Fire Systems

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Fire Control Plans provide information for the crew and shore-based firefighters about fire stations, fixed and portable firefighting equipment, fire detection and alarm systems, sprinkler systems, ventilation systems (including damper location, fans, and controls), location of fire-resisting bulkheads (“A”, “B”, or “C” class divisions), and means of egress from those spaces. Ensuring the fire control plan is updated as the ship ages or is modified and that the plan is properly located, adequate and consistent with the equipment onboard is crucial to ensuring crews can successfully deal with emergencies.

Question 2

Fire Control Plan

Answer 2

Verify the the following:

• Ship’s name matches the current name of the ship.
• Plan has been examined/approved by class or flag.
• Plan or booklet is in the language(s) required by the administration, and English or French, per reference (e), SOLAS, if the language(s) required by the administration are neither of these.
• Pen and ink changes indicate equipment location changes.

NOTE:
Legible pen and ink changes, accepted by class, are allowed until the plan is reprinted.

Question 3

FCP location

Answer 3

Plans and/or duplicates are posted at embarkation areas, crew accommodations, wheelhouse and ECR

Question 4

Fire Boundaries

Answer 4

Spot-check the following, for conformance with the fire control plan. Ensure bulkhead penetrations, doors, vents, etc. are operational and/or properly sealed to the same standard as the bulkhead:

• Location of Class A fire boundaries is consistent with SOLAS requirements found in reference (e), SOLAS.

 Control stations. 
 Machinery spaces.
 Stair towers. 
 Galley.
 Cargo spaces.
 RO-RO vehicle spaces

Question 5

Verification of Fire Equipments

Answer 5

Spot-check the following:

• Signage reflects the correct equipment and positions on the ship.
• Placement of equipment on the plan matches physical location on the ship. Identify any areas that require additional equipment placement.  Fire alarms, manual and automatic.

 Fire stations, fire hydrants, and hoses.

 Fire extinguishers.

 International shore connection.

 Fire dampers and damper control stations.

 EEBD.

 Location of fire gear lockers and firefighter’s outfits.

 Sprinkler stations.

 Flame/heat/smoke detectors.

Question 6

Fire Prevention & Structural Fire Protection

Answer 6

Verify the ship is constructed and maintained in a condition that minimizes the risk of fire:

• Compliance with Structural Fire Protection (SFP) requirements.

 Method IC, IIC, or IIIC. For a detailed description of construction methods, refer to reference (e), SOLAS.

• SFP boundaries are intact and constructed per fire control plan.
• Ensure no unapproved modifications to bulkheads, decks, doors, or SFP modifications.
• Evaluate fire door operation. Take particular note of doors that are selfclosing as they are commonly tied open or have been modified with hold back hooks. Consult the ship’s fire plan to determine what type of door was installed and approved.
• Verify electric cable/pipe penetrations are compatible with fire control boundaries.
• Verify operational tests of ventilation system controls.
• Verify housekeeping practices to minimize combustibles.

*Ship’s crew routinely run new electrical wiring or retrofit electrical/telecommunications wiring throughout the ship. Ensure any bulkhead or deck penetrations have been repaired with approved material that meets the boundary requirements for the space.

Question 7

Fire Detection System

Answer 7

Fire detection and alarm systems detect fires in the space of origin and provide a visible and audible alarm to indicate the location of a fire. Early detection of fires provides a greater possibility of survivability for the ship and safe escape of personnel. Detectors throughout the ship are wired to a fire control panel that provides visual and audible alerts. When activated, detectors send a signal to the fire control panel in a location manned around the clock, usually on the bridge. There can also be fire alarm panels in other manned spaces, such as the engine room, cargo control room or gangway, which possibly are the only manned spaces at times when the vessel is in port.

Question 8

Fire Detection Examination

Answer 8

Examine the following:

• Verify service spaces, control stations, corridors, stairways, and escape routes within accommodation spaces are provided with fire detection.
• Ensure there are two sources of power for the detection system.
• Randomly select smoke detectors in high-risk areas to ensure they are operational.

Question 9

Smoke Detectors

Answer 9

Smoke Detectors react to visible, mainly light-colored smoke that generally occurs during early stages of slow smoldering fires prior to an increase in temperature. They are required in stairways, corridors and escape routes

Question 10

Heat Detectors

Answer 10

Heat Detectors respond to an abnormal increase in temperature. They are available with various set points and designed to activate between temperatures of 129°F (54°C) and 178°F (78°C). They also activate when a sudden rise of temperature is sensed, greater than 1.8°F (1°C) per minute.

Heat actuated detectors can be used in fire extinguishing systems (CO₂ or Hyper Mist) that are designed to actuate automatically. Automatic activation of CO₂ systems could result in a life-threatening situation. Prior to testing heat actuated detectors, verify the detector being tested is not part of a automatically activated extinguishing system. It is imperative PSCEs know how to identify if a system is going to be actuated by the testing of a detector.

Question 11

Flame Detectors

Answer 11

Flame Detectors are designed to react to infrared radiation emitted by flames. A flame detector can often respond faster and more accurately than a smoke or heat detector due to the mechanisms it uses to detect the flame.

Question 12

Alarm Testing

Answer 12

• Periodically test fire detection and fire alarm systems by means of equipment producing hot air at the appropriate temperature, or smoke or aerosol particles having the appropriate range of density or particle size, or other phenomena associated with incipient fires to which the detector is designed to respond.
• Verify detectors are of a type such that they can be tested for correct operation and restored to normal surveillance without the renewal of any component.
• Manually-operated call points.
• Verify alarms at control station and throughout the ship.
• Examine Control Panel:

 Visual and audible fire signals.
 Free from fault indications.
 Means to manually acknowledge alarm and fault signals.