7.8 Protection of special category spaces and ro-ro spaces

  7.8.1.1 Subject to 7.8.1.2 boundaries of special category spaces shall be insulated in accordance with tables 7.4-1 and 7.4-2.

  7.8.1.2 The vehicle deck of a special category space or a ro-ro space, including an open ro-ro space, need only be insulated on the underside if required. Vehicle decks located totally within ro-ro spaces may be accepted without structural fire protection, provided these decks are not part of, or do not provide support to, the craft's main load-carrying structure and provided satisfactory measures are taken to ensure that the safety of the craft, including fire-fighting abilities, integrity of fire resisting divisions and means of evacuation, is not affected by a partial or total collapse of these internal decks.

  7.8.1.3 Indicators shall be provided on the navigation bridge which shall indicate when any door leading to or from the special category space or ro-ro space is closed.

  7.8.1.4 Fire doors in boundaries of special category spaces leading to spaces below the vehicle deck shall be arranged with coamings of a height of at least 100 mm.

  7.8.2.1 Each special category space and ro-ro space shall be fitted with an approved fixed pressure water-spraying system^footnote for manual operation which shall protect all parts of any deck and vehicle platform in such space, provided that the Administration may permit the use of any other fixed fire-extinguishing system that has been shown by full-scale test in conditions simulating a flowing petrol fire in the space to be not less effective in controlling fires likely to occur in such a space.

  7.8.2.2 The pumps of the system shall be capable of maintaining:

• .1 half the total required application rate with any one pump unit out of function, for category A craft; and

• .2 the total required application rate with any one pump unit out of function, for category B craft.

  7.8.2.3 Fixed fire-extinguishing systems shall fulfil the following requirements:

• .1 the valve manifold shall be provided with a pressure gauge, and each of the valves shall be marked to identify the protected areas;

• .2 instructions for maintenance and operation of the installation shall be set up in the room where the valves are located; and

• .3 the piping system shall be provided with a sufficient number of drainage valves.

  7.8.3.1 A continuous fire patrol shall be maintained in special category spaces and ro-ro spaces unless a fixed fire-detection and fire alarm system, complying with the requirements of 7.7.1, and a television surveillance system are provided. The fixed fire-detection system shall be capable of rapidly detecting the onset of fire. The spacing and location of detectors shall be tested taking into account the effects of ventilation and other relevant factors.

  7.8.3.2 Manually operated call points shall be provided as necessary throughout the special category spaces and ro-ro spaces and one shall be placed close to each exit from such spaces. Manually operated call points shall be spaced so that no part of the space shall be more than 20 m from a manually operated call point.

 There shall be provided in each special category space and ro-ro space:

• .1 at least three water fog applicators, which shall consist of a metal L-shaped pipe, the long limb being approximately 2 m in length and capable of being fitted to a fire hose, and the short limb being approximately 250 mm in length and fitted with a fixed water fog nozzle or capable of being fitted with a water spray nozzle;

• .2 one portable foam applicator unit consisting of an air foam nozzle of an inductor type capable of being connected to the fire main by a fire hose, together with a portable tank containing 20 l of foam-making liquid and one spare tank. The nozzle shall be capable of producing effective foam suitable for extinguishing an oil fire of at least 1.5 m³/min. At least two portable foam applicator units shall be available in the craft for use in such space; and

• .3 portable fire extinguishers of approved type and design, located so that no point in the space is more than approximately 15 m walking distance from an extinguisher, provided that at least one portable extinguisher is located at each access to such space. In addition to complying with 7.7.4, fire extinguishers shall be suitable for A and B class fires and have a capacity of 12 kg dry powder or equivalent.

  7.8.5.1 There shall be provided an effective power ventilation system^footnote for the special category spaces and ro-ro spaces sufficient to give at least 10 air changes per hour while navigating and 20 air changes per hour at the quayside during vehicle loading and unloading operations. The system for such spaces shall be entirely separated from other ventilation systems and shall be operating at all times when vehicles are in such spaces. Ventilation ducts serving special category spaces and ro-ro spaces capable of being effectively sealed shall be separated for each such space. The system shall be capable of being controlled from a position outside such spaces.

  7.8.5.2 The ventilation shall be such as to prevent air stratification and the formation of air pockets.

  7.8.5.3 Means shall be provided to indicate in the operating compartment any loss or reduction of the required ventilating capacity.

  7.8.5.4 Arrangements shall be provided to permit a rapid shutdown and effective closure of the ventilation system in case of fire, taking into account the weather and sea conditions.

  7.8.5.5 Ventilation ducts, including dampers, shall be made of steel or other equivalent material. Ducts lying inside the served space may be made of non-combustible or fire-restricting material.

  7.8.6.1 In view of the serious loss of stability which could arise due to large quantities of water accumulating on the deck or decks consequent to the operation of the fixed pressure water-spraying system, pumping and drainage arrangements shall be such as to prevent such accumulation. Scuppers fitted for this purpose shall be so arranged as to ensure that such water is rapidly discharged directly overboard. Alternatively, pumping and drainage facility shall be provided additional to the requirements of chapter 10. When it is required to maintain watertight or weathertight integrity, as appropriate, the scuppers shall be arranged so that they can be operated from outside the space protected.

  7.8.6.2 In respect of scuppers and drainage pumps fitted in accordance with 7.8.6.1:

• .1 the amount of water for which drainage is provided shall take into account the capacity of both the water spraying system pumps and required number of fire hose nozzles;

• .2 the drainage system shall have a capacity of not less than 125% of the capacity specified in .1 above; and

• .3 bilge wells shall be of sufficient holding capacity and shall be arranged at the side shell of the ship at a distance from each other of not more than 40 m in each watertight compartment.

  7.8.7.1 On any deck or platform, if fitted, on which vehicles are carried and on which explosive vapours might be expected to accumulate, except platforms with openings of sufficient size permitting penetration of petrol gases downwards, equipment which may constitute a source of ignition of flammable vapours and, in particular, electrical equipment and wiring, shall be installed at least 450 mm above the deck or platform. Electrical equipment installed more than 450 mm above the deck or platform shall be of a type enclosed and protected by an enclosure having an ingress protection based on an international standard acceptable to the Organization.^footnoteHowever, if the installation electrical equipment and wiring less than 450 mm above the deck or platform is necessary for the safe operation of the craft, such electrical equipment and wiring may be installed provided that the equipment is certified "safe type" based on an international standard acceptable to the Organization.^footnote

  7.8.7.2 If installed in an exhaust ventilation duct, electrical equipment shall be certified "safe type".^footnote The equipment and wiring, if fitted, shall be suitable for use based on standards acceptable to the Organization^footnote and the outlet from any exhaust duct shall be sited in a safe position, having regard to other possible sources of ignition.

  7.8.7.3 If pumping and drainage arrangements are provided, it shall be ensured that:

• .1 water contaminated with petrol or other flammable substances is not drained to machinery spaces or other spaces where sources of ignition may be present; and

• .2 electrical equipment fitted in tanks or other components of the drainage system shall be of a type suitable for use in explosive petrol/air mixtures.

  7.8.8.1 Open ro-ro spaces shall comply with the requirements set out in 7.8.1.1, 7.8.2, 7.8.3, 7.8.4 and 7.8.6.

  7.8.8.2 For those parts of a ro-ro space which are completely open from above, the requirements set out in 7.8.2, 7.8.3.1 and 7.8.6 need not be complied with. However, a continuous fire patrol or a television surveillance system shall be maintained.