Fire Protection, fire detection and fire extinction
Fire can be devastating on a ship - particularly on a passenger
ship, where large numbers of people may need to be evacuated,
or on a ship carrying inflammable cargo, with serious risks
to crewmembers or to ports and harbours.
On 1 July 2002, a comprehensive new set of requirements
for fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction
on board ships entered into force as a new revised Chapter
II-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, incorporating technological
advances in fire detection and extinction as well as lessons
learned from fire incidents over the years.
The regulations are designed to ensure that fires are first
of all prevented from occurring - for example by making
sure that materials such as carpets and wall coverings are
strictly controlled to reduce the fire risk; secondly, that
any fires are rapidly detected; and thirdly; that any fire
is contained and extinguished. Designing ships to ensure
easy evacuation routes for crew and passengers are a key
element of the chapter.
History of SOLAS fire protection requirements
1914 and 1929 SOLAS Conventions
The first fire protection requirements for international
shipping were developed as part of the 1914 SOLAS Convention,
which was developed in response to the sinking of the Titanic
in 1912. Although the 1914 SOLAS Convention was prevented
from coming into force due to World War I, it did contain
basic fire safety requirements which were later carried
over to the 1929 SOLAS Convention.
1948 and 1960 SOLAS Conventions
After the adoption of the 1929 SOLAS Convention, many lessons
were learned about the safety of shipping in general, including
fire protection, which led to the adoption of the 1948 SOLAS
Convention. In 1934, a fire aboard the passenger ship Morro
Castle caused 134 casualties. The investigation of the Morro
Castle fire, and the lessons learned from it, played a major
part in the development of the non-combustible construction
regulations which today form the basis of the fire safety
regulations for passengers ships. In addition, many advances
in maritime technology were made during World War II and
subsequently incorporated into the 1948 SOLAS Convention.
As a result, a greater emphasis was placed on fire safety
aboard ships and this was demonstrated by the development
of three new parts (parts D, E and F) being added to chapter
II of the 1948 SOLAS Convention which were exclusively dedicated
to fire safety. In addition, the SOLAS 1948 requirements
applied to both passenger ships and cargo ships.
The 1948 SOLAS Convention established three methods of
construction for passenger ships and basic fire protection
requirements for cargo ships. The 1948 SOLAS Convention
was eventually updated with the 1960 SOLAS Convention. The
most significant change incorporated into the 1960 SOLAS
Convention, related to fire safety, was the application
of certain passenger ship fire safety requirements to cargo
ships.
SOLAS Conventions
1990 Scandinavian
Star and the 1992-2000 Fire Safety Amendments
International
Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code
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