(Supersedes circular No. ENG/MMAM-37 (6)/99 dated 01.08.01)
The present practice of approving the Fire Fighting Appliances e.g. portable, non-portable fire extinguishers, gunmetal fittings, and fire hoses etc., by Directorate General of Shipping, manufactured by any company having acquired ISO 9000 accreditation is by way of approving the drawing first and then if found complying with the BIS specification, the drawings are approved by the DGS and the product is included in the DGS approved list. The procedure of re-inspection for renewal of the certificate was also waived if the company was having ISO 9000 accreditation as per DGS letter No.ENG/MMAM-37 (6)/99 dated 23rd May, 2000 with respect to Guideline for the procedure for the FFA manufacturers, Service station, etc.

During the period it is observed that some of the companies are not following the condition stipulated in the said guideline, neither any surprise inspection were conducted by the respective MMD's to ascertain the quality standard. In view of the importance of stringent quality standard with the manufacturing and testing of Fire protection system and appliances for use on board ship, it is imperative for the Directorate to ensure that all safety equipment on board ship have undergone various tests in the presence of MMD surveyors. In view of the above it has been decided by the Directorate that the units who have qualified themselves through ISO 9001:2000 accreditation and are engaged in manufacturing and /or servicing the fire appliances need to follow the following guidelines:

1. Manufacturing Unit

a) Those units who are engaged in manufacturing BIS standard products and are already in the approval list of DGS and are certified as ISO 9001- 2000 accreditation by an international recognized organization & registered with BIS are required to apply at least three months before the expiry of the certificate to respective Mercantile Marine Department, for inspection of their unit and product, to ascertain the quality standard being followed. The checklist for the inspection to be followed is attached. (Annex I). After the satisfactory inspection of the unit MMD shall forward the report to DGS with recommendation for issuance of the certificate, in case any irregularity is observed, same shall be intimated to DGS immediately.

b) Any organization who are engaged in manufacturing BIS approved fire safety product and intend to obtain approval for the FFA appliances are required to have acquired ISO 9001-2000 accreditation, have to send their application with their product manufacturing drawing and relevant documents to support their manufacturing process to Mercantile Marine Department.

c) The drawings shall be scrutinized by the surveyors at Mercantile Marine Department, and forwarded to DGS for approval along with the feasibility report of manufacturing unit. The surveyor shall include the detail process of manufacturing in their report. After the drawings are approved, the various tests for prototype approval shall be carried out, and if found satisfactory, the company shall be informed accordingly, and instructed to offer first batch for inspection. If found satisfactory, report shall be forwarded to DGS, with recommendation. The approval shall be given for a period of three years, subject to withdrawal in case any complaints from the shipping companies or irregularity found during surprise inspection.

d) Any approved unit undergoing any change in their manufacturing procedure or intending to market a new product should apply to MMD directly with the drawings etc. for approval.

e) In addition to the above D .G. Shipping or the Principal Officers of the respective MMDs shall depute surveyors to visit the DGS approved units at any time for surprise inspection, as well as on receipt of any specific complaint.

f) The unit has to maintain their ISO 900-2000 accreditation all the time and if at any circumstances the ISO Certification ceases to exist, they must stop servicing/marketing their product to the Maritime industry forthwith under intimation to DGS.

2. Service Stations

(Supersedes circular No.: ENG/MMAM-37 (1)/99 dated 13.02.01)
a) Any organization desirous of seeking an approval from DGS pertaining to servicing and maintenance of fire fighting items and are in possession of ISO Accreditation are required to apply for approval to Mercantile Marine Department, and the following criteria's are to be fulfilled:
(i) The company should be registered at least under some small scale
industry (SSI unit).

(ii) Must have ISO accreditation within six months after the company starts its operation.

(iii) Company must have updated DGS, FFA Rule books as well as latest ISO specification for all the portable and non- portable extinguishers and DGS guidelines for CO2 system maintenance.

(iv) In order to weigh the CO2 bottles on board itself, apart from having electronic balance, manual measuring scales also required. Each year the balance to be calibrated by an approved organization.

(v) Portable hydraulic testing machine for on board tests and fixed hydraulic testing machines at the workshop required for testing.

(vi) Provision for keeping the necessary spares for all safety items.

(vii) Good in -house facility for workshops to undertake overhauls of fire line, safety valves, CO2 relief system relief valves, hydrant valves, etc.

(viii) Units to be headed by qualified MEO Class 1 (Motor) with at least 2 years experience as Chief Engineer on board.

b) After the inspection of the company by MMD, report is to be forwarded to DGS for approval. The checklist for approval is attached (Annex II). After the approval is granted, the service station is free to service and issue service certificate with a stamp of D.G.S. approval number. Copies of every certificate issued, are to be forwarded six monthly basis to MMD. Initial approval may be for the period of two years. For renewal, the company shall apply to MMD, same shall be inspected by the surveyors and report forwarded to DGS with recommendation. Approval for a period of three years may be granted.

c) Any reported causality on board a ship by way of malfunctioning of any items will result in immediate suspension of the approval pending outcome of inquiry.

