaporation of at least 1 kilogramme of steam per hour for each 0·75 cubic metres of the gross volume of the largest hold compartment. The arrangements shall be such that steam will be available immediately and will not be dependent on the lighting of boilers and that it can be supplied continuously until the end of the voyage in the quantity required by this paragraph in addition to any steam necessary for the normal requirements of the vessel including propulsion and that provision is made for extra feed water necessary to meet this requirement.

(6) In every such vessel suitable halogenated hydrocarbons in suitable and safe concentrations may be used as a fire extinguishing medium in engine and boiler rooms.

(7) In every such vessel operating instructions in clear and permanent lettering shall be affixed to every fixed fire smothering gas installation or in a position adjacent thereto.