Interpretations of Vague Expressions and other Vague Wording with References to SOLAS Chapter II-2, as Amended by Resolution MSC.99(73)

1 Example of substantial alteration of the dimensions of a ship:

Lengthening by adding a new midbody; the new midbody should comply with chapter II-2 of SOLAS 1974, as amended.

2 Example of substantial alteration of the passenger accommodation spaces:

A vehicle deck converted to passenger accommodation spaces; new accommodation spaces should comply with chapter II-2 of SOLAS 1974, as amended.

3 Example of substantial increase of a ship's service life:

Renewal of passenger accommodation spaces on one entire deck; renewed accommodation spaces should comply with chapter II-2 of SOLAS 1974, as amended. However, in this case, means of escapes in the areas not subject to renewal are not required to be reviewed in the light of new requirements.

.1 toasters, microwave ovens, induction heaters and similar appliances each of them with a maximum power of 5 kW; and

.2 electrically heated cooking plates and hot plates for keeping food warm each of them with a maximum power of 2 kW and a surface temperature not above 150°C.

1 Main navigational equipment includes, in particular, the steering stand and the compass, radar and position-finding equipment.

2 Steering gear rooms containing an emergency steering position are not considered to be control stations.

3 Where in the regulations of chapter II-2 relevant to fixed fire-extinguishing systems there are no specific requirements for the centralization within a control station of major components of a system, such major components may be placed in spaces which are not considered to be a control station.

4 Spaces containing, for instance, the following battery sources should be regarded as control stations regardless of the battery capacity:

• .1 emergency batteries in separate battery room for power supply from black-out till start of the emergency generator;
• .2 emergency batteries in separate battery room as reserve source of energy to radio installation;
• .3 batteries for start of the emergency generator; and
• .4 in general, all emergency batteries required in pursuance of regulation II-1/42 or II-1/43.

1 Main pantries and pantries containing cooking appliances may contain:

• .1 toasters, microwave ovens, induction heaters and similar appliances each of them with a power of more than 5 kW; and
• .2 electrically heated cooking plates and hot plates for keeping food warm each of them with a maximum power of 5 kW.
• These pantries may also contain coffee machines, dish washers and water boilers regardless of their power.
• This interpretation also covers regulations 9.2.2.3.2.2(13) and 9.2.2.4.2.2(9).

2 Spaces containing any electrically heated cooking plate or hot plate for keeping food warm with a power of more than 5 kW should be regarded as galleys.

1 Machineries and piping systems for the usage of fuel oil having a flashpoint of 43°C or less should comply with the following:

• .1 provisions for the measurement of oil temperature should be provided on the suction pipe of oil fuel pump;
• .2 stop valves and/or cocks should be provided to the inlet side and outlet side of the oil fuel strainers; and
• .3 pipe joints of welded construction or of circular cone type or spherical type union joint should be applied as much as possible.

2 Reference is made to IACS requirement M 24 - "Requirements concerning use of crude oil or slop as fuel for tanker boilers".

• nozzle diameter: minimum 12 mm;
• water pressure just before the nozzle: not less than 0.2 N/mm²; and
• distance between the nozzle and the doors or windows: maximum 1.5 m.

1 Areas on open deck, or semi-enclosed spaces on open deck, within a vertical cylinder of unlimited height and 6m radius centred upon the center of the outlet, and within a hemisphere of 6m radius below the outlet which permit the flow of large volumes of vapour, air or inert gas mixtures during loading/discharging/ballasting are defined as Zone 1. Permitted electrical equipment:

• Certified safe type equipment for Zone 1.

2 Areas within 4 m beyond the zone specified in 1 above are defined as Zone 2. Permitted electrical equipment:

• Certified safe type equipment for Zone 1;
• Equipment of a type, which ensures the absence of sparks, "hot spots" during its normal operation;
• Equipment having an enclosure filled with a liquid dielectric, the application, or encapsulated;
• Pressurized equipment; and
• Equipment specifically designed for Zone 2 (for example type "n" protection in accordance with IEC 60079-15).

1 The outlets mentioned in regulation 4.5.6.1 should be located in compliance with regulation 4.5.3.4.1.3 as far as the horizontal distance is concerned.

1 Sequential sampling is acceptable as long as it is dedicated for the pump room only, including exhaust ducts, and the sampling time is reasonably short.

2 Detection positions are the zones where air circulation is reduced (e.g. recessed corners).

1 On ships provided with special category spaces, ro-ro spaces or cargo spaces for the carriage of dangerous goods, the two-way portable telephone apparatus should be of certified safe type for use in zone 1 areas as defined in IEC Publication 60079 - Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas Atmospheres.

2 Two-way portable telephone apparatus should be audible from most parts of the ship. As a minimum, they should be audible where the fire patrol makes their rounds such as key box locations and the routes specified on fire patrol checklist. If necessary, extra antennas should be fitted to obtain effective communication.

