1.3.1 The International Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea (SOLAS 74), as amended, specifies steel must be used
in some cases, but in other instances it is clear that materials other
then steel anticipated, subject to the Administration's acceptance.
Guidelines to enable Administrations to make decisions on the use
of plastic piping, and the possibility of extending its application,
are therefore needed.
1.3.2 Certain material design properties and performance
criteria are common to all piping systems, regardless of system or
location, and these are addressed in section
2.1.
1.3.3
Section 2.2 addresses
fire safety aspects and provides specific requirements applicable
to piping systems depending on service and//or locations.
1.3.4
Section 3 addresses
material approval and prescribes certain controls during manufacture
and piping that should be considered in order to ensure the proper
mechanical and physical characteristics.
1.3.5 Shipboard piping should be properly installed
and tested to ensure the degree of safety necessary. Section 4 addresses these concerns,
and incorporates MSC/Circ.449, “Guidance on installation of
fibre glass reinforced pipe and fittings”.