(a) The provisions of this subpart, with the exception of § 95.10-90, shall apply to all fire main installations contracted for on or after May 26, 1965. Installations contracted for prior to May 26, 1965, shall meet the requirements of § 95.10-90.

(a) Vessels must be equipped with independently driven fire pumps in accordance with Table 95.10-5(a).

(b) On vessels of 1,000 gross tons or more on an international voyage, each required fire pump, while delivering water thru the fire main system at a pressure corresponding to that required by paragraph (c) of this section, must have a minimum capacity of at least two-thirds of that required for an independent bilge pump. However, in no case may the capacity of each fire pump be less than that otherwise required by this section.

(c) Each pump must be capable of delivering water simultaneously from the two highest outlets at a Pitot tube pressure of approximately 50 p.s.i. Where 1 1/2-inch hose is permitted in lieu of 2 1/2-inch hose by footnote 2 of Table 95.10-5(a), the pump capacity must be determined on the same basis as if 2 1/2-inch hose had been permitted. Where 3/4-inch hose is permitted by Table 95.10-5(a), the Pitot tube pressure need be only 35 p.s.i.

(d) Fire pumps must be fitted on the discharge side with relief valves set to relieve at 25 p.s.i. in excess of the pressure necessary to maintain the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section or 125 p.s.i., whichever is greater. Relief valves may be omitted if the pumps, operating under shut-off conditions, are not capable of developing a pressure exceeding this amount.

(e) Fire pumps must be fitted with a pressure gage on the discharge side of the pumps.

(f) Fire pumps may be used for other purposes provided at least one of the required pumps is kept available for use on the fire system at all times. In no case shall a pump having connection to an oil line be used as a fire pump. Branch lines connected to the fire main for purposes other than fire and deck wash shall be so arranged that adequate water can be made continuously available for firefighting purposes.

(g) The total area of the pipes leading from a pump must not be less than the discharge area of the pump.

(h) On vessels with oil fired boilers, either main or auxiliary, or with internal combustion propulsion machinery, where two fire pumps are required, they shall be located in separate spaces, and the arrangement of pumps, sea connections, and sources of power shall be such as to insure that a fire in any one space will not put all of the fire pumps out of operation. However, when it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commandant that it is unreasonable or impracticable to meet this requirement due to the size or arrangement of the vessel, or for other reasons, the installation of a total flooding fixed fire extinguishing or clean agent system may be accepted as an alternate method of extinguishing any fire that could affect the powering and operation of at least one of the required fire pumps.

(a) The size of fire hydrants, hose, and nozzles and the length of hose required must be as noted in Table 95.10-5(a).

(b) Instead of the 2 1/2-in hose and hydrants specified in Table 95.10-5(a) of this subpart, on vessels of more than 1,500 gross tons:

(1) The hydrants in interior locations may have wye connections for 1 1/2-in hoses. In these cases, the hose must be 75 ft in length, and only one hose is required at each fire station; however, if all such stations can be satisfactorily served with 50-ft lengths, a 50-ft hose may be used; and

(2) The hydrants for exterior locations may substitute two 1 1/2 in outlets, each with a 1 1/2-in hose, supplied through a wye connection.

(c) On vessels of 500 gross tons or more there must be at least one shore connection to the fire main available to each side of the vessel in an accessible location. Suitable cut-out valves and check valves must be provided. Suitable adapters also must be provided for furnishing the vessel's shore connections with couplings mating those on the shore fire lines. Vessels of 500 gross tons or more on an international voyage, must be provided with at least one international shore connection complying with ASTM F 1121 (incorporated by reference, see § 95.01-2). Facilities must be available enabling an international connection to be used on either side of the vessel.

(d) Fire hydrants must be of sufficient number and so located that any part of the vessel, other than main machinery spaces, accessible to persons on board while the vessel is being navigated and all cargo holds may be reached with at least 2 streams of water from separate outlets, at least one of which must be from a single length of hose. In main machinery spaces, all portions of such spaces must be capable of being reached by at least 2 streams of water, each of which must be from a single length of hose from separate outlets; however, this requirement need not apply to shaft alleys containing no assigned space for the stowage of combustibles. Fire hydrants must be numbered as required by § 97.37-15 of this subchapter.

(e) All parts of the fire main located on exposed decks must either be protected against freezing or be fitted with cut-out valves and drain valves so that the entire exposed parts of such piping may be shut off and drained in freezing weather. Except when closed to prevent freezing, such valves must be sealed open.

