6.3 Fire Growth Potential:

Purpose

(1) The purpose of this paragraph is to limit the fire growth potential in every space of the ship and for this purpose, the following functional requirements shall be met-

• (a) means of control for the air supply to the space shall be provided;

• (b) means of control for flammable liquids in the space shall be provided; and

• (c) the use of combustible materials shall be restricted.

Control of Air Supply and Flammable Liquid to the Space

(2) The main inlets and outlets of all ventilation systems shall be capable of being closed from outside the spaces being ventilated and the means of closing shall be easily accessible as well as prominently and permanently marked and shall indicate whether the shut-off is open or closed.

(3) Power ventilation of accommodation spaces, service spaces, control stations and machinery spaces shall be capable of being stopped from an easily accessible position outside the space being served and this position shall not be readily cut off in the event of a fire in the spaces served.

(4) Means of control shall be provided for opening and closure of skylights, closure of openings in funnels which normally allow exhaust ventilation and closure of ventilator dampers.

(5) Means of control shall be provided for stopping ventilating fans in accordance with the following provisions-

• (a) controls provided for the power ventilation serving machinery spaces shall be grouped so as to be operable from two positions, one of which shall be outside such spaces; and

• (b) the means provided for stopping the power ventilation of the machinery spaces shall be entirely separate from the means provided for stopping ventilation of other spaces.

(6) Means of control shall be provided for stopping forced and induced draught fans, oil fuel transfer pumps, oil fuel unit pumps, lubricating oil service pumps, thermal oil circulating pumps and oil separators (purifiers) provided that subsections (7) and (8) need not apply to oily water separators.

(7) The controls required in subsections (4) to (6) and in subsection 6.2(9) shall be located outside the space served so they will not be cut off in the event of fire in that space.

(8) The controls required in subsections (4) to (7) and in sections 6.6.(5) and 6.6(6) and the controls for any required fire-extinguishing system shall be situated at one control position or grouped in as few positions as possible to the satisfaction of the Administration and such positions shall have a safe access from the open deck.

Additional Requirements for Means of Control in Periodically Unattended Machinery Spaces

(9) For periodically unattended machinery spaces, the Administration shall give special consideration to maintaining the fire integrity of the machinery spaces, the location and centralisation of the fire-extinguishing system controls, the required shutdown arrangements (e.g., ventilation, fuel pumps, etc.) and any additional fire-extinguishing appliances and other fire-fighting equipment and breathing apparatus that may be required and these requirements shall be at least equivalent to those of machinery spaces normally attended. (Note; but see section 5.3(1) which prohibits unattended machinery spaces operations on Code vessels)

Use of Non-Combustible Materials

(10) Insulating materials in spaces, other than in mail rooms, baggage rooms and refrigerated compartments of service spaces, shall be non-combustible provided that vapour barriers and adhesives used in conjunction with insulation, as well as the insulation of pipe fittings for cold service systems, need not be of non-combustible materials, but they shall be kept to the minimum quantity practicable and their exposed surfaces shall have low flame-spread characteristics.

(11) All linings, grounds, draught stops and ceilings used internally or on open decks, bulkheads and overhangs shall be of non-combustible material except in saunas or refrigerated compartments of service spaces; partial bulkheads or decks used to subdivide a space for utility or artistic treatment shall also be of non-combustible materials.

(12) Open decks, bulkheads and divisions of "A", "B" or "C" class in accommodation , service spaces and cabin balconies which are faced with combustible materials, facings, mouldings, decorations and veneers shall comply with the provisions of subsections (13) to (15) and section 6.4, provided that natural hard wood decking, traditional wooden benches, wooden linings on bulkheads and ceilings are permitted in open decks and saunas and such materials need not be subject to the calculations prescribed in subsections (13) and (14): ): provided that where it is possible to readily direct a jet of water, for fire fighting purposes, on to an open deck or cabin balcony from the deck immediately above, or adjacent, the restrictions on materials used bulkheads and divisions on such an open deck or balcony may be relaxed, except for open decks and cabin balconies adjacent to life saving appliances, as referred to in section 6.5(11) , where an evaluation of the fire risk^footnote should be conducted and mitigation measures put in place to the satisfaction of the Administration; see also subparagraphs (14), (15),(17), (19) and (20).

(13) Combustible materials used on the surfaces and linings specified in subsection (12), except for open decks, shall have a calorific value^footnote not exceeding 45 MJ/m² of the area for the thickness used; provided that the requirements of this paragraph are not applicable to the surfaces of furniture fixed to linings or bulkheads.

(14) Subject to subsection (15), furniture and furnishings on open decks shall comply with Regulation 5.3.4 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS unless such open decks are protected by a fixed pressure water-spraying and fixed fire detection system and alarm system.

