.1 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems: General (R 5.1)

The necessary pipes for conveying fire-extinguishing medium into protected spaces shall be provided with control valves so marked as to indicate clearly the spaces to which the pipes are led. Suitable provision shall be made to prevent inadvertent admission of the medium to any space. The piping for the distribution of fire-extinguishing medium shall be arranged and discharge nozzles so positioned that a uniform distribution of medium is obtained. Means shall be provided to close from outside the protected spaces all openings which may admit air to or allow gas to escape from the protected space. Means shall be provided for automatically giving an audible warning of the release of fire-extinguishing medium into any space in which personnel normally work or to which they have access. The alarm shall operate for a suitable period before the medium is released. The means of control of any fixed gas fire-extinguishing system shall be readily accessible and simple to operate and shall be grouped together in as few locations as possible at positions not likely to be cut off by a fire in a protected space. At each location there shall be clear instructions relating to the operation of the system having regard to the safety of personnel. Automatic release of fire-extinguishing medium shall not be permitted, except as permitted in respect of local automatically operated units fitted, in addition to and independent of any required fixed fire-extinguishing system, in machinery spaces over equipment having a high fire risk or in enclosed areas of high fire risk within machinery spaces. Where the quantity of extinguishing medium is required to protect more than one space, the quantity of medium available need not be more than the largest quantity required for any one space so protected. Except as otherwise permitted, pressure containers required for the storage of fire-extinguishing medium shall be located outside protected spaces in accordance with paragraph .1.11. Means shall be provided for the crew or shore personnel to safely check the quantity of medium in the containers. Containers for the storage of fire extinguishing medium and associated pressure components shall be designed to appropriate codes of practice having regard to their locations and maximum ambient temperatures expected in service. When the fire-extinguishing medium is stored outside a protected space, it shall be stored in a room which shall be situated in a safe and readily accessible position and shall be effectively ventilated. Any entrance to such a storage room shall preferably be from the open deck and in any case shall be independent of the protected space. Access doors shall open outwards, and bulkheads and decks including doors and other means of closing any opening therein, which form the boundaries between such rooms and adjoining enclosed spaces shall be gastight. For the purpose of application of the tables for fire integrity of bulkheads and decks in Regulations II-2/B/4 or II-2/B/5, as applicable, such storage rooms shall be treated as control stations. The use of a fire-extinguishing medium which either by itself or under expected conditions of use gives off toxic gases in such quantities as to endanger persons or gives off gases which are harmful to the environment, in fire-extinguishing systems on board new ships and in such new installations on board existing ships, is not permitted. Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems shall comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Systems Code. Means shall be provided to close from outside the protected space all openings which may admit air to or allow gas escape from the protected space. When the fire-extinguishing medium is stored outside a protected space, it shall be stored in a room which is located behind the forward collision bulkhead and is used for no other purposes. Any entrance to such a storage room shall preferably be from the open deck and shall be independent of the protected space. If the storage place is located below deck, it shall be located no more than one deck below the open deck and shall be directly accessible by a stairway or ladder from the open deck. Spaces which are located below deck or spaces where access from the open deck is not provided shall be fitted with a mechanical ventilation system designed to take exhaust air from the bottom of the space and shall be sized to provide at least 6 air changes per hour. Access doors shall open outwards and bulkheads and decks including doors and other means of closing any opening therein, which form boundaries between such rooms and adjacent enclosed spaces, shall be gastight. For the purpose of the application of tables 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2 such storage rooms shall be treated as fire control stations. Where the volume of free air contained in air receivers in any space is such that, if released in such space in the event of fire, such release of air within that space would seriously affect the efficiency of the fixed fire-extinguishing system, an additional quantity of fire-extinguishing medium shall be provided. Suppliers of fixed fire-extinguishing installations shall provide a description of the installation, including a checklist for maintenance, in English and in the official language(s) of the flag State. The quantity of the fire-extinguishing medium shall be checked at least once a year by either an expert authorised by the Administration of the flag State, the supplier of the installation or a recognised organisation. The periodic checking which is carried out by the ship's chief engineer or organised by the ship's management shall be entered in the ship's logbook, stating the scope and the time of such checking. Non-prescribed fire-extinguishing equipment which is installed e.g. in store rooms shall, in its construction and dimensioning, comply with the provisions of this regulation for the type of installation in question. All doors to spaces protected by CO_(2) /halon installation shall be marked ‘This space is protected by a CO_(2)/halon installation and shall be evacuated when the alarm equipment comes into operation.’

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-10 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.