1 Any of the following methods of construction may be used to construct draught stops:

• .1 the extension of the "B" Class bulkhead, ceiling or lining;
• .2 the extension of the "C" Class bulkhead, ceiling or lining;
• .3 1 mm thick minimum steel sheet, stiffened where necessary, intermittently welded to the ship's structure and the top profile of the bulkhead, or fastened mechanically to the ceilings or linings;
• .4 non-combustible board type material fastened mechanically to the ship's structure, bulkheads, ceilings or linings; or
• .5 non-combustible mineral wool insulation, not less than 20 mm in thickness, faced on each side with expanded metal mesh, the mesh on one side being attached to the ship's structure, or expanded metal mesh may be fitted on one side and non-combustible cloth (glass-cloth) on the other side of mineral wool insulation.
• Other equivalent arrangements may be accepted.

2 Draught stops are not required in public spaces with open ceilings (perforated ceilings) with openings of 40% or more.

.1 a stairway enclosure allowing access from one stair to a superimposed stair within such enclosure, the entrances to which should consist self-closing "A" class fire doors at each deck level (see figure 1 of regulation 9.2.3.4.1 in the appendix); or

.2 a stairway enclosure enclosing the stairs only, in combination with self-closing "A" class fire doors at each deck-level and at each end of a stair. No requirements apply to the stairs except that they should be of steel frame structure or be made of equivalent material (see figure 2.1 of regulation 9.2.3.4.1 in the appendix); or

.3 stairways that penetrate only one single deck should be protected, at a minimum, at one level by at least "B-0" class division and self-closing doors (see figure 2.2 of regulation 9.2.3.4.1 in the appendix).

1 Details of measures to be adopted for avoiding heat transmission at intersections and terminal points of insulation of decks or bulkheads are given in figures 1 and 2 of regulation 9.3.4 in the appendix.

Alternative details may be accepted provided that the effectiveness of such design is verified by an appropriate test in the same manner as those specified in the FTP Code.

2 In the case where the lower part of insulation has to be cut for drainage, the construction should be in accordance with the structural details as given in figure 3 for regulation 9.3.4 in the appendix.

1 Where required divisions are replaced by divisions of a higher standard, the door need only conform to the required division.

2 Watertight doors constructed in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-1/15 and fitted below the bulkhead deck that are required to be watertight need not be tested to the FTP Code provided that the doors meet the requirements for water tightness in SOLAS regulation II-1/18. Doors fitted above the bulkhead deck, which are required to meet both the fire protection and watertight requirements (see MSC/Circ.541), should be tested to the FTP Code.

.1 the signal showing that "A" class lift doors are in the closed position should be activated only when the order to close the main fire doors has been given by the continuously manned central control station; and

.2 when there are several lifts giving access to the same stairway, the lift door indicators located in the continuously manned central control station should be capable of indicating that all the lift doors giving access to the same landing are properly closed. This indication should be shown on the panel.

1 "Lower end of the duct" means a position at the junction between the duct and the galley range hood. (See also interpretation of regulation 41-2.4.3.2.)

2 "Upper end of the duct" means a position close to the outlet of the duct.

1 One hatch should be provided close to the exhaust fan.

2 In the galley exhaust duct, the grease will accumulate more in the lower end. Therefore, hatches should be fitted also in this part of the duct.

.1 the storage room should be used for no other purposes (last part of the first sentence^footnote);

.2 if the storage space is located below deck, it should be located no more than one deck below the open deck and should be directly accessible by a stairway or ladder from the open deck (3rd sentence);

.3 spaces which are located below deck or spaces where access from the open deck is not provided, should be fitted with a mechanical ventilation system designed to take exhaust air from the bottom of the space and should be sized to provide at least 6 air changes per hour (4th sentence); and

.4 access doors should open outwards, and bulkheads and decks including doors and other means of closing any opening therein, which form the boundaries between such rooms and adjacent enclosed spaces should be gas tight (5th sentence).

• The 45 l foam type extinguisher or its equivalent may be arranged outside of the space concerned.

1 If an aluminium deck is tested with insulation installed below the deck, then the result will apply to decks, which are bare on the top. Aluminium decks may not be provided with deck coverings on the top unless tested with the deck covering, to verify that the 200°C temperature of the aluminium is not exceeded. However, when needed, any approved primary deck covering (not specifically the one used during the standard fire test of the deck) may be used for meeting this requirement.

2 When spaces of categories (1) to (10) in regulation 9.2.2.3 or of categories (1) to (5) and (10) in regulation 9.2.2.4 are located on top of aluminium decks, the deck does not need to be insulated from the upper side, provided the deck is protected by an approved deck covering.

3 "Load-bearing division" is a deck or bulkhead including stiffeners, pillars, stanchions and other structural members which, if eliminated, would adversely affect the designated structural strength of the ship.

