MSC.1/Circ.1274
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION OF FIRE RISK OF EXTERNAL AREAS ON PASSENGER SHIPS
3
June 2008
1.
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first session (10 to 19 May 2006),
having approved draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 related to the safety of
cabin balconies in response to the fire on board the Star Princess, instructed
the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection to consider the safety of all external
areas on passenger ships.
2.
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-fourth session (7 to 16 May 2008),
having considered the draft Guidelines for evaluation of fire risk of external
areas on passenger ships prepared by the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection at
its fifty-second session (14 to 18 January 2008), approved the Guidelines for
evaluation of fire risk of external areas on passenger ships, set out in the
annex.
5. The annexed
Guidelines consist of two parts:
.1 part 1:
Design Guidelines for the evaluation of fire risk of external areas on new
passenger ships; and
.2 part 2: Simplified
risk assessments method for external areas on passenger ships.
4. The annexed Guidelines are not intended to apply to external
areas where cargoes and/or vehicles are stored.
5. Member
Governments are invited to bring the annexed Guidelines to the attention of all
Parties concerned and, in particular, recommend that such Parties:
.1 use part 1 of
the annexed Guidelines at the early stage of design of new passenger ships when
determining the fire risk of external areas;
.2 conduct fire
risk assessments in accordance with part 2 of the annexed Guidelines whenever
an external area on existing passenger ships is subject to change of use; and
.3 document fire
risk assessments when conducted in accordance with part 2 of the annexed
Guidelines within the Shipboard Safety Management System.
Part 1.
DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE EVALUATION OF FIRE RISK OF EXTERNAL AREAS ON
PASSENGER SHIPS
1.1
External areas have routinely been assumed to have little or no fire risk, and
have not been required to comply with SOLAS chapter II-2 requirements
applicable to interior spaces.
1.2
While this assumption may be accurate for general open deck areas, the
continual evolution of new types of passenger amenities on open deck areas may
be introducing levels of fire risk that are not fully accounted for by the
existing regulations.
1.3
These Guidelines are not intended to be applicable to cabin balconies as these
areas shall comply with the relevant requirements set out in resolution
MSC.216(82).
1.4
These Guidelines have been developed to provide Administrations and designers
with a tool that may be used at the early stage of a design to assess the fire
risk of external areas.
2. Performance of the risk
assessment
2.1
In considering fire protection for external areas, the fire risk of all
external areas as well as the impact of a fire in such areas should be
evaluated1 taking into consideration such factors as:
_____________
1 Refer as appropriate to part
2 of these Guidelines.
.1 use of the
space (type of persons who have access to, any restriction of access due to
security reasons);
.2 presence of
combustible materials;
.3 presence of
sources of ignition;
.4 ready
accessibility for fire-fighting operations;
.5 ease of
escape;
.6 proximity of
ventilation intakes;
.7 proximity to
essential systems;
.8 possibility
of an external fire spreading to more than one internal fire zone; and
.9 relationship
to escape routes, assembly stations and evacuation routes to survival craft.
3. Evaluation of the risk
assessment
3.1
For ships subject to part 1, the following paragraphs apply in lieu of
paragraph 4.12 of part 2.
3.2
Should the results of the risk assessment show that the fire risk of external
areas, that are normally categorized as category (4) or (5) in accordance with
SOLAS regulation II-2/9.2.2.3.2.2 or category (10) in accordance with SOLAS
regulation II-2/9.2.2.4.2.2, as appropriate, is such that actions should be
taken to reduce it, the designers should consider:
.1 mitigation
measures (including but not limited to those listed under 4 below), to be used
in conjunction with a new risk assessment; or
.2 the area
being constructed in accordance with the fire protection requirements
applicable to internal spaces having same or similar fire risk.
3.3
Risk assessment and relevant evaluation resulting in additional fire protection
requirements should be communicated to the Administration.
4. Possible mitigation
measures to be used in conjunction with
the risk assessment
4.1
In relation to the results of the risk assessment, it is suggested that the
following mitigation measures should be applied, as appropriate:
.1 Ignitability
and smoke and toxicity of primary deck coverings.
