I searched through the CFRs but was unable to find a definitive answer and am looking for some suggestions/opinions/answers from anyone that is willing to help.
Our Fire Plan calls for 13 spare 20lb Sodium Bicarbonate (Class B & C) extinguishers in a locker. Instead we have 10 Sodium Bicarbonate and 3 CO2.
My question: Since the CO2 extinguishers are ABC class does that mean our vessel is up to code with the Fire Plan? Some of the thoughts on board are that since we have ABC extinguishers they “supersede” the BC Sodium Bicarbonate.
The only thing I came across was:
29 CFR § 1910.157 Portable fire extinguishers.
[B] (e)[/B] [B][I]Inspection, maintenance and testing.
[/I][/B]B[/B] The employer shall assure that alternate equivalent protection is provided when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging.
Would a CO2 be considered an “alternate equivalent”?
[QUOTE=Smee;145428]I searched through the CFRs but was unable to find a definitive answer and am looking for some suggestions/opinions/answers from anyone that is willing to help.
Our Fire Plan calls for 13 spare 20lb Sodium Bicarbonate (Class B & C) extinguishers in a locker. Instead we have 10 Sodium Bicarbonate and 3 CO2.
My question: Since the CO2 extinguishers are ABC class does that mean our vessel is up to code with the Fire Plan? Some of the thoughts on board are that since we have ABC extinguishers they “supersede” the BC Sodium Bicarbonate.
The only thing I came across was:
29 CFR § 1910.157Portable fire extinguishers.
[B] (e)[/B][B][I]Inspection, maintenance and testing.
[/I][/B]B[/B]The employer shall assure that alternate equivalent protection is provided when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging.
Would a CO2 be considered an “alternate equivalent”?
Thanks for any help and your time.
Smee[/QUOTE]
Suggest first look at 46 CFR which applies to Shipping …
[QUOTE=+A465B;145523]Suggest first look at 46 CFR which applies to Shipping …[/QUOTE]
Well now I feel silly. But that does explain why what I was looking at in the book and what I was looking at online was not matching up. Thank you kind sir.
[QUOTE=Smee;145428]Would a CO2 be considered an “alternate equivalent”? [/QUOTE]
What is the rating marked on the CO2 units? Is it the same as the dry units? Look at the label, there will be a classification such as 1A-10BC that describes the coverage area for that class of fire. Are the BC ratings the same?
Dry chem in accommodation and galleys
CO2 in switchboard rooms
Combination of dry chem, foam and CO2 in engine rooms
Special chemical (like Halotron) in wheelhouse and electronics rooms - or just plain old CO2 if the flag admin will accept it.
This seems to suit the hazards, and obviously you need to meet flag and class requirements. I’m not a fan of dry chemical on a ship because when you light one off it can damage electronics that are otherwise unaffected. But it works well, is dirt cheap and the units are easy to maintain.
A good high pressure water mist fixed system is good, and some new ideas for medium pressure water systems are out there. But the crew needs to understand them, actually maintain and test them regularly, something I find they are often reluctant to do.
FLAME detectors in engine rooms are a must. I’ve seen test fires directly under working smoke detectors not set them off due to airflow - but there is no cheating a flame detector.
I simply love that when the crew (usually the chief officer) comes over and says breathlessly they need to modify the fire plan and need six copies right away.
“Well, it shows there is a fire extinguisher there, and we cannot find it, so we will just amend the plan.”
“Did you pull off the protective fire blanket covering in the passageway, you know, where the fire extinguisher is?”
“No, everything is all covered up so we did not want to disturb it”
“Get out of my office and go find the extinguisher, instead of wasting my time changing the plan, arranging color copies and submittals to flag.”