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New Project Aimed at Improving Sprinkler Systems on
Roll-on, Roll-off Decks
a report by
Magnus Arvidson
Department of Fire Technology, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden
HSE – Employee Protection
According to the requirements of the International Convention for control or suppress a fire on a ro-ro deck of a modern ship with
the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) chapter II-2, vehicle spaces and roll- modern cars, coaches and heavy goods vehicles. Two projects
on, roll-off (ro-ro) cargo decks that cannot be closed and special- funded by the Swedish Fire Research Board (Brandforsk) have looked
category spaces (defined as enclosed spaces situated above or below into this: SP Report 1997:03
3
and SP Report 1997:15.
4
The latter
the bulkhead deck intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with
fuel in their tanks for their own propulsion and to which passengers
have access)
1
must be fitted with a manually activated water-spray
Although major fires on
system. For other types of ro-ro cargo spaces, where the risk for
people is lower – because passengers do not have access to them –
roll-on, roll-off decks are
a carbon dioxide system is normally used, although other types of
relatively rare, they can have
inert-gas, water-spray or high-expansion foam system are permitted.
serious consequences.
Detailed requirements for the design and installation of water-spray
systems for vehicle spaces and ro-ro cargo decks are given in
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A.123 (V), report describes a large-scale fire test in a layout that represents two
published in 1967.
1
Some of the most important specific trucks side by side on a ro-ro deck. Later, a feasibility study was
requirements are that: carried out into the requirements and alternative water-
extinguishing systems for cargo.
5
• the system must be designed for a water discharge density of at
least 3.5mm/minute for decks with a maximum height of 2.5m The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has recently examined
and at least 5mm/minute for decks with a greater height; the issue of fire protection on ro-ro decks.
6
Among other factors, the
• the system may be divided into sections, each of which must high fire load of ro-ro decks and the effectiveness of existing sprinkler
cover the entire width of the ship (exemptions to this systems were assessed. The report came to two interesting conclusions:
requirement may be admitted if the deck is separated
longitudinally by ‘A’-class divisions); • the international shipping industry should co-ordinate its efforts
• each section must be at least 20m long and the system’s pumps and its knowledge in this area; and
must have sufficient capacity for either the entire deck or at least • a programme with large-scale fire tests should be carried out to
two sections; increase understanding of fires and fire scenarios on ro-ro decks,
• section valves must be located outside the protected space; and studying factors such as the type of combustible materials,
• at least one portable fire extinguisher must be available at each ignition sources, vehicle size, vehicle breakdown on the deck,
exit from the deck and at least three nozzles and a mobile foam position of sprinklers, water discharge densities, ventilation flow
cart must be available on board the ship. rates, fire detection, additives to the water, drainage, etc.
One might well ask what the technical background material to these Moreover, the report proposed that the ability to use ‘water-mist’
detailed requirements is. The answer can probably be found in a systems or other types of fire-fighting systems should be studied.
series of fire trials carried out in Denmark in 1961.
2
It should be added that there are fire test procedures and installation
In recent years, questions have been raised as to whether a water- guidelines for ‘alternative’ systems for ro-ro decks. These requirements
spray system in accordance with Resolution A.123 (V) is able to were adopted by the IMO in 1999 as an alternative option in
MSC/Circ. 914.
7
Revised installation guidelines and fire test procedures
were adopted and published as MSC.1/Circ. 1272
8
in 2008. This
Magnus Arvidson works in the Department of Fire
Technology at SP Technical Research Institute of
circular supersedes MSC/Circ. 914. However, it is important to
Sweden, where he is responsible for activities related
emphasise that the testing method described in this article was
to water mist and sprinkler system testing and
adapted to the effectiveness of the system prescribed in Resolution
research. He is a member of the Research Council of
the International Water Mist Association (IWMA) and A.123 (V). Therefore, any alternative system will not be better.
is involved in the development of a CEN standard for
water mist systems. He graduated in fire protection
engineering from the University of Lund in Sweden.
The Scope of the Project
Although major fires on ro-ro decks are relatively rare, according to
E:
magnus.arvidson@sp.se
a study conducted by Det Norske Veritas
9
they can have serious
118
© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2009
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