Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)
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Regulations are current to 2024-08-18 and last amended on 2022-11-23. Previous Versions
PART 3Vessels of Less than 24 m in Length (continued)
Means of Escape (continued)
Arrangement of Stairways and Inclined Ladders on Passenger-carrying Vessels
315 (1) On a passenger-carrying vessel, the stairways and inclined ladders must be arranged so that
(a) the sum of the riser height and tread depth on each stair is not less than 430 mm and not more than 460 mm;
(b) except in the case of exterior stairways and inclined ladders without risers, a stair that has a tread depth of less than 260 mm must have a nosing of not less than 25 mm or other means of increasing the depth of the tread;
(c) handrails are fitted on both sides of every flight of stairs, and have a height measured vertically above the tread of not less than 840 mm and not more than 910 mm;
(d) at the top and bottom of every flight of stairs there is a clear landing with a surface area that is at least equal to the square of the actual tread width of the adjacent stair or, if that is not feasible, the largest surface area that is feasible;
(e) the clear width of every door opening to a stairway or inclined ladder is at least equal to the width of the stair closest to the opening;
(f) every stairway or inclined ladder has a minimum width of 760 mm or, if the stairway or inclined ladder is intended for use by more than 60 persons, of 760 mm plus 10 mm for each person in addition to the first 60; and
(g) the maximum angle of inclination from the horizontal of every stairway or inclined ladder is
(i) 45° or, in the case of a stairway or inclined ladder intended only for the use of the crew, 55°, or
(ii) the minimum angle that is feasible, if the maximum angle required by subparagraph (i) is not feasible.
(2) For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(e) and (f), if the distance between handrails is less than the width of the treads, the width of the stair and the width of the stairway or inclined ladder must be measured between the handrails.
Structural Fire Protection
Insulation, Fire Retardant Coatings and Fire Retardant Resins
316 (1) The exposed surface of insulating materials fitted on the internal boundaries of machinery spaces must be impervious to oil and oil vapours.
(2) All thermal insulation and acoustic insulation, including pipe and ventilation lagging, must be non-combustible.
(3) Polyurethane foam or other organic foam insulation must not be used unless it is
(a) used to insulate a cargo space or a cold room or similar galley service space, sealed with a fire retardant coating of the intumescent type and covered with a steel-sheet protective facing; or
(b) used as a flotation material that is installed in a dedicated and enclosed space and protected from fire risks.
317 (1) This section applies in respect of the insulation, fire retardant coating and fire retardant resin required by this Part.
(2) The insulation, fire retardant coating or fire retardant resin used on a deck or bulkhead must
(a) cover the entire surface of the deck or bulkhead;
(b) be carried past the penetration, intersection or terminal point of the deck or bulkhead for a distance of at least 380 mm;
(c) be installed on the side on which the fire risk is higher, unless it is not possible to do so; and
(d) if the insulation, coating or resin is vulnerable to damage, be protected to prevent any loss of its fire-resistant properties.
(3) The insulation installed on a deck or bulkhead must be held in place by closely spaced studs and clips or by another method that will
(a) hold the insulation in place for at least 60 minutes when it is exposed to fire; and
(b) hold the insulation in place despite the vibration and motion of the vessel and the normal wear.
(4) If insulation is installed on the stiffener side of a deck or bulkhead, at least 50% of the thickness of the insulation must be installed on top of the stiffener.
(5) Fire retardant coating and fire retardant resin must be applied, and the surfaces to which they are to be applied must be prepared, in accordance with the specifications of its manufacturer.
Cooking and Heating Appliances
318 (1) On a passenger-carrying vessel, the boundaries of a galley that contains cooking appliances must consist of “F” class divisions or “B-15” class divisions, or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation, if
(a) the vessel has sleeping accommodations; or
(b) meals are cooked in the galley with an appliance, other than a microwave, that has a heating surface that can exceed 120°C.
