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Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2022-11-23. Previous Versions

PART 1Chapter II-2 of SOLAS and Modifications (continued)

Grandfathered Vessels

 If a vessel that is not a Safety Convention vessel and 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 with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment that would have been required under the Act to be met, on the day before that day, are met instead of the requirements referred to in section 102 of these Regulations with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment.

 If a Safety Convention vessel that was constructed before July 1, 2002 held, at any time before the day on which this section comes into force, 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,

  • (a) its authorized representative may ensure that the requirements with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment that would have been required under the Act to be met, on the day before that day, are met instead of the requirements referred to in section 102 of these Regulations with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment; and

  • (b) its master may ensure that the requirements with respect to fire control plans that would have been required under the Act to be met, on the day before that day, are met instead of the requirements referred to in section 102 of these Regulations with respect to fire control plans.

 For the purposes of sections 103 and 104, 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

  •  (1) Except in respect of the requirements referred to in subsection (3), sections 103 and 104 do 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) Sections 103 and 104 do not apply if the vessel’s intended service changes in such a manner that any of the requirements with respect to structural fire protection and fire safety systems and equipment that would have been required under the Act to be met are no longer met.

  • (3) Sections 103 and 104 apply only until the first anniversary of the day on which this section comes into force in respect of the requirements of regulations 13.3.4.2 to 13.3.4.5 and 13.4.3 and part E — except regulations 16.3.2.2 and 16.3.2.3 — of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS.

  • (4) Sections 103 and 104 do not apply in respect of amendments to SOLAS that are adopted by the IMO on or after the day on which this section comes into force if SOLAS provides that the amendments apply regardless of the date of a vessel’s construction.

Exemptions and Equivalents

 For the purposes of this Part, the Marine Technical Review Board established under section 26 of the Act may exercise the Administration’s powers conferred by regulations 4 and 5 of Chapter I of SOLAS.

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

  •  (1) A vessel that carries dangerous goods must hold a Document of Compliance issued under subsection (2).

  • (2) On application by the authorized representative of a vessel, the Minister must issue a Document of Compliance to the vessel if its construction and equipment meet the requirements referred to in section 102 that apply if the vessel carries dangerous goods.

  • (3) For the purposes of this section, dangerous goods does not include

    • (a) dangerous goods in limited quantities; or

    • (b) dangerous goods specified as class 6.2 or 7 in the IMDG Code, except solid bulk cargoes.

Requirements

Regulation 4 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Probability of Ignition

Oil Fuel Tanks

 For the purposes of regulation 4.2.2.3.5.1, if sounding pipes are used, they must terminate on an open deck, if feasible.

Prevention of Overpressure

 For the purposes of regulation 4.2.2.4, the air pipes on any oil tank or part of the oil fuel system must be flame-screened and, if feasible, terminate on an open deck.

Ventilation Systems in Cargo Pump-rooms

 The mechanical ventilation system required by regulation 4.5.4.1 must

  • (a) permit the extraction of air from the cargo pump room bilges or from immediately above the transverse floor plates or bottom longitudinals;

  • (b) have an emergency intake that is

    • (i) situated in the ventilation ducts at a height of at least 2 m above the lower platform of the cargo pump room, and

    • (ii) fitted with a fire damper that is capable of being opened and closed from the weather deck or the lower platform of the cargo pump-room; and

  • (c) provide a means of ensuring a free flow of gases through the lower platform of the cargo pump-room to the ventilation duct intakes.

Regulation 5 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Fire Growth Potential

Closing Appliances and Stopping Devices of Ventilation
  •  (1) In addition to the requirements of regulation 5.2, a vessel must be fitted with means to automatically shut down the ventilation fans for a space when a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system for that space is activated.

  • (2) In addition to the requirements of regulation 5.2.2.3, a vessel must be fitted with a means of control if the vessel is provided with any other equipment than that referred to in that regulation, including hydraulic power systems, that could contribute to sustaining a fire or create any other unsafe condition in the case of fire, in the space in which that other equipment is fitted.

Insulating Materials
  •  (1) In addition to the restriction in regulation 5.3.1.1 on the use of combustible insulating materials, organic foam must not be used in the mail rooms or baggage rooms of a passenger vessel.

