Section 5 Fire safety systems
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Naval Ships, January 2023 - Volume 2 Machinery and Engineering Systems - Part 9 Electrotechnical Systems - Chapter 9 Fire Safety and Ship Safety Systems - Section 5 Fire safety systems

Section 5 Fire safety systems

5.1 Automatic sprinkler system

5.1.1 Any electrically driven power pump, provided solely for the purpose of continuing automatically the discharge of water from the sprinklers, is to be brought into action automatically by the pressure drop in the system before the standing fresh water charge in the pressure tank is completely exhausted.

5.1.2 Electrically driven sea-water pumps for automatic sprinkler systems are to be served by not less than two circuits reserved solely for this purpose, one fed from the main switchboard and one from the emergency switchboard. Such feeders are to be connected to an automatic change-over switch situated near the sprinkler pump and the switch is to be normally closed to the feeder from the main source of electrical power. No other switches are permitted in the feeders. The switches on the main and emergency switchboards are to be clearly labelled and normally kept closed.

5.1.3 Feeders for the sea-water pump and the automatic alarm and detection system are to be arranged so as to avoid galleys, machinery spaces and other enclosed spaces of high fire risk, except in so far as it is necessary to reach the appropriate switch boards. The cables are to be of a fire resistant type where they pass through such high risk areas.

5.1.4 The automatic alarm and detection system is to be fed by exclusive feeders from two sources of electrical power, one of which is to be an emergency source, with automatic change-over facilities located in, or adjacent to, the main alarm and detection panel.

5.1.5 For design guidance on electrical and fire protection systems in magazines, refer to Vol 1, Pt 4, Ch 1, 6.8 Piping, cabling and electrical systems and Vol 1, Pt 4, Ch 1, 6.9 Fire protection.

5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems

5.2.1 Where fixed water-based local application firefighting systems are installed in machinery spaces of category A in addition to the main fixed fire-extinguishing system to protect the fire hazard portions of machinery, the arrangements are to be in accordance with this sub-Section.

5.2.2 Where fixed water-based local application fire-fighting system pressure sources are reliant on external power they need only be supplied by the main source of electrical power.

5.2.3 The fire detection, control and alarm systems are to be provided with an emergency source of electrical power required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 2, 5.2 Emergency source of electrical power or Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 2, 5.3 Starting arrangements and are also to be connected to the main source of electrical power. Separate feeders, reserved solely for this purpose, with automatic changeover facilities located in, or adjacent to, the main control panel are to be provided.

5.2.5 Means to activate a system are to be located at easily accessible positions inside and outside the protected space. Arrangements inside the space are to be situated such that they will not be cut off by a fire in the protected areas and are suitable for activation in the event of escape. Where it is proposed to install local activation means outside of the protected space, details are to be submitted for consideration.

5.2.6 Where the System Design Description requires automatic shutdown and/or isolation of protected machinery and equipment in adjacent areas in the event of system activation, evidence is to be submitted to demonstrate compliance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.3. This submission is to address:

  • the failure effects of automatic shutdown and/or isolation measures on the machinery, equipment and the complete installation;
  • the measures provided to prevent the loss of electrical power;
  • the measures provided to prevent a reduction of the manoeuvrability of the ship; and
  • the measures provided to ensure continued operation of the activated system.

The submission is to detail:

  • permitted operating configurations while propulsion and steering machinery is operating;
  • temporary interruptions in power supply while in port and
  • power restoration measures following automatic shutdown and/or isolation of machinery or equipment.

See also Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.11.

5.2.7 System zones and protected areas are to be arranged to allow Mobility and/or Ship Type systems to be provided by machinery and/or equipment located outside areas affected by direct spray or extended water in the event of a system activation, where the machinery and/or equipment is duplicated or otherwise replicated to provide redundancy.

5.2.8 A control panel is to be provided for managing actions such as opening of valves, starting of pumps and initiation of alerts, and processing information from detectors. This panel is to be independent of the fire detection control unit required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 4.1 General.

5.2.9 Alarms are to be initiated upon activation of a system and are to indicate the specific zone activated at the control panel. Alarms are to be provided in each protected space, at an attended machinery control station and in the wheelhouse. The audible signal is to be distinguishable from other safety system signals.

5.2.10 A failure in a manual system activation switch circuit is not to prevent system activation using other installed manual system activation switches or, where installed, automatic activation. The means of activation are to be provided with self-monitoring facilities that will activate an alarm at an attended control station in the event of failure detection.

5.2.11 For the electrical safety of electrical and electronic equipment in areas protected by fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems and adjacent areas where water may extend, the requirements of Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.12 apply. See also Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 3, 3.3 Calculations and specifications 3.3.14.

5.2.12 As far as is practicable, electrical and electronic equipment is not to be located within protected areas or adjacent areas. The system pump, its electrical motor and the sea valve, if any, may be in a protected space provided that they are outside areas where water or spray may extend.

