6.5 Detection and Alarm:

Purpose

(1) The purpose of this paragraph is to detect a fire in the space of origin and to provide for alarm for safe escape and fire-fighting activity and for this purpose, the following functional requirements shall be met-

• (a) fixed fire detection and fire alarm system installations shall be suitable for the nature of the space, fire growth potential and potential generation of smoke and gases;

• (b) manually operated call points shall be placed effectively to ensure a readily accessible means of notification; and

• (c) fixed fire detection and fire alarm system installations shall be capable of remotely and individually identifying each detector and manually operated call point.

General Requirements

(2) A fixed fire detection and fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.

(3) A fixed fire detection and fire alarm system and a sample extraction smoke detection system required in this paragraph and other paragraphs in this part shall be of an approved type and comply with the Fire Safety Systems Code.

(4) Where a fixed fire detection and fire alarm system is required for the protection of spaces other than those specified in subsection (9), at least one detector complying with the Fire Safety Systems Code shall be installed in each such space.

Initial and Periodical Tests

(5) The function of fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems required by the relevant requirements of this Chapter shall be tested under varying conditions of ventilation after installation.

(6) The function of fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems shall be periodically tested to the satisfaction of the Administration 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.

Protection of Machinery Spaces

(7) A fixed fire detection and fire alarm system shall be installed in-

• (a) periodically unattended machinery spaces; and

• (b) machinery spaces where-

  • (i) the installation of automatic and remote control systems and equipment has been approved in lieu of continuous manning of the space; and

  • (ii) the main propulsion and associated machinery, including the main sources of electrical power, are provided with various degrees of automatic or remote control and are under continuous manned supervision from a control room.

(8) The fixed fire detection and fire alarm system required in subsection (1) shall-

• (a) be so designed and the detectors so positioned as to detect rapidly the onset of fire in any part of those spaces and under any normal conditions of operation of the machinery and variations of ventilation as required by the possible range of ambient temperatures;

• (b) detection systems using only thermal detectors shall not be permitted except in spaces of restricted height and where their use is appropriate;

• (c) the detection system shall initiate local and remote audible and visual alarms distinct in both respects from the alarms of any other system not indicating fire, in sufficient places to ensure that the alarms are heard and observed on the navigation bridge or continuously manned central control station and by a responsible engineer officer.

Protection of Accommodation and Service Spaces and Control Stations

(9) Smoke detectors shall be installed in all cabins, stairways, corridors and escape routes within accommodation spaces as provided in subsection (10); consideration shall also be given to the installation of special purpose smoke detectors within ventilation ducting.

(10) There shall be installed in every ship throughout each separate zone, whether vertical or horizontal, in all accommodation and service spaces and, where it is considered necessary by the Administration, in control stations, except spaces which afford no substantial fire risk such as void spaces and sanitary spaces, an automatic sprinkler, a fire detection and fire alarm system of an approved type complying with the relevant requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code and with the provisions of subsection (16) and so installed and arranged as to protect such spaces.

(11) The construction of ceilings and bulkheads shall be such that it will be possible, without impairing the efficiency of the fire protection to detect any smoke originating in concealed and inaccessible places (requiring tools to access), except where in the opinion of the Administration there is no risk of fire originating in such places due to there being no ignition sources.

(12) Manually operated call points complying with the Fire Safety Systems Code shall be installed throughout the accommodation spaces, service spaces, control stations and external deck areas such that

• (a) one manually operated call point shall be located at each exit;

• (b) manually operated call points shall be readily accessible in the corridors of each deck such that no part of the corridor is more than 20 metres from such a point; and

• (c) manually operated call points shall be located on external decks where a source of ignition or fire risk is identified beneath an overhanging structure.

Fire Alarm Signaling Systems^footnote

(13) Ships shall at all times when at sea, or in port (except when out of service), be so manned or equipped as to ensure that any initial fire alarm is immediately received by a responsible member of the crew either:

• (a) on the bridge; or

• (b) at the continuously manned control station should this station be in a location other than on the bridge; and

• (c) when more than 12 passengers are carried the navigation bridge shall be manned at all times.

(14) The control panel of fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems shall be designed on the fail-safe principle (e.g., an open detector circuit shall cause an alarm condition).

(15) The fire detection and fire alarms system required by subsection (10) shall comply with the following requirements-

• (a) it shall be centralised in a continuously manned central control station, which may be the navigation bridge;

• (b) in addition, controls for fire pumps and emergency fire pumps, remote closing of the watertight and semi-watertight doors, fire doors, release of smoke from machinery spaces and shutting down the ventilation fans shall be centralised in the same location as that referred to in paragraph (a) above;

• (c) the ventilation fans shall be capable of reactivation by the crew at the continuously manned control station;

• (d) the control panels in the central control station shall be capable of indicating open or closed positions of watertight and semi-watertight doors, fire doors, on or off status of the detectors, manual call points, alarms and fans;

• (e) the control panel shall be continuously powered and shall have an automatic change-over to standby power supply in case of loss of normal power supply; and

• (f) the control panel shall be powered from the main source of electrical power and the emergency source of electrical power.

(16) A special alarm, operated from the navigation bridge and fire control station, shall be fitted to summon the crew and this alarm may be part of the ship's general emergency alarm system and shall be capable of being sounded independently of the alarm to the passenger spaces.

(17) A fixed fire detection and fire alarm system complying with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code shall be installed on cabin balconies of ships to which SOLAS chapter II-2, Part B, regulation 5.3.4 applies, when furniture and furnishings on such balconies are not as defined in section 6.7(1)(d), subparagraphs (i),(ii),(iii), (vi) and (vii).