Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

Application

• 301 (1) This Part applies in respect of Canadian vessels everywhere that are not Safety Convention vessels and that are

  • (a) vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage but of less than 24 m in length that are not passenger-carrying vessels;

  • (b) passenger-carrying vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage but of less than 24 m in length that, if applicable, are carrying not more than 36 berthed passengers; or

  • (c) passenger-carrying vessels of not more than 15 gross tonnage that are carrying more than 12 passengers.

• (2) This Part does not apply in respect of

  • (a) vessels that carry dangerous goods, other than in limited quantities, and that are referred to in regulation 19.2.2 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS or have cargo spaces referred to in that regulation;

  • (b) pleasure craft;

  • (c) fishing vessels;

  • (d) high-speed craft;

  • (e) vessels that do not have mechanical means of propulsion;

  • (f) wooden vessels of primitive build;

  • (g) vessels that are capable of engaging in the drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas;

  • (h) nuclear vessels; or

  • (i) vessels to which the Special-purpose Vessels Regulations apply.

Compliance

302 A vessel’s authorized representative must ensure that the requirements of sections 305 to 347 are met in respect of the vessel.

Grandfathered Vessels

• 303 (1) If a vessel that was constructed before the day on which this section comes into force held, at any time before that day, a certificate issued under the Vessel Certificates Regulations or under section 318 or 319 of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-9, its authorized representative may ensure that the requirements that were required to be met for the issuance of the certificate are met instead of the requirements of sections 313 to 347 of these Regulations.

• (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the reference to section 318 or 319 of the Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. S-9, includes any predecessor enactment relating to the same subject matter.

Limitations on Grandfathering

• 304 (1) Section 303 does not apply in respect of

  • (a) parts of a vessel that, beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, undergo repairs, alterations or modifications that

    • (i) substantially alter the vessel’s dimensions or its passenger accommodation spaces, or

    • (ii) substantially increase the vessel’s service life or the life of the vessel’s outfitting;

  • (b) systems and equipment that are related to the parts of a vessel described in paragraph (a);

  • (c) parts of a vessel that, beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, are replaced; or

  • (d) systems and equipment that, beginning on the day on which this section comes into force, are replaced.

• (2) Section 303 does not apply if the vessel’s intended service changes in such a manner that any of the requirements that were required to be met for the issuance of the certificate are no longer met.

Prohibition — Wooden Passenger-carrying Vessels

305 A wooden passenger-carrying vessel must

• (a) carry not more than 100 passengers or not more than 12 berthed passengers; and

• (b) engage only on sheltered waters voyages and near coastal voyages, Class 2, limited.

Amount and Storage of Certain Flammable Liquids

306 Flammable liquids — other than those that are currently being used on a vessel, being carried as cargo or being used as fuel or lubricant in a vessel’s system — must

• (a) be kept to a minimum and in no case exceed 30 kg; and

• (b) be stored in a locker that meets the requirements of subsection 319(3).

Maintenance and Accessibility of Equipment and Systems

• 307 (1) The fire safety equipment and systems on a vessel must

  • (a) be in good working order and ready to use; and

  • (b) be maintained in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations, if any.

• (2) The fire safety equipment and systems that are required by this Part must be readily accessible for immediate use.

Fire Control Plans

• 308 (1) A passenger-carrying vessel must have on board a fire control plan or booklet that is readily accessible to the vessel’s master and crew and that includes the following information:

  • (a) the type of structural fire protection and its location;

  • (b) the types of fire detection and firefighting equipment on board and their location;

  • (c) the location of the exits and escape routes;

  • (d) the details of the ventilation system, including the location of the fan controls and dampers;

  • (e) the type of shut-off means that meets the requirements of paragraph 341(2)(b) and its location; and

  • (f) the location of the fire control stations.

• (2) The fire control plan or booklet must be

  • (a) in the working language of the vessel; and

  • (b) in English or French, or in both languages, according to the needs of the shoreside firefighting personnel.

Portable Firefighting Equipment

Quantity, Type and Location

• 309 (1) A vessel of a length overall set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection must carry the firefighting equipment set out in column 2.

  Item	Column 1	Column 2
  	Length Overall	Firefighting Equipment
  1	Not more than 12 m	(a) one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher; (b) one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher for every space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance; (c) one 10B:C fire extinguisher for every machinery space; (d) one fire axe; and (e) one fire bucket
  2	More than 12 m	(a) one 2A:20B:C fire extinguisher; (b) one 2A:20B:C fire extinguisher for (i) every space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance, and (ii) every accommodation space; (c) one additional 2A:20B:C fire extinguisher for every 70 m2 or fraction of 70 m2 of each accommodation space; (d) one 20B:C fire extinguisher for every 746 kW or fraction of 746 kW of main or auxiliary engine power in each machinery space; (e) one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher for (i) every area with an appliance used to cook or reheat food, and (ii) every flammable material locker; (f) one fire axe; and (g) two fire buckets

• (2) A vessel that is required to carry a portable fire extinguisher of a classification set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection may instead carry one that contains the extinguishing agent and is of the weight set out in column 2, 3 or 4.

  Item	Column 1	Column 2		Column 3		Column 4
  	Classification	Multi-purpose Dry Chemical (ammonium phosphate)		Regular Dry Chemical (sodium bicarbonate)		Carbon Dioxide
  				(Class B and C fires only)		(Class B and C fires only)
  		Net Weight		Net Weight		Net Weight
  		kg	lbs.	kg	lbs.	kg	lbs.
  1	2A:10B:C	2.25	5
  2	2A:20B:C	4.5	10
  3	10B:C	2.25	5	2.25	5	4.5	10
  4	20B:C	4.5	10	4.5	10	9	20

• (3) The letters used in the classification of a fire extinguisher refer to the following classes of fires:

  • (a) Class A fires are fires in combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastic;

  • (b) Class B fires are fires in inflammable liquids, gases and greases;

  • (c) Class C fires are fires that involve energized electrical equipment where the electrical non-conductivity of the extinguishing media is of importance;

  • (d) Class K fires are fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media such as vegetable or animal oils or fats.