5.2.13 High voltage equipment and their enclosures are not to be installed in protected areas or adjacent areas. For high voltage generator enclosures which cannot be fully located outside of adjacent areas due to close proximity, a technical justification, including proposed degree of protection ratings that are normally not to be lower than IP54, may be submitted for consideration that demonstrates the overall safety of the installation in the event of system operation.

5.2.14 In addition to the degree of protection requirements of Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 1, 2.2 Design, construction and location 2.2.8, electrical and electronic equipment enclosures located within protected areas and within adjacent areas are to provide adequate protection in the event of system operation.

5.2.15 To demonstrate compliance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.14, evidence of the suitability of electrical and electronic equipment for use in protected areas and adjacent areas is to be submitted in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 3, 3.3 Calculations and specifications 3.3.14 and Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 3, 5.14 Machinery enclosures 5.14.2. The evidence is to demonstrate that additional precautions have been taken, where necessary, in respect of:

  1. satisfying Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.12 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.13;

  2. the damage control and fire-fighting policy of the Navy or Naval Administration, see Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 3, 4.1 Availability for operation 4.1.6;

  3. personnel protection against electric shock; and

  4. cooling airflow, where necessary, for equipment required to operate during system operation;

  5. maintenance requirements for equipment before return to operation following system activation.

Any test evidence submitted is to consider the overall installation, including equipment types, system configuration and nozzles and the potential effects of airflows in the protected space.

5.2.16 The evidence required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.15 is to demonstrate the safe and effective operation of the overall arrangements in the event of system operation. This evidence is to demonstrate that exposure to system spray and/or water:

  • cannot result in loss of Mobility or Ship Type systems (e.g. unintended activation of automatic machinery shutdown);
  • cannot result in loss of availability of emergency services;
  • will not affect the continued safe and effective operation of electrical and electronic equipment required to operate during the required period of system operation;
  • does not present additional electrical or fire hazards; and
  • would require only identified readily replaceable components to be repaired or replaced.

The installation of electrical and electronic equipment required to provide Mobility systems, Ship Type systems, or emergency services in enclosures with a degree of protection less than IP44 within areas exposed to direct spray is to be acceptable to LR, and evidence of suitability is to be submitted accordingly.

5.2.17 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting system electrically-driven pumps may be shared with:

  • equivalent automatic sprinkler systems;
  • equivalent main machinery space fire-fighting systems; or
  • local fire-fighting systems for deep-fat cooking equipment;

provided that the shared use is accepted by the Navy or Naval Administration as complying with their applicable regulations within the specified fire safety standard and the arrangements comply with the requirements of Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.18.

5.2.18 Shared electrically-driven sea-water pumps are to be served by not less than two circuits reserved solely for this purpose, one fed from the main source of electrical power and one from the emergency source of electrical power. Such feeders are to be connected to an automatic changeover switch situated near the pumps and the switch is to be normally closed to the feeder from the main source of electrical power. No other switches are permitted in the feeders. The switches on the main and emergency switchboards are to be clearly labelled and normally kept closed.

5.2.19 Failure of a component in the power and control system is not to result in a reduction of the total available pump capacity below that required by any of the areas the system is required to protect. For equivalent automatic sprinkler systems, a failure is not to prevent automatic release capability or reduce overall sprinkler pump capacity by more than 50 per cent.

5.2.20 Where fire-fighting systems share fire-fighting pumps, failure of one system is not to prevent activation of the pumps by any other system.

5.2.21 The activation of a system is not to result in loss of electrical power or reduction of the manoeuvrability of the ship and is not to require confirmation of space evacuation or sealing, see also Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 3, 3.3 Calculations and specifications 3.3.14 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.18.

5.2.22 Systems installed in periodically unattended machinery spaces are to, additionally, be capable of automatic release and the arrangements are to be in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.23.

5.2.23 A minimum of two fire detectors is to be provided for each protected area. One is to be a flame detector and the other is to be a smoke or heat detector, as considered appropriate to the nature of the risk and ambient conditions. The system is to be activated upon detection by two of the detectors. A fault in one detector is to initiate an alarm at an attended control station and is not to inhibit activation of the system under the control of the other detector or manually. Detector faults are not to cause activation of the system.

5.2.24 The fire detectors are to be arranged (located, oriented, guarded, etc.) to ensure that a fire in one protected area will not result in the inadvertent automatic activation of a system for another protected area. Guards or barriers provided to comply with this requirement are not to reduce the ability to detect a fire in the protected area.

5.2.25 A fire detection alarm system panel in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 4.1 General may be used for receiving fire detection signals. Separate loops are not required provided that the address of the initiating device can be identified at the control panel. The received signals are then to be sent to the control panel required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.2 Fixed water-based local application fire-fighting systems 5.2.8 for processing and action.