(15) Except for open decks adjacent to life saving appliances, as referred to in section 6.5(11), the furniture and furnishings on the open decks referred to in subsection (14) need not comply with Regulation 5.3.4 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS provided it is possible to readily direct a jet of water, for fire fighting purposes, on to such a deck from the deck immediately above or adjacent.

(16) Where combustible materials are used in the vessel interior in accordance with subsection (12), they shall comply with the following requirements-

• (a) the total volume of combustible facings, mouldings, decorations and veneers in accommodation and service spaces shall not exceed a volume equivalent to 2.5 millimetres veneer on the combined area of the walls and ceiling linings. Furniture fixed to linings, bulkheads or decks need not be included in the calculation of the total volume of combustible materials; and

• (b) in the case of ships fitted with an automatic sprinkler system complying with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code, the above volume may include some combustible material used for erection of "C" class divisions.

(17) The following surfaces shall have low flame-spread characteristics in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code-

• (a) exposed surfaces in corridors and stairway enclosures and of bulkhead and ceiling linings in accommodation and service spaces (except saunas) and control stations;

• (b) surfaces and grounds in concealed or inaccessible spaces in accommodation and service spaces and control stations; and

• (c) exposed surfaces of cabin balconies except for natural hardwood decking systems: provided that this section need not apply where it is possible to readily direct a jet of water, for fire fighting purposes, on to such a balcony from the deck immediately above or adjacent, and the balcony is not adjacent to life saving appliances;

(18) the Administration may relax the provisions of 6.3(17) in areas appropriated for the use of the owner and guests, other than in relation to escape routes, stairway enclosures and corridors, provided that-

• (a) such owner and guest spaces within such areas are individually bounded by divisions with fire integrity in accordance with Tables 6.1 and 6.2;

• (b) the spaces are fitted with a fully addressable fire detection system and a fixed fire fighting system complying with the relevant provision of the FSS Code;

• (c) in all cases the Administration is consulted, either directly or through the vessel’s Classification Society and a detailed proposal with respect to the material to be used and its intended location is submitted as part of the consultation process;

(19) In applying the provisions of paragraph (18), the overall fire, smoke and toxicity characteristics of the materials to be used may be taken into account as part of the overall assessment.

(20) Furniture within stairway enclosures shall be subject to the following provisions-

• (a) furniture in stairway enclosures shall-

  • (i) be fixed and limited to no more than six seats on each deck in each stairway enclosure;

  • (ii) be of restricted fire risk determined in accordance with the Fire Test Procedures Code; and

  • (iii) not restrict the passenger escape route;

  • (iv) provided that Administration may permit additional seating in the main reception area within a stairway enclosure if it is fixed, non-combustible and does not restrict the passenger escape route.

• (b) furniture shall not be permitted in passenger and crew corridors and stairs forming escape routes in cabin areas, provided that-

  • (i) lockers of non-combustible material, providing storage for non-hazardous safety equipment required by this Chapter; and

  • (ii) drinking water dispensers, ice cube machines, decorative flower or plant arrangements, statues or other objects of art such as paintings and tapestries;

• may be permitted in corridors and stairways where these are fixed and do not restrict the width of the escape routes.

(21) Subject to subparagraph (22), furniture and furnishings on cabin balconies shall comply with section 6.7(1)(d), subparagraphs (i),(ii), (iii), (vi) and (vii) unless such balconies are protected by a fixed pressure water-spraying and fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems complying with SOLAS Chapter II-2, Part C, regulations 7.10 and 10.6.1.3.

(22) Except for open decks adjacent to life saving appliances, as referred to in section 6.5(11), the furniture and furnishings on the cabin balconies referred to in subsection (19) need not comply with Regulation 5.3.4 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS provided it is possible to readily direct a jet of water, for fire-fighting purposes, on to such a deck from the deck immediately above or adjacent.

(23) Furniture and furnishings on open decks adjacent to survival craft, rescue boats and their respective launching and embarkation stations, should have their fire risk evaluated^footnote and mitigation measures put in place to the satisfaction of the Administration. The following are considered as providing suitable mitigating measures to give a level of risk to be accepted:

• (a) The furniture and furnishings should be of a restricted fire risk as per SOLAS II-2 reg 3.40

• (b) Use of upholstered furniture in accordance with FTP Code Part 8;

• (c) Local portable fire fighting appliances for Class A fires;

• (d) Fixed fire detection and firefighting systems suitable for open decks;

• (e) Restricted use of non fixed furnishing; and

• (f) Furniture not to be immediately adjacent to or proving storage for the LSA.