Primary deck
coverings located in positions where risk of ignition from below is possible
should comply with SOLAS regulations II-2/4.4.4 and II-2/6.3.
.2 Partial
bulkheads.
Partial
bulkheads should be constructed of non-combustible materials in accordance with
SOLAS regulation II-2/5.3.1.2.1.
.3 Low
flame-spread, smoke and toxicity characteristics of exposed surfaces.
Surface
materials such as deck finishes, carpets, decorations and veneers should comply
with parts 2 and 5 of annex 1 of the International Code for Application of Fire
Test Procedures (FTP Code).
.4 Fire
detection and suppression.
The area should
be covered by a fire suppression and detection system.
.5 Lining of
non-combustible material.
Lining of
bulkheads and ceilings should be of non-combustible material in accordance with
SOLAS regulation II-2/3.1.2.1.
.6 Furniture and
furnishings.
Furniture and
furnishings should be of restricted fire risk in accordance with SOLAS
regulation II-2/3.40.
.7 Structural
fire protection.
Additional
structural fire protection should be provided at boundaries.
.8 Suspended
material.
Suspended
materials should have quality of resistance to the propagation of flame in
accordance with part 7 of annex 1 of the FTP Code.
Part 2.
SIMPLIFIED RISK ASSESSMENT METHOD FOR EXTERNAL AREAS ON PASSENGER SHIPS
1.1
SOLAS regulations II-2/9.2.2.3.2 and II-2/9.2.2.4.2.2 define open deck spaces
as areas having no significant fire risk, and for enclosed promenades that
furnishings shall be restricted to deck furniture. All external areas should be
evaluated using this part 2 to determine if there is an increased level of fire
risk due to the presence of combustibles or ignition sources.
1.2
Measures to mitigate the risk should be implemented where appropriate.
2.1
The intent of this part is to present a methodology for performing simplified
fire risk assessments of external areas. These Guidelines should not be used to
evaluate changes to permanent structure such as bulkheads, decks or surface
finishes, or to demonstrate compliance with SOLAS regulation II-2/17.
2.2
The simplified fire risk assessment consists of the following elements:
.1 description
of the intended use of the area;
.2
identification of the combustible materials;
.3
identification of the ignition sources;
.4 description
of the means of escape from, and fire-fighting access to the area;
.5 description
of the materials used for the construction of the decks and bulkheads that
bound the area (if any);
.6 description
of the fire-fighting systems and appliances in the area (if any);
.7 description
of the fire detection and alarm systems in the area (if any);
.8 response
procedures;
.9
identification of essential systems;
.10
identification of any ventilation intakes or equipment in or near the area;
.11 effects on
other areas; and
.12 evaluation
of the risk assessment.
3.1
The individuals performing the assessment should be ship's designers, ship's
officers, company representatives or other persons suitably qualified. The
individuals should be familiar with the arrangement and construction of the
ship, as well as the location and operation of fire-fighting and fire detection
systems.
4.1 Description of the intended use of the
area
The
intended use and arrangements of the area should be described in sufficient
detail to allow an understanding of the equipment and operations to be
conducted, including the expected operation each day and any operational
requirement or limitation. The location and area to be occupied should be noted.
4.2 Identification of combustibles materials
4.2.1
An assessment should be made of the type and quantity of combustible materials
and flammable liquids (except for liquors stored in bars for daily use) in the
area as a result of the activity should be prepared.
4.2.2
The potential fire load of any lifesaving equipment such as lifeboats, rescue
boats and liferafts need not be included in the fire load assessment.
4.2.3
The assessment should also note if any combustible materials for other purposes
are routinely stored in or near the area being considered.
4.2.4
The location of any flammable oil tank vents that are in or adjacent to the
area should be noted.
4.3 Identification of the ignition sources
Any
sources of ignition in the area should be noted, along with a description of
any safeguards provided. Ignition sources may include cigarettes, any open
flames, cooking appliances and electrical equipment.