5.2.26 The system's fire detection systems and control units are to meet the performance criteria of SOLAS Ch II/C, Reg. 7 and are to be Type Approved in accordance with Test Specification Number 1 given in LR’s Type Approval System for an environmental category appropriate for the locations in which they are intended to operate.

5.3 Fire pumps

5.3.1 When the emergency fire pump is electrically driven, the power is to be supplied by a source other than that supplying the main fire pumps. This source is to be located outside the machinery spaces containing the main fire pumps and their source of power and drive units.

5.3.2 The cables to the emergency fire pump are not to pass through the machinery spaces containing the main fire pumps and their source of power and drive units. The cables are to be of a fire resistant type where they pass through other high fire risk areas.

5.4 Refrigerated liquid carbon dioxide systems

5.4.1 Where there are electrically driven refrigeration units for carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing systems, one unit is to be supplied by the main source of electrical power and the other unit from the emergency source of electrical power.

5.4.2 Each electrically driven carbon dioxide refrigerating unit is to be arranged for automatic operation in the event of loss of the alternative unit.

5.5 Fire safety stops

5.5.1 Means of stopping all ventilating fans, with manual reset, are to be provided, outside the spaces being served, at positions which will not readily be cut off in the event of a fire. The provisions for machinery spaces are to be independent of those for other spaces.

5.5.2 Machines driving forced and induced draught fans, and independently driven oil pumps for fuel, lubricating, hydraulic or refuelling oil, or other dangerous fluids are to be fitted with remote controls, with manual reset, situated outside the space concerned so that they may be stopped in the event of fire arising in the space in which they are located.

5.5.3 All power ventilation systems, machinery space ventilation, which is to be in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 9, 5.5 Fire safety stops 5.5.2 are to be fitted with master controls, with manual reset, so that all fans may be stopped, in the event of fire, from the central control station and from another position situated as far apart as is practicable. Off indication is to be provided for the ventilation fans at the central control station along with provisions to enable them to be reactivated.

5.5.4 Means of cutting off all electrical power to the galley except lighting circuits, in the event of a fire, are to be provided outside the galley exits, at positions which will not readily be rendered inaccessible by such a fire. Consideration may be given to relaxing this requirement for supplies to equipment not used for heating or cooking (e.g. alarm and clock systems) that do not present an electrical shock risk to fire-fighting personnel.

5.5.5 Fire safety stop systems are to be designed on the fail-safe principle or alternatively the power supplies to, and the circuits of, the fire safety stop systems are to be continuously monitored and an alarm initiated in the event of a fault. Cables are to be of a fire resistant type, see Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 8.5 Construction 8.5.3 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 4.2 Essential services 4.2.1.

5.5.6 Exhaust ducts from main laundries are to be fitted with additional remote control arrangements for shutting off the exhaust fans and supply fans from within the space and for operating fire dampers, where fitted, at the lower end of the duct.

5.6 Fire doors

5.6.1 The electrical power required for the control, indication and alarm circuits of fire doors is to be provided by an emergency source of electrical power as required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 2, 5.2 Emergency source of electrical power. An alternative supply fed from the main source of electrical power, with automatic change-over facilities, is to be provided at the central control station. Failure of any power supply is to operate an audible and visual alarm, see also Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 8.10 Cable support systems 8.10.6 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 1, 2.5 Operation under fire conditions.

5.6.2 The control and indication systems for the fire doors are to be designed on the fail-safe principle with the release system having a manual reset.

5.7 Fire dampers

5.7.1 The electrical power required for the control and indication circuits of fire dampers is to be supplied from the emergency source of electrical power.

5.7.2 The control and indication systems for the fire dampers are to be designed on the fail-safe principle with the release system having a manual reset.

5.7.3 Fire dampers fitted at the lower end of exhaust ducts from main laundries are to be capable of automatic and remote operation.

5.8 Fire extinguishing media release

5.8.1 Where it is required that alarms be provided to warn of the release of a fire-extinguishing medium, and these are electrically operated, they are to be provided with an emergency source of electrical power, as required by Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 2, 5.2 Emergency source of electrical power, and also connected to the main source of electrical power, with automatic changeover facilities located in, or adjacent to, the fire-extinguishing media release panel, see also Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 8.10 Cable support systems 8.10.6 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 8.10 Cable support systems 8.10.7. Failure of any power supply is to operate an audible and visual alarm, see also Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 8.10 Cable support systems 8.10.6 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 3, 8.10 Cable support systems 8.10.7 and Vol 2, Pt 9, Ch 1, 2.5 Operation under fire conditions.

5.8.2 The arrangements for accessing and activating the release of fire extinguishing media are not to automatically shut off fuel oil, lubricating oil or hydraulic oil to Mobility machinery required for the propulsion and the safety of the ship, see Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 1, 3.1 Categories 3.1.5.


Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.