12-12 Section 12 - Fire Protection and Fire Extinguishing Equipment

fire main. The shutoff valves are to be located in a front and on the tank deck at intervals of not more
readily accessible position outside the machinery than 40 m.
spaces.
2.2.6 In piping sections where the possibility of
With the shutoff valves closed, it must be possible to freezing exists during operation of the ship in cold
supply all the hydrants located outside the machinery climates, suitable provisions are to be made for
space where the main fire pumps are located from a continuously pressurized pipelines.
pump which is not sited in this space. Piping in the
engine room may not normally be used for this 2.3 Fire main design
purpose. However, in exceptional cases short sections 2.3.1 The following formula should be used as
of piping may be laid in the machinery space guidance for the sizing of the fire main :
provided that the integrity is maintained by the
enclosure of the piping in a substantial steel casing. dF = 0,8 . dH

Alternatively to the steel casing the piping may be
thickwalled according to Section 11., Table 11.20b,
Column B, but not less than 11 mm, all welded and be
insulated equivalent to A-60 standard.
2.2.2 On passenger ships of 4000 GRT and over,
the fire main must be constructed as a ring system
equipped with appropriately sited isolating valves.
2.2.3 Fire mains are to be provided with drain
valves or cocks.
2.2.4 Branch pipes from the fire mains for hawse
flushing are to be capable of being shut off in the
vicinity of the main fire pump(s) or from the open
deck. Other branch pipes not serving fire fighting
purposes and which are used only occasionally may
be accepted if capable of being shut from the open
deck. The shut off devices, are to be fitted with
warning signs instructing personnel to close them
after use.
2.2.5 On tankers, the fire main is to be fitted with
isolating valves in a protected position at the poop
dF = internal diameter of fire main
dH = theoretical diameter of main. bilge pipe
in accordance with Section 11, N.2.
dFmin = 50 mm
For pipe thicknesses see Section 11, Table 11.5
(Seawater lines).
2.3.2 On passenger ships the diameter dF need not
to exceed dFmax = 175 mm, on cargo ships dFmax = 130
mm respectively.
2.3.3 The entire fire main is to be designed for the
maximum permissible working pressure of the fire
pumps subject to a minimum working pressure of
10 bar.
2.3.4 At no point in the ship shall the discharge
pressure at the nozzles be less than the values shown
in Table 12.3 when water is drawn simultaneously
from any two adjacent hydrants. On liquefied gas
tankers this requirement is to be met at a minimum
pressure at the nozzles of 0,50 N/mm2 (refer to Rules
for Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk, Volume
IX, Section 11, 11.2.1.

Table 12.3 Pressure at nozzles

Pressure at
Type of vessel GT nozzle
[N/mm2]

Cargo ships < 6000 0,25

$ 6000 0,27
Passenger ships < 4000 0,30
$ 4000 0,40

2.4 Hydrants
2.4.1 Hydrants are to be so positioned that water
from two nozzles simultaneously, one of which shall
be from a single length of hose, may reach
- any part of the ship to which passengers and
crew normally have access during the
voyage,
- any part of an empty cargo space,