2.3 Flash point of oil fuel
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.601 – Fire Protection in Machinery Spaces – (Adopted on 29 January 1993) - Annex 1 - F35 Rev.2 1991 - Fire protection of machinery spaces - 2 Items to be considered for reducing the fire risk - 2.3 Flash point of oil fuel

2.3 Flash point of oil fuel

  .1 Oil fuels with a flash point of less than 60°C (closed cup) are not permitted, except for the following:

  • ships certified for restricted service within areas having a climate ensuring that ambient temperatures of spaces where such fuel oil is stored will not rise to within 10°C below its flash point, may use oil fuel with flash point below 60°C but not less than 43°C;
  • installations complying with UR M24 regarding use of crude oil as fuel;
  • in emergency generators oil fuel with a flash point of not less than 43°C may be used.

  .2 Oil fuel in storage tanks shall not be heated to temperatures within 10°C below the flash point of the fuel oil, except for the following:

Oil fuel in service tanks, settling tanks and any other tanks in the supply system may be heated above this limit, provided:

  • the length of the vent pipes from such tanks and/or a cooling device is sufficient for cooling the vapours to at least 10°C below the flash point of the fuel oil;
  • a temperature sensor is fitted in the vent pipe and adjusted to give alarm if the temperature should exceed a limit set at 10°C below the flash point of the fuel;
  • the vent pipes are fitted with flame screens meeting the requirements of IMO's “Standards for Devices for Preventing Passage of flames into Cargo Tanks";
  • there are no openings from the vapour space of the fuel tanks into machinery spaces (bolted manholes are acceptable) ;
  • enclosed spaces shall not be located directly over such fuel tanks, except for well ventilated cofferdams;
  • electrical equipment shall not be fitted in the vapour space of the tanks, unless it is certified to be intrinsically safe.
Parent topic: 2 Items to be considered for reducing the fire risk
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