(2) Every cooking or heating appliance must be installed in accordance with the appliance manufacturer’s recommendations, if any, with regard to clearances and with regard to materials, including insulation, installed in way of the appliance. If the space does not allow the minimum clearance, if any, recommended by the manufacturer,
(a) 30-minute fire rated insulation must be installed to the surfaces in way of the appliance;
(b) all surfaces around the appliance must be non-combustible; and
(c) the appliance must be installed so that the temperature of every surface adjacent to the appliance will not, when the appliance is operated, exceed 90°C or, if the surface is readily accessible, 60°C.
(3) If life saving equipment, a muster station or an embarkation station is located on the deck above a space that contains a cooking or heating appliance, or on the other side of a bulkhead delimiting that space,
(a) in the case of a steel or aluminum vessel, the deck or bulkhead must consist of “A-15” class divisions in way of the life saving equipment, muster station or embarkation station; and
(b) in the case of a wooden or composite vessel, the deck or bulkhead must be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation in way of the life saving equipment, muster station or embarkation station.
Wheelhouses, Machinery Spaces and Lockers for Flammable or Combustible Materials
319 (1) Subject to subsection 320(1), the decks and bulkheads separating a wheelhouse from any other space must
(a) consist of “F” class divisions or “B-15” class divisions;
(b) be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation; or
(c) be coated with a fire retardant coating of the intumescent type.
(2) Machinery space boundaries must, to the extent feasible, prevent the passage of smoke.
(3) Every locker for storing flammable or combustible liquids
(a) must be of a construction that retards the propagation of flame on the inside of the locker by means of 30-minute fire rated insulation or fire retardant coating of the intumescent type;
(b) must not permit the escape of gas within an enclosed space; and
(c) must be vented outside independently of the ventilation from any other space.
Vessels Carrying More than 100 Passengers or More than 12 Berthed Passengers
320 (1) On a vessel carrying more than 100 passengers or more than 12 berthed passengers, every deck that separates an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse from an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse, and every deck or bulkhead in way of life saving equipment, a muster station or an embarkation station, must
(a) in the case of a steel or aluminum vessel, consist of “A-15” class divisions; and
(b) in the case of a composite vessel, be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.
(2) On a vessel carrying more than 12 berthed passengers,
(a) the vessel must be divided into fire zones that include berths for a maximum of 12 persons;
(b) the decks delimiting the fire zones must consist of “A-15” class divisions or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation; and
(c) the bulkheads delimiting the fire zones must consist of “F” class divisions or “B-15” class divisions.
Wooden or Composite Vessels
Machinery Spaces
321 On a wooden or composite vessel, the exposed surfaces within a machinery space, including supporting structures and engine seats, must be coated with a final layer of fire retardant coating or fire retardant resin.
322 (1) On a wooden or composite vessel, every deck or bulkhead that separates a machinery space from an accommodation space, galley, wheelhouse, space containing a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system, or compartment to store gas containers must consist of “F” class divisions or “B-15” class divisions, or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation.
(2) On a vessel that is not more than 15 m in length overall, any area of a deck or bulkhead in which the available space or physical configuration makes it impossible to meet the requirements of subsection (1) may instead be coated with fire retardant coating of the intumescent type or with fire retardant resin.
Composite Passenger-carrying Vessels — Laminate for the Hull, Decks and Superstructures
323 On a composite passenger-carrying vessel carrying more than 100 passengers or more than 12 berthed passengers or that engages on voyages that are not sheltered waters voyages or near coastal voyages, Class 2, limited,
(a) the laminate for the hull, decks and superstructures must not be a sandwich construction; and
(b) the resin in the laminate must be a resin that a product certification body or a testing laboratory has certified
(i) as having a flame spread rating of 25 or less when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E84, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or
(ii) as meeting the requirements of Military Specification Resins, Polyester Low Pressure Laminating Fire-Retardant, MIL-R-21607, published by the Naval Sea Systems Command, United States Department of the Navy.
Steel or Aluminum Vessels
324 (1) On a steel or aluminum vessel, every deck or bulkhead that separates a machinery space from an accommodation space, galley, wheelhouse, space containing fixed gas fire-extinguishing equipment, or compartment to store gas containers must
(a) if the vessel is a passenger-carrying vessel, consist of “A-15” class divisions or be insulated with 30-minute fire rated insulation; and
(b) if the vessel is not a passenger-carrying vessel, consist of “A-0” class divisions.