(f) The outlet at the fire hydrant must be limited to any position from the horizontal to the vertical pointing downward, so that the hose will lead horizontally or downward to minimize the possibility of kinking.

(g) Each fire hydrant must have at least one length of firehose, a spanner wrench, and a hose rack or other device for stowing the hose.

(h) Firehose must be connected to the outlets at all times. However, on open decks where no protection is afforded to the hose in heavy weather, or where the hose may be liable to damage from the handling of cargo, the hose may be temporarily removed from the hydrant and stowed in an accessible nearby location.

(i) Each firehose on each hydrant must have a combination solid stream and water spray firehose nozzle approved under subpart 162.027 of this chapter. Firehose nozzles previously approved under subpart 162.027 of this chapter may be retained so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

(j) In each propulsion machinery space containing an oil fired boiler, internal combustion machinery, or oil fuel unit on a vessel on an international voyage or of 1000 gross tons or more, each firehose having a combination nozzle previously approved under subpart 162.027 of this chapter must have a low-velocity water spray applicator that is also previously approved under subpart 162.027 of this chapter. The length of the applicator must be less than 1.8 meters (6 feet).

(k) Fixed brackets, hooks, or other means for stowing an applicator must be next to each fire hydrant that has an applicator under paragraph (j) of this section.

(l) Firehose must not be used for any other purpose than fire extinguishing, drills, and testing.

(m) Fire hydrants, nozzles, and other fittings must have threads to accommodate the hose connections noted in paragraph (l) of this section.

(n) Firehose and couplings must be as follows:

(1) Fire station hydrant connections must be brass, bronze, or other equivalent metal. Couplings must either:

(i) Use National Standard firehose coupling threads for the 1 1/2 inch (38 millimeter) and 2 1/2 inch (64 millimeter) hose sizes, i.e., 9 threads per inch for 1 1/2 inch hose, and 7 1/2 threads per inch for 2 1/2 inch hose; or

(ii) Be a uniform design for each hose diameter throughout the vessel.

(2) Where 19 millimeters ( 3/4 inch) hose is permitted by table 95.10-5(a), the hose and couplings must be of good commercial grade.

(3) Each section of firehose must be lined commercial firehose that conforms to Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. Standard 19 or Federal Specification ZZ-H-451E. Hose that bears the label of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. as lined firehose is accepted as conforming to this requirement.

(a) All piping, valves, and fittings shall meet the applicable requirements of subchapter F (Marine Engineering) of this chapter.

(b) All distribution cut-off valves shall be marked as required by § 97.37-10 of this subchapter.

(c) For vessels on an international voyage, the diameter of the fire main shall be sufficient for the effective distribution of the maximum required discharge from two fire pumps operating simultaneously. This requirement is in addition to § 95.10-5(c). The discharge of this quantity of water through hoses and nozzles at a sufficient number of adjacent hydrants shall be at a minimum Pitot tube pressure of approximately 50 pounds per square inch.

Installations contracted for prior to May 26, 1965, shall meet the following requirements:

(a) Except as specifically modified by this paragraph, the requirements of §§ 95.10-5 through 95.10-15 shall be complied with insofar as the number and general type of equipment is concerned. Existing equipment, except firehose nozzles and low-velocity water spray applicators, previously approved, but not meeting the applicable requirements of §§ 95.10-5 through 95.10-15 may be continued in service so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. Minor repairs, alterations, and replacements may be permitted to the same standards as the original installations. However, all new installations or major replacements shall meet the applicable requirements in this subpart.

(b) All vessels contracted for prior to November 19, 1952, other than motorboats, shall be fitted with fire pumps, hoses, and nozzles in accordance with Table 95.10-90(a)(2).

(c) Vessels contracted for prior to July 1, 1935, need not meet the requirements of § 95.10-5(h), and vessels contracted for on or after July 1, 1935, but prior to November 19, 1952, may have a carbon dioxide “bilge” in lieu of “total flooding” system. However, in vessels of both categories where a conversion from coal to oil is contracted for on or after November 19, 1952, the provisions of § 95.10-5(h) shall apply.

(d) The general requirements of § 95.10-5(c) through (g), § 95.10-10(d) through (i), and § 95.10-15 shall be complied with insofar as is reasonable and practicable.

(e) Firehose nozzles and low-velocity spray applicators must meet the requirements of 95.10-10(i), 95.10-10(j), and 95.10-10(k).