1 Areas on open deck, or semi-enclosed spaces on open deck, within 3 m of cargo tank ventilation outlets which permit the flow of small volumes of vapor, air or inert gas mixtures caused by thermal variation are defined as Zone 1. Permitted electrical equipment:

• Certified safe type equipment for Zone 1.

2 Areas within 2 m beyond the zone specified in 1 above are defined as Zone 2. Permitted electrical equipment:

• Certified safe type equipment for Zone 1,
• Equipment of a type, which ensures the absence of sparks, "hot spots" during its normal operation,
• Equipment having an enclosure filled with a liquid dielectric, the application, or encapsulated,
• Pressurised equipment,
• Equipment specifically designed for Zone 2 (for example type "n" protection in accordance with IEC Publication 60079-15).

.1 Areas on open deck within 3 m of cargo tank ventilation outlets which permit the flow of small volumes of vapour caused by thermal variation:

• certified safe type equipment.

.2 Areas 2 m beyond the zone specified in .1 above:

• certified safe type equipment; or
• equipment of a type which ensures absence of sparks or arcs and absence of ignition capable surface during normal operation; or
• equipment specifically designed for Zone 2 as defined in IEC Publication 60092 Electrical installations in ships - Part 502: Tankers - Special features.

• one enclosed stairway which provides a continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the embarkation deck in one watertight compartment;
• each of the other compartments have an enclosed stairway which provides a continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the bulkhead deck; and
• the continuous fire shelter is also provided on the bulkhead deck through a route protected as a category 2 space (horizontal stairway).

1 The escape routes are routes for escape and also for access. Accordingly, the locking arrangement should be such that it does not obstruct these two objectives (escape and access). Doors along any designated escape routes which require keys to unlock them when moving in the direction of escape should not be permitted.

2 The embarkation deck should be accessible from the open decks to which escapes routes lead.

1 The water spray system required in paragraphs 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 of MSC/Circ.608/Rev.1 - Interim guidelines for open-top container ships - will also satisfy the requirement for dangerous goods.

2 The amount of water required for fire-fighting purposes in the largest hold should allow simultaneous use of the water spray system plus four jets of water from hose nozzles.

1 General

If adjacent spaces are not separated from cargo spaces by gastight bulkheads or decks, ventilation requirements should apply as for the cargo space itself, required under regulation 19.3.4.2 and its interpretations.

2 Requirements for individual cargoes:

.1 Cargoes liable to give off vapours or gases which can form an explosive mixture with air (See the BC Code, Appendix B, e.g. IMO Class 4.3 materials):

Two separate fans should be permanently fitted or being of a portable type adapted for being permanently fitted prior to loading and during voyage. The fans should be either explosion proof or arranged such that the escaping gas flow is separated from electrical cables and components. The total ventilation should be at least six air changes per hour, based upon the empty space. Ventilation should be such that any escaping gases cannot reach living spaces on or under deck.

.2 Cargoes liable to spontaneous combustion (only applicable to seed cake (b) and (c)):

Two separate fans should be permanently fitted or being of a portable type adapted for being permanently fitted prior to loading and during voyage. The fans should be either explosion proof or arranged such that the escaping gas flow is separated from electrical cables and components. The total ventilation should be at least six air changes per hour, based upon the empty space. Ventilation should be such that any escaping gases cannot reach living spaces on or under deck.

3 For open-top containerships

Power ventilation should be required only for the lower part of the cargo hold for which purpose ducting is required. The ventilation capacity should be at least two air changes per hour, based on the empty hold volume below weather deck.

1 Exhaust fans should be of non-sparking type in accordance with IACS Requirement F 29, as revised.

2 The purpose of "suitable wire mesh guards" is to prevent foreign objects from entering into the fan casing. The standard wire mesh guards should have a size of 13 mm × 13 mm.

1 When selecting the protective clothing the danger of the chemicals according to the class and liquid or gaseous state should be taken into account.

2 The required protective clothing is for emergency purposes.

3 For solid bulk cargoes the protective clothing should satisfy the equipment requirements specified in Appendix E of the BC Code for the individual substances. For packaged goods the protective clothing should satisfy the equipment requirements specified in emergency procedures (EmS) of the Supplement to IMDG Code for the individual substances.

.1 by an enclosure of at least IP 55 as defined in IEC Publication 600529 - Classification of Degree of Protection Provided by Enclosures; or

.2 by apparatus for use in zone 2 areas as defined in Publication 60079 - Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas Atmospheres (Temperature class T3).

1 The electrical equipment referred to in these regulations should be of certified safe type and wiring, if fitted, and should be suitable for use in zone 1 areas as defined in IEC Publication 60079 - Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas Atmospheres (Gas group II A and temperature class T3).

2 Exhaust fans should be of non-sparking type in accordance with IACS Requirement F 29, as revised.