Clasification Society Rulefinder 2020 - Version 9.33 - Fix
Statutory Documents - MCA Publications - PYC - A Code of Practice for Yachts Carrying 13 to 36 Passengers (The Passenger Yacht Code) - Chapter 6 - Fire Protection, Detection and Extinction - 6.17 Protection of Garage Spaces:

6.17 Protection of Garage Spaces:

Purpose

(1) The purpose of this paragraph is to provide additional safety measures in order to address the fire safety objectives of this Chapter for ships fitted with garage spaces and for this purpose, the following functional requirements shall be met:

  • (a) fire protection systems shall be provided to adequately protect the ship from the fire hazards associated with garage spaces;

  • (b) sources of ignition shall be separated from garage spaces; and

  • (c) garage spaces shall be adequately ventilated.

Application

(2) In addition to complying with the requirements of this Chapter, as appropriate, garage spaces shall also comply with the requirements of this paragraph.

Measures

(3) There shall be provided an effective power ventilation system sufficient to give at least 6 air changes per hour, except as provided in subsection (21) where there shall be at least 10 air changes per hour, which shall comply with the following provisions-

  • (a) it shall be separate from other ventilation systems and shall be in operation at all times;

  • (b) ventilation ducts serving such spaces capable of being effectively sealed shall be separated for each such space; and

  • (c) the system shall be capable of being controlled from a position outside such spaces.

(4) The ventilation system shall be such as to prevent air stratification and the formation of air pockets.

(5) Means shall be provided on the navigation bridge to indicate any loss of the required ventilating capacity.

(6) Arrangements shall be provided to permit a rapid shutdown and effective closure of the ventilation system from outside of the space in case of fire, taking into account the weather and sea conditions.

(7) Ventilation ducts, including dampers, shall be made of steel and ventilation ducts that pass through other horizontal zones or machinery spaces shall be "A-60" class steel ducts.

(8) Permanent openings in the side plating, the ends or deckhead of the space shall be so situated that a fire in the garage space does not endanger stowage areas and embarkation stations for survival craft and rescue boats where no lifeboats are carried and accommodation spaces, service spaces and control stations in superstructures and deckhouses above the garage spaces.

(9) Except as provided in subsection (21), electrical equipment and wiring shall be of a type suitable for use in an explosive petrol and air mixture.footnote

(10) Electrical equipment and wiring, if installed in an exhaust ventilation duct, shall be of a type approved for use in explosive petrol and air mixtures and the outlet from any exhaust duct shall be sited in a safe position, having regard to other possible sources of ignition.

(11) Other equipment which may constitute a source of ignition of flammable vapours shall not be permitted.

(12) Smoking shall not be permitted and “No-Smoking” signs are to be prominently displayed.

(13) Scuppers, piping and drainage connections for the space are to be non-combustible and shall not be led to machinery or other spaces where sources of ignition may be present.

(14) Garage spaces are not to give direct access to any space other than a fuel store or lockers used within the space, unless provided with a lobby in accordance with the fire integrity requirements of Tables 6.1 and 6.2 (considered as a ‘Corridor’) and the provisions of section 2.6 with respect to Load Lines are also to be complied as with as applicable.

(15) There shall be provided a fixed fire detection and fire alarm system complying with the requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code and with the following provisions-

  • (a) the fixed fire detection system shall be capable of rapidly detecting the onset of fire;

  • (b) the type of detectors and their spacing and location shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration, taking into account the effects of ventilation and other relevant factors; and

  • (c) after being installed, the system shall be tested under normal ventilation conditions and shall give an overall response time to the satisfaction of the Administration.

(16) Manually operated call points shall be spaced so that no part of the space is more than 20m from a manually operated call point, and one shall be placed close to each exit from such spaces.

(17) The boundary bulkheads and decks of garage spaces shall have fire integrity in accordance with Tables 6.1 and 6.2.

(18) Garage space shall be fitted with a fixed pressure water-spray fire-extinguishing system which shall comply with the Fire Safety Systems Code; provided that the Administration may permit the use of any other fixed fire-extinguishing systemfootnote that has been shown, by a full-scale test in conditions simulating a flowing petrol fire in a vehicle space or a ro-ro space, to be not less effective in controlling fires likely to occur in a garage space.

(19) When fixed pressure water-spray fire-extinguishing systems are provided, in view of the serious loss of stability which could arisefootnote due to large quantities of water accumulating on the deck or decks during the operation of the water-spraying system, the following arrangements shall be provided:

  • (a) in the spaces above the bulkhead deck, scuppers shall be fitted so as to ensure that such water is rapidly discharged directly overboard;

  • (b) in the spaces below the bulkhead deck, the Administration may require additional pumping and drainage facilities and in such case-

    • (i) the drainage system shall be sized to remove no less than 125% of the combined capacity of both the water-spraying system pumps and the required number of fire hose nozzles; and

    • (ii) the drainage system valves shall be operable from outside the protected space at a position in the vicinity of the extinguishing system controls.

(20) At least two portable foam fire extinguishers or equivalent shall be provided at each deck level in each garage space and at least one portable fire extinguisher shall be located at each access to such space.

(21) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (9) & (3), except for cases where passengers are allowed access to a garage space, the ventilation system may be so designed and operated as to provide continuous ventilation of the space at the rate of at least 10 air changes per hour subject to, any electrical equipment being of a type so enclosed and protected as to prevent the escape of sparks within a height of 450 mm from the deck,

Parent topic: Chapter 6 - Fire Protection, Detection and Extinction
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