  • (2) If organic foam is used in a cargo space or a refrigerated compartment of a service space,

    • (a) the exposed surfaces of the foam must be

      • (i) sealed with an intumescent coating that meets the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code, and

      • (ii) covered with a steel-sheet protective facing;

    • (b) in the case of organic foam used in a cargo space or a refrigerated compartment of a service space on a vessel of steel construction, the boundaries to the space must be of steel construction; and

    • (c) in the case of organic foam used in a refrigerated compartment of a service space on a vessel of aluminum construction, the boundaries to the space must be of steel or aluminum construction.

Regulation 6 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Smoke Generation Potential and Toxicity

 In addition to the requirements of regulation 6, plastic piping fitted on a vessel must meet the flame spread, smoke and toxicity requirements set out in Annex 1 to the FTP Code and must be subject of a Minister’s type approval indicating that it meets the requirements set out in the IMO Resolution A.753(18), entitled Guidelines for the Application of Plastic Pipes on Ships.

Regulation 7 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Detection and Alarm

Smoke Detectors

 In addition to the requirements of regulation 7.5, a smoke detector must be installed in every cabin and every service space, regardless of the method of fire protection chosen.

Protection of Cargo Spaces in Passenger Vessels

 For the purposes of regulation 7.6, “where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Administration that the ship is engaged on voyages of such short duration that it would be unreasonable to apply this requirement” is to be read as “in the case of voyages of not more than 48 hours’ duration during which the cargo holds are opened to load or unload cargo”.

Fire Patrols in Passenger Vessels
  •  (1) Regulation 7.8.1 applies in respect of a vessel that is not a Safety Convention vessel only if it

    • (a) is carrying more than 50 passengers or more than 25 berthed passengers; or

    • (b) is carrying more than 100 unberthed passengers and is on a voyage during which it is more than 15 nautical miles from the point of departure or 5 nautical miles from shore.

  • (2) The fire patrols required by regulation 7.8.1 must be performed at least once every hour and must include a patrol of the entire vessel.

Passenger Vessels at Dock

 In addition to the requirements of regulation 7, every passenger vessel that is scheduled to be at a dock for more than one hour must, immediately on arrival at the dock, be connected to the shore fire-alarm system or to the local fire-station telephone system, if either system is fitted at the dock.

Regulation 9 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Containment of Fire

Protection of Stairways and Lift Trunks in Accommodation Spaces, Service Spaces and Control Stations

 The class division requirements of regulation 9.2.3.4 for stairways that penetrate more than a single deck apply to any area, such as a landing or corridor, between the stairways, if those stairways provide continuous fire shelter as described in subsection 147(6).

Openings in Decks and Bulkheads in Passenger Vessels
  •  (1) In addition to the requirements of regulation 9.4.1.1.2, every door in an “A” class division must meet the following requirements:

    • (a) the gap between the door leaf and its frame, as installed on board the vessel, must not exceed the gap measured when the door was tested in accordance with the FTP Code, but, in the case where the door was approved without a sill being part of the frame, the gap under the door, as installed on board the vessel, must not exceed the gap set out in regulation 9.4.1.1.2; and

    • (b) a grille or louvre must not be fitted in the door.

  • (2) The hose port requirements of regulation 9.4.1.1.8 apply in respect of every hose port fitted in a door in an “A” class division.

  • (3) If a ventilation duct passes through a main horizontal zone division on a passenger vessel, a fail-safe automatic-closing fire damper must be fitted in accordance with regulation 9.4.1.1.9, and the duct between the division and the damper must meet the requirements of that regulation.

  • (4) In addition to the requirements of regulations 9.4.1.1 and 9.4.1.2, every door in an “A” or “B” class division must be fitted with a thin metal identification plate that

    • (a) has clearly stamped on it the door manufacturer’s name, the “A” or “B” class rating, the type approval certificate number and the number of the drawing to which the door has been manufactured; and

    • (b) is screwed or riveted to either of the vertical edges of the door panel.