• (4) Every portable fire extinguisher must contain an extinguishing agent that is capable of extinguishing any potential fires in the space for which the extinguisher is intended.

• (5) A portable fire extinguisher may be rated for Class K fires instead of Class B fires if it is intended for use in an area with cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media.

• (6) One of the portable fire extinguishers that is required for a space must be stored near the entrance to the space.

• (7) A portable fire extinguisher that contains a gas extinguishing agent must not be used in an accommodation space or stored in that space.

Certification or Approval of Portable Fire Extinguishers

• 310 (1) A portable fire extinguisher that is required by this Part to be carried on a vessel must

  • (a) bear a mark indicating that it has been certified for marine use by a product certification body; or

  • (b) be of a type that has been approved for marine use by the U.S. Coast Guard.

• (2) Despite subsection (1), a portable fire extinguisher may be of a type approved by a recognized organization if it was carried on a vessel when the vessel was imported into Canada.

Additional Requirements for Portable Fire Extinguishers

• 311 (1) Every portable fire extinguisher must be kept fully charged, and must be replaced according to its manufacturer’s specifications, if applicable.

• (2) A portable fire extinguisher that is required by this Part to be carried on a vessel must be mounted with a clamp bracket that holds the fire extinguisher securely in place but provides quick and positive release of the fire extinguisher for immediate use.

• (3) If a portable fire extinguisher is intended to be carried and operated by hand, it must not weigh more than 23 kg.

• (4) Every portable fire extinguisher must be stored where its operation will not be affected by icing or cold temperature.

• (5) Every portable fire extinguisher must be marked with a number at least 13 mm high, and its storage location must be marked with a corresponding number at least 13 mm high. However, if only one type and size of portable fire extinguisher is carried, the numbering may be omitted.

Fire Buckets

312 Every fire bucket must have a capacity of 10 L or more, be made of metal with a round bottom and a hole in the centre, be painted red and be fitted with a line of sufficient length to enable the bucket to be filled from the surrounding body of water from any deck.

Means of Escape

Exits

• 313 (1) Every accommodation space, wheelhouse, machinery space, or other space accessible to passengers or where the crew is normally employed, must have a primary exit and an emergency exit. However, an emergency exit is not required if the space is too small to have both a primary exit and an emergency exit.

• (2) The primary exit and the emergency exit must

  • (a) be unobstructed, be readily accessible and lead as directly as possible to an open deck;

  • (b) subject to paragraph 315(1)(e), have a clear opening that has a width and length of at least 560 mm or that provides a means of exit that is equivalent;

  • (c) be operable from both sides;

  • (d) be capable of being retained in an open position while being used as part of an escape route; and

  • (e) be so located that a single incident occurring inside or outside the space would be unlikely to prevent the use of the primary exit and the emergency exit at the same time.

• (3) Despite paragraph (2)(e), the primary exit and the emergency exit from the wheelhouse must, if feasible, be located on opposite sides of the vessel.

• (4) In each public space on a passenger-carrying vessel, the primary exit and the emergency exit must be identified by a photoluminescent or illuminated sign that contains a green pictogram and a white or lightly tinted graphical symbol and that has been certified by a product certification body as meeting the applicable specifications set out in standard ISO 3864-1, entitled Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Part 1: Design principles for safety signs and safety markings, and standard ISO 7010, entitled Graphical symbols — Safety colours and safety signs — Registered safety signs, published by the International Organization for Standardization.

• (5) If a sign required by subsection (4) is not visible from an area in the public space, a white, or lightly tinted, and green photoluminescent or illuminated sign with an arrow pointing the way to the exit to which the sign relates must be in a readily visible location in the space and must be certified by a product certification body as meeting the applicable specifications set out in the standards referred to in subsection (4).

Escape Routes

• 314 (1) This section applies to the escape routes from an accommodation space, service space, wheelhouse or machinery space, or from any other space accessible to passengers or where the crew is normally employed.

• (2) Every stairway, corridor, door and ladder must be arranged to provide a ready means of escape to the muster and embarkation stations. Every door must be constructed to open outwards and be hinged on the forward side.

• (3) If the location of an exit in a space is such that egress from the space would be difficult without an aid such as a handhold or ladder, an appropriate aid must be permanently fitted.

• (4) Every handhold or ladder that permits access to or from a deck must, if feasible, extend sufficiently above the level of the deck to allow safe and rapid access.

• (5) Every ladder or stairway from a space other than a machinery space must be constructed of non-combustible material or be coated with a fire retardant coating, and must be equipped with anti-skid rungs or stairs.

• (6) Every ladder or stairway from a machinery space must be constructed of non-combustible material and be equipped with anti-skid rungs or stairs.

• (7) An intumescent coating must not be used on a stairway or ladder.

• (8) Every stairway of more than 1 m in height must be equipped with handrails or handholds on both sides and must maintain a clear width of 760 mm.

• (9) On a vessel that is not a passenger-carrying vessel, every portable ladder must be

  • (a) stowed in a readily accessible and clearly identified location that is as close as feasible to where it is meant to be used; and

  • (b) designed so that it can be securely fixed in place without the use of tools.

• (10) On a passenger-carrying vessel,

  • (a) vertical ladders and deck scuttles must not be provided except

    • (i) in areas occupied only by crew members, and

    • (ii) in areas where it is not feasible to install a stairway; and

  • (b) portable ladders must not be provided except in areas occupied only by crew members.