IMO: fire-fighting in ro-ro spaces and special category spaces

The International Maritime Organization has released the Revised guidelines for the design and approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for ro-ro spaces and special category spaces.

MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.3 has been released on 27 June 2023.

Introduction

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-fourth session (7 to 16 May 2008), approved the Guidelines for the approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for ro-ro spaces and special category spaces equivalent to that referred to in resolution A.123(V) (MSC.1/Circ.1272).

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninetieth session (16 to 25 May 2012), having considered a proposal by the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection, at its fifty-fifth session, with a view to updating and integrating the prescriptive requirements of the Recommendation on fixed fire-extinguishing systems for special category spaces (resolution A.123(V)) and the performance-based requirements of the Guidelines for the approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for ro-ro spaces and special category spaces equivalent to that referred to in resolution A.123(V) (MSC.1/Circ.1272), approved the Revised guidelines for the design and approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for ro-ro spaces and special category spaces (MSC.1/Circ.1430).

The Committee noted that MSC.1/Circ.1430 superseded MSC.1/Circ.1272, except that fire and component tests previously conducted in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1272 remain valid for the approval of new systems.

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 100th session (3 to 7 December 2018), approved draft amendments to the aforementioned Revised Guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1430), as prepared by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment at its fifth session, for circulation of the amended Revised Guidelines as MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.1.

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 102nd session (4 to 11 November 2020), approved draft amendments to the titles of tables 4-2 and 4-3 of the aforementioned Revised Guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.1), as prepared by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment, at its seventh session, for circulation of the amended Revised Guidelines as MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.2.

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 107th session (31 May to 9 June 2023), approved draft amendments to the aforementioned Revised Guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.2) in relation to the use of the term "free height", as prepared by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment, at its ninth session, for circulation as MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.3, as set out in the annex.

Member Governments are invited to apply the annexed Revised Guidelines when approving fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for ro-ro spaces and special category spaces installed on or after 1 January 2024 and bring them to the attention of ship designers, shipowners, equipment manufacturers, test laboratories and other parties concerned.

This circular supersedes MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.2, except that fire and component tests previously conducted in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1272 or MSC.1/Circ.1430 or MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.1 or MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.2 remain valid for the approval of new systems.

Existing fixed fire-extinguishing systems for special category spaces approved and installed based on resolution A.123(V), MSC.1/Circ.1272, MSC.1/Circ.1430, MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.1 and MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.2 installed before 1 January 2024 should be permitted to remain in service as long as they are serviceable.

Purpose

These Guidelines and fire tests are intended for the design and approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for open and closed ro-ro spaces and special category spaces defined in SOLAS regulations II-2/3.12, II-2/3.13, II-2/3.35, II-2/3.36, II-2/3.46, and II-2/3.49.

Deluge systems can be applied on open ro-ro spaces when the actual wind condition is taken into consideration, for example through the use of high-velocity nozzles.

Systems using automatic sprinklers or nozzles are only permitted for closed ro-ro and special category spaces or other spaces where wind conditions are not likely to affect system performance.

1.2 These Guidelines are intended to replace both the prescriptive requirements of resolution A.123(V) for conventional water spray systems and the performance-based requirements of the guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1272) for automatic sprinkler and deluge systems.

All systems should comply with sections 1, 2, and 3. In addition, prescriptive-based systems should comply with section 4, and performance-based systems should comply with section 5.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):