Fire-extinguishing appliances and systems in machinery spaces

(1) In every ship, spaces containing main or auxiliary oil- fired boilers or fuel oil units, shall be provided with the following fixed fire-extinguishing systems in accordance with chapter II-2 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention– (a) a gas system complying with the provisions of Regulation II-25 of the 1974 SOLAS CONVENTION; (b) a high expansion foam system complying with the provisions of Regulation II-2/ 9 of the 1974 SOLAS CONVENTION; or (c) a pressure water-spraying system complying with the provisions of Regulation II-2/10 of the 1974 SOLAS CONVENTION. In each case, where the engine and boiler rooms are not entirely separate, or where fuel oil can drain from the boiler room into the engine room, the combined boiler and engine rooms shall be considered as one compartment. (2) In addition to the requirements of subregulation (1), every ship with the spaces referred to in subregulation (1) shall be provided with the numbers of portable fire extinguishers specified in subregulation (3), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9) or (10). (3) There shall be at least one portable extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires for each burner. However, the total capacity of such extinguishers shall not be less than 18 L or equivalent and need not exceed 45 L or equivalent in each boiler room. (4) There shall be at least two portable extinguishers suitable for extinguishing oil fires in each space in which part of fuel units is situated. (5) In each firing space there shall be a receptacle containing not less than 0. 15 m3 of sand, sawdust impregnated with soda Merchant Ships (Registration) 175 or other approved dry material to the satisfaction of the Administration. Alternatively, an approved extinguisher may be substituted. (6) In every ship, for the protection of any space containing internal combustion type machinery having a total power output of 750 kW and above there shall be provided– (a) one of the fixed fire-extinguishing systems referred to in subregulation (1); and (b) at least one portable extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires for each 750 kW of engine power output or part thereof, but the total number of such fire extinguishers so supplied shall be not less than two and not exceed six. (7) In every ship to which this Part applies which does not comply with the requirements of subregulation (6), there shall be provided in any space containing internal combustion type machinery having in the aggregate a total power output of less than 750 kW, either– (a) at least one portable fire extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires for each 75 kW or part thereof of such machinery, but the total number of such extinguishers so supplied shall be not less than two and need not exceed seven; or (b) at least two portable fire extinguishers suitable for extinguishing oil fires together with one non-portable foam fire extinguisher of at least 45 litres capacity or at least 15 kg capacity or (8) In every ship, there shall be provided in machinery spaces containing electrical installations, one or more fire extinguishers Merchant Ships (Registration) 176 suitable for extinguishing electrical fire as deemed necessary by the Administration having regard to the fire hazards of electrical origin. One or more of the fire extinguishers required by this section may be used as the fire extinguishers required by this subregulation. (9) Where, in the opinion of the Administration a fire hazard exists in any machinery space for which no specific provision for fire-extinguishing appliances is prescribed in subregulations (1) to (4), there shall be provided in, or adjacent to, that space a number of approved portable fire extinguishers or other means of fire extinction to the satisfaction of the Administration. (10) In each firing space of every such ship, fitted with auxiliary oil-fired boilers, a receptacle shall be provided which shall contain at least 0.28 m3 of sand or other dry material suitable for quenching oil fires. Scoops shall be provided for distributing the contents of the receptacle.