(2) On a vessel that is not more than 15 m in length overall, any area of a deck or bulkhead in which the available space or physical configuration makes it impossible to meet the requirements of subsection (1) may instead be coated with fire retardant coating of the intumescent type.
Openings in Boundaries, Decks, Bulkheads and Lockers
325 (1) The fire integrity of the boundaries, decks, bulkheads and lockers referred to in sections 318 to 320, 322 and 324 must not be impaired by the passage of electrical cables, pipes, trunks, ducts or other transit devices through the divisions.
(2) The doors and other closures of openings in the boundaries, decks, bulkheads and lockers referred to in sections 318 to 320, 322 and 324 must have fire-resistant properties equivalent to those of the class divisions of the structures in which they are fitted.
Interior Finish and Furniture
326 (1) Subject to section 327, the exposed surfaces within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must
(a) be made of a material that
(i) a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization has certified as having a flame spread rating or index of 25 or less and a smoke developed classification or index of 100 or less when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S102, entitled Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials and Assemblies, published by the Standards Council of Canada, or the standard ASTM E84, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or
(ii) meets the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code; or
(b) be coated with fire retardant coating or fire retardant resin.
(2) Paint, varnish or similar preparation that contains a nitro-cellulose base must not be applied, and a fabric that contains nitro-cellulose must not be fitted, to any interior surface of the vessel or any furniture.
327 (1) The primary deck coverings within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must
(a) be certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as
(i) having a radiant panel index that does not exceed 20 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E162, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials, or
(ii) having a critical radiant flux of at least 0.45 W/cm2 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E648, entitled Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASMT E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials; or
(b) meet the flame spread, smoke, toxicity and non-ignitable requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.
(2) The surface finish material, other than soft floor coverings, within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must
(a) be certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as
(i) having a radiant panel index that does not exceed 20 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E162, entitled Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials, or
(ii) having a critical radiant flux of at least 0.45 W/cm2 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E648, entitled Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials; or
(b) meet the flame spread, smoke, and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.
(3) Soft floor coverings within an accommodation space, service space or wheelhouse must
(a) be certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as
(i) having a flame spread rating or index of 300 or less and a smoke developed classification or index of 300 or less, in the case of wool, or a flame spread rating or index of 300 or less and a smoke developed classification or index of 500 or less in the case of nylon or a nylon/wool blend, when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S102.2, entitled Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Flooring, Floor Coverings, and Miscellaneous Materials and Assemblies, published by the Standards Council of Canada, or
(ii) having a critical radiant flux of at least 0.45 W/cm2 when tested in accordance with the standard ASTM E648, entitled Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and having a specific optical smoke density of 450 or less when tested in flaming mode in accordance with the standard ASTM E662, entitled Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials; or
(b) meet the flame spread, smoke, and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code.
328 (1) Curtains or other suspended textiles must not be installed within 600 mm of any cooking appliance, any heating or fuel-burning appliance or any similar appliance.
(2) On a vessel carrying more than 100 passengers or more than 12 berthed passengers,
(a) upholstered furniture and mattresses must be
(i) certified by a product certification body, testing laboratory or recognized organization as being fire-resistant when tested in accordance with the standard CAN/ULC-S137, entitled Standard Method of Test for Fire Growth of Mattresses (Open Flame Test), published by the Standards Council of Canada, or the IMO Resolution A.652(16), entitled Recommendation on Fire Test Procedures For Upholstered Furniture, or
(ii) covered with a flame-resistant fabric; and
(b) all permanently installed textiles, such as curtains, canvas and decorative accessories, must be made of flame-resistant fabric.
(3) In subsection (2), flame resistant fabric means a fabric that a product certification body or testing laboratory has certified as meeting the requirements of the standard CAN/ULC-S109, entitled Flame Tests of Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films, published by the Standards Council of Canada, or the standard NFPA 701, entitled Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films.
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