FIR-002- Fire Extinguishing Requirements for Flammable Liquid Lockers including Paint Lockers

TO: ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF

MERCHANT SHIPS, AND AUTHORIZED CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES

SUBJECT: Fire Extinguishing Requirements for Flammable Liquid Lockers including Paint Lockers

Reference: (a) Maritime Regulation 2.36

1. SOLAS 1974, as amended, Regulation 10.6.3, Chapter II-2
2. IMO Resolution MSC.13 (57)

Supersedes: Marine Notice FIR-002, dated 06/12

The following changes have been included: Revised to apply the requirements to all flammable liquid lockers

PURPOSE:

IMO Resolution MSC.13 (57), issued 11 April 1989, incorporated several amendments regarding paint and flammable liquid storage lockers into the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 1974) with effect on 1 February 1992. MSC.13 (57) stipulated requirements be established by administrations for fire extinguishing capability in paint lockers and flammable liquid lockers on new and existing vessels. On 1 July 2002, SOLAS 1974, as amended by the 2000 amendments, in Regulation 10.6.3 of Chapter II-2, implement new requirements for paint lockers and flammable liquid lockers on vessels constructed on or after 1 July 2002. This Notice provides the Liberian requirements for flammable liquid lockers on all Liberian flagged ships and based on the Administration’s interpretation of the intent of the regulation regarding paint lockers for vessels with a keel laid, or at a similar stage of construction, before 1 July 2002.

APPLICABILITY:

The regulations are applicable to all Liberian flag vessels.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 Requirements for Liberian Vessels

1.1 Existing Vessels with keels laid, or at a similar stage of construction, before 1 February 1992.

.1 Lockers of 10m² (i.e. 5m x 2m) or less in deck area - one portable fire extinguisher located outside the entrance to the space. .2 Lockers greater than 10m², but less than 20m² in deck area - two portable fire 1 of 2

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extinguishers located outside the entrance to the space.

.3 Lockers greater than 20m² in deck area - a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system as defined in Section 2.0 below.

1.2 Existing Vessels with keels laid, or at a similar stage of construction, on or after 1 February 1992 and before 1 February 1998.

.1 Lockers of 10m² (i.e. 5m x 2m) or less in deck area - one portable fire extinguisher located outside the entrance to the space.

.2 Lockers greater than 10m² in deck area - a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system as described Section 2.0 below.

1.3 Existing Vessels with keels laid, or at a similar stage of construction, on or after 1 February 1998 but before 1 July 2002.

.1 Lockers of 4m² (i.e. 2m x 2m) or less in deck area - one portable fire extinguisher located outside the entrance to the space.

.2 Lockers greater than 4m² in deck area - a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system as described in Section 2.0 below.

1.4 New Vessels with keels laid, or at a similar stage of construction, on or after 1 July 2002.

.1 Paint lockers shall comply with fire protection requirements founds in SOLAS 1974, as amendment 2000, Chapter II, Regulation 10.6.3.1 and 10.6.3.3 as applicable

.2 Flammable liquid storage lockers shall comply with the following requirements:

.1 Lockers of 4m² (i.e. 2m x 2m) or less in deck area shall comply with the requirements in SOLAS 1974, as amended 2000, Chapter II, Reg. 10.6.3.3.

.2 Lockers greater than 4m² in deck area - a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system as described in Section 2.0 below.

2.0 Definitions Apply to This Notice

2.1 Portable Fire Extinguisher - An extinguisher which is designed to be carried and operated by hand and which has a maximum fully charged weight of 23 kg (50.7 pounds). The minimum size for paint and flammable liquid lockers is either:

.1 Carbon Dioxide; with a charge of 6.8 kg (15 pounds)

.2 Dry Chemical; with a charge of 4.5 kg (10 pounds)

2.2 Suitable Fixed Extinguishing System - A system designed to a recognized standard and of a medium and capacity as follows:

.1 Carbon Dioxide - for at least 40% of the gross volume of the space protected.

.2 Dry Chemical - for at least 0.5 kg/cubic meter of the gross volume of the space protected.

.3 Water Spray with at least 5 liters/square meter of deck area/minute.

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FIR-002 2 of 2 07/20

The Republic of Liberia