Maintenance of firefighting equipment

Operational readiness.

All fire protection systems and appliances must be in good order at all times and be readily available for immediate use while the ship is in service. If a fire protection system is undergoing maintenance, testing or repair, then suitable arrangements must be made to ensure safety is not diminished through the provision of alternate fixed or portable fire protection equipment or other measures. The onboard maintenance plan should include provisions for this purpose.

Maintenance, testing and inspections for fire protection systems as well as fire-fighting systems and appliances are required in accordance with SOLAS Chapter II-2/14.2.2 as quoted below.

Maintenance, testing and inspections.

• Maintenance, testing and inspections shall be carried out based on the guidelines developed by the Organization (Refer to MSC.1/Circ.1432 as amended, including the amendments by MSC.1/Circ.1516) and in a manner having due regard to ensuring the reliability of fire-fighting systems and appliances.
• The maintenance plan shall be kept on board the ship and shall be available for inspection whenever required by the Administration.

All fire protection systems and appliances must be in good order and available for immediate use while the vessel is in service. If a fire protection system is under maintenance, testing, repair, or not working, then the ISM Mangers have to provide suitable arrangements to ensure fire protection capability is not diminished.

Onboard Maintenance and Competent Persons.

As per MSC.1/Circ.1432 and MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1, certain maintenance procedures and inspections may be performed by competent crew members who have completed an advanced fire-fighting training course meeting the requirements of Section A-VI/3 of the STCW code, while others should be performed by persons specially trained in the maintenance of such systems. The onboard maintenance plan should indicate which parts of the recommended inspections and maintenance are to be completed by trained personnel.

A “competent person” is defined as someone who has achieved a level of technical skill (incorporating theoretical knowledge and practical experience) to be able to complete a task or activity safely and to the specified standard. The ISM Managers are responsible for assessing and selecting a suitable “competent person”. Appropriate procedures relating to this activity must be established within the Company’s Safety Management System.

Onboard maintenance and inspections are to be carried out in accordance with the vessel’s maintenance plan, which should include the minimum elements listed in sections 4 to 10 of MSC.1/Circ.1432.

An accredited service agent.

At least one portable extinguisher of each type manufactured in the same year and kept on board a ship should be test discharged at five yearly intervals (as part of a fire drill).

The ship’s operator must ensure that if the 10 yearly hydrostatic inspection has not been carried out on the date when this MSN was published, it must be carried out as soon as possible and at the latest during the ship’s next planned dry-dock.

Specific Requirements for Fire Detection Systems.

As per MSC.1/Circ.1432 sample of fire detectors and manual call points should be tested monthly, so that all devices have been tested at least once every 5 years.

Testing of manual call-points should be conducted at the same time as the detector tests.

The monthly testing schedule is be prepared such that alternative detectors are physically tested at every monthly test. Remaining detectors must still to be visually inspected and/or tested with internal electronic self-test function, where provided.

For very large systems (1,000+ detectors), at least one detector should be physically tested in each large compartment, or one detector tested within several smaller compartments in the same locality within the same fire zone (e.g., multiple sleeping rooms on the same side of the ship located on the same deck and within the same fire zone). Whilst undertaking testing, all accessible detectors should be visually inspected for evidence of tampering, obstruction, etc.

At least one detector located along each cable line of the fire detection system and within each fire zone should be tested.

Where a fire detection system operating on an atmosphere sample extraction principal is installed the entire system should be physically tested every month. Where a ship fitted with such fire detection system undertakes laden voyages of longer than 1 month, the sample extraction fire detection system covering cargo compartments should be tested before loading cargo.

In principle, the inspection interval for new built ships carried out by shipyard staff or crew starts from delivery of a vessel, while inspections for such things as replaced items or hydrostatic tests starts from either the date when such an inspection was last carried out or from the date of manufacture. In case there are related instructions by administrations, the instruction should be followed.
MSC.1/Circ.1432 and MSC.1/Circ.1516, as amended, as minimum guidelines on which such inspection are to be based. In case there are any instructions by the manufacture, those instruction are to be followed, as well.

Let's looking for some of the options for firefighting operations on the vessel that should be carried out on a weekly and monthly test. More precise requirements according to the equipment on the vessel, in general they can be on different vessels.

Weekly testing and inspections.

Fixed fire detection and alarm systems - verify all fire detection and fire alarm control panel indicators are functional by operating the lamp/indicator test switch.

Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems - verify all fixed fire-extinguishing system control panel indicators are functional by operating the lamp/indicator test switch; and verify all control/section valves are in the correct position.

Fire doors - verify all fire door control panel indicators, if provided, are functional by operating the lamp/indicator switch.

Public address and general alarm systems - verify all public address systems and general alarm systems are functioning properly.

Breathing apparatus - examine all breathing apparatus and EEBD cylinder gauges to confirm they are in the correct pressure range.

Low-location lighting - verify low-location lighting systems are functional by switching off normal lighting in selected locations.

Water mist, water spray and sprinkler systems - verify all control panel indicators and alarms are functional, visually inspect pump unit and its fittings, and check the pump unit valve positions, if valves are not locked, as applicable.

Monthly testing and inspections.

Monthly inspections must be carried out to ensure that the indicated actions are taken for the specified equipment:

Fire mains, fire pumps, hydrants, hoses and nozzles - verify all fire hydrants, hose and nozzles are in place, properly arranged and are in serviceable condition, operate all fire pumps to confirm that they continue to supply adequate pressure and emergency fire pump fuel supply adequate, and heating system in satisfactory condition, if applicable.

Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems - verify containers/cylinders fitted with pressure gauges are in the proper range and the installation free from leakage.

Foam fire-extinguishing systems - verify all control and section valves are in the proper open or closed position, and all pressure gauges are in the proper range.

Water mist, water spray and sprinkler systems - verify all control, pump unit and section valves are in the proper open or closed position, verify sprinkler pressure tanks or other means have correct levels of water;

Firefighter’s outfits - verify lockers providing storage for fire-fighting equipment contain their full inventory and equipment is in serviceable condition.

Hydrostatic pressure testing.

The test pressure applied for all cylinders and extinguishers should be 1.5 x maximum working pressure, which should be held for at least one minute. The test pressure should be clearly stamped on each compressed gas cylinder and clearly marked on each extinguisher.

Where cylinders are sent ashore for re-charging, the pressure test requirements for the local authority may override, but should not be less stringent, than the above requirements.

Rejection.

Extinguishers or cylinders failing any inspection or test shall be rendered unserviceable and disposed of accordingly. An entry in the records must be made to show when any extinguisher or cylinder has been rejected and for what reason.