Doors in Fire-resisting Divisions in Cargo Vessels
  •  (1) In addition to the requirements of regulation 9.4.2.1, the following requirements must be met:

    • (a) the gap between every door leaf and its frame in an “A” class division, as installed on board the vessel, must not exceed the gap measured when the door was tested in accordance with the FTP Code, but, in the case where the door was approved without a sill being part of the frame, the gap under the door, as installed on board the vessel, must not exceed the gap set out in regulation 9.4.2.1 for an “A” class division;

    • (b) a grille or louvre must not be fitted in a door in an “A” class division; and

    • (c) every door in an “A” or “B” class division must be fitted with a thin metal identification plate that

      • (i) has clearly stamped on it the door manufacturer’s name, the “A” or “B” class rating, the type approval certificate number and the number of the drawing to which the door has been manufactured, and

      • (ii) is screwed or riveted to either of the vertical edges of the door panel.

  • (2) For the purposes of regulation 9.4.2.2, if hold-back arrangements fitted with remote-release devices of the fail-safe type are utilized,

    • (a) the arrangements must be capable of being operated at the door and from the wheelhouse; and

    • (b) a fire door open-close indicator panel must be provided in the wheelhouse.

Protection of Openings in Cargo Pump-rooms

 In addition to the requirements of regulation 9.5.2.6, a vessel that has cargo pump-rooms must not be fitted with windows in the boundaries of those rooms.

Ventilation Systems
  •  (1) Despite regulation 9.7.2.1, the galley ventilation systems must, on all cargo vessels and all passenger vessels, be separate from the ventilation systems serving other spaces.

  • (2) The requirements of regulation 9.7.4.3 apply in respect of every stairway enclosure serving more than one deck on all cargo vessels and all passenger vessels.

Regulation 10 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS — Firefighting

Fire-extinguishing Systems and Equipment

 Every pressure container for a fixed fire-extinguishing system required by Regulation 10 must bear a mark indicating that it

  • (a) meets the applicable requirements for transport by road or ship that are set out in section 5.10 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations;

  • (b) meets the applicable requirements for transport by road or ship that are set out in Title 49, subpart C of part 178 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States; or

  • (c) meets the applicable requirements for transportable pressure equipment that are set out in Directive 2010/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and has undergone a conformity assessment procedure in accordance with that Directive by a notified body designated by a member state of the European Union.

Water Supply Systems

 The pipes, valves and fittings used with the equipment required by regulation 10.2

  • (a) must be made of corrosion-resistant metal or galvanized steel; and

  • (b) must not be readily rendered ineffective at an anticipated low ambient temperature or by heat from a fire.

Isolating Valves
  •  (1) If the fire main is an integral part of a fixed deck foam fire-extinguishing system with monitors, the isolating valves required by regulation 10.2.1.4.1 must be fitted immediately forward of each monitor.

  • (2) In addition to the isolating valves required by regulation 10.2.1.4.1, valves must be fitted to sections of the fire main that

    • (a) are subject to freezing;

    • (b) could be damaged because of a fire or explosion; or

    • (c) might not be required when any other part of the fire main is used.

  • (3) The valves required by subsection (2) must be

    • (a) operable from positions that are readily accessible

    • (b) protected from freezing, fire and explosions; and

    • (c) clearly marked.

  • (4) Every valve fitted to fire piping must be designed to open with a counter-clockwise rotation of the valve’s handle.

  • (5) The requirements of regulation 10.2.1.4.4 apply in respect of combination carriers.

Number and Position of Hydrants

 Despite regulation 10.2.1.5.1, on a cargo vessel of less than 500 gross tonnage or on a passenger vessel of less than 500 gross tonnage that is not a Safety Convention vessel, the number and position of hydrants must be such that one jet of water can reach any part of the vessel.

  •  (1) In addition to being provided with the hydrants required by regulation 10.2.1.5.1,

    • (a) a passenger vessel on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, or an unlimited voyage and a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more must be provided, in each machinery space of category A, with one hydrant on the port side and one hydrant on the starboard side; and

    • (b) any other vessel of less than 500 gross tonnage must be provided with one hydrant in each machinery space of category A.

  • (2) A fire hose and nozzle must be fitted on each hydrant required by subsection (1).

  • (3) If the size or configuration of a machinery space of category A would render a hydrant required by subsection (1) ineffective, the hydrant must be located near the main access to the space.

  • (4) In addition to being provided with the hydrants required by regulation 10.2.1.5.1, a cargo vessel of 2 000 gross tonnage or more must

    • (a) be provided with a hydrant in the shaft tunnel, if any, adjacent to the engine room watertight door; and

    • (b) meet the requirements of regulation 10.2.1.5.2.2.

 

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