The following items are not under the purview of the guidelines as detailed in "2". Separate instructions are provided for the following:

(i) Total fire protection system i.e. (CO2, foam, water sprinkler system, etc.).
(ii) Any alteration or addition to the existing system.
(iii) 10 yearly hydraulic testing of cylinders.

3. Periodical Pressure Testing of CO2 piping i.e. 5/10/15 years:

(a) 5 yearly routines:

(i) At intervals of not more than 5 years, a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing installation must be subjected to the tests described below
(ii) The servo - cylinders and any remote controlled stopcocks to be tested by opening one pilot cylinder. The battery must be uncoupled for the purpose
(iii) The proper operation and correct connections to the cargo holds to be checked.
(iv) The entire installation to be checked to make sure that it is operational.
(v) The spring-loaded safety valves must be also checked and reset to 180 kg/cm.
(vi) The alarm system must be tested to make sure that it functions properly.

(b). 10 yearly routines:

(i) At intervals of not more than 10 years, the section of a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system, which can be shut off, must be tested with carbon dioxide or air at a minimum pressure of 25kg/cm2.
(ii) All the tests described in "a" above.

(c ) 15 yearly routines:

(i) The piping must be pressure tested as follows: -
1) The high pressure section up to and including the engine room, boiler room or pump room stopcock and up to and including the operating valves or cocks to the cargo holds:
At a pressure of at least 190 kgf/cm2 using a suitable liquid.

2) The medium pressure section (open ended pipes where they run through accommodation spaces, together with the section of the main supply line running to the engine room, boiler room or pump room between the stopcock and the room concerned):

At a pressure of at least 80 kgf/cm2 using a suitable liquid.
3) Low pressure section (other pipes with open ends):
With air at a pressure of at least 6 kgf /cm2

Pipes running from the pilot cylinders to the servo-cylinders and the sections of pipes to deep tanks, which can be shut off, must be considered as part of the high-pressure system. Pipe sections and valves tested hydraulically with water must be blown dry with air.
(ii) The servo-cylinders and any remote-controlled stopcocks to be tested by opening 1 pilot cylinder. The battery must be uncoupled for the purpose;

(iii) The alarm system to be tested with the engine operating to full capacity;

(iv) The setting of the spring loaded safety valves at 180 kgf/cm2 .

(v) The proper operation and correct connections to the cargo holds to be checked

(vi) The free flow of carbon dioxide out of the nozzles into the engine room, boiler room or pump room to be checked by opening one or more cylinders of the battery or by using air at a minimum pressure of 25 kgf/cm2;

(vii) The entire installation to be checked to make sure that it operational.

The high-pressure section that can be shut off, the stopcocks and the controls to be checked for tightness under operational conditions by opening one cylinder of the battery. This check may be omitted if the equipment is intended solely for the engine room and consists of not more than 15 cylinders.

(d) Periodical Tests

When extensive repairs or modifications are carried out, the part of the carbon dioxide fire extinguishing equipment involved must be subjected to the tests described in 15 yearly routines above, in so far as they are applicable.

(e) Inspections:

At intervals of 24 months the whole installation must be inspected externally to the extent that this is possible and blown through with air.

Before servicing shipping companies /service stations will apply to the respective MMD regarding carrying out the periodical pressure testing of the CO2 system. The surveyors are required to witness the hydraulic pressure testing. The servicing of CO2 systems shall be carried out by the DGS approved service stations/ Approved by Maritime Administration only.

4. Periodical Inspection of Carbon Dioxide Cylinders

(a) Each carbon dioxide cylinder must be inspected internally at intervals of 10 years and tested at the prescribed pressure. After 20 years the cylinders should be examined and tested at intervals of 5 years. The date of testing and stamp must be placed on the cylinder.
(b) Carbon dioxide cylinders, which exhibit a permanent increase in volume after being pressure tested, must be condemned.
(c) Before refilling the riser tube must be inspected visually.
(d) The valve must also be tested for gas-tightness and if appropriate ensure that it is movable.
(e) Statement must be issued by the filling station to the effect that each cylinder is filled with the prescribed quantity of carbon -dioxide.

Before servicing Shipping Companies /service stations will inform/apply to the respective MMD regarding carrying out hydraulic testing of cylinders. The servicing of CO2 bottles shall be carried out by the DGS approved service stations only. The Chief Engineer of the approved service station shall witness the hydraulic pressure testing and endorse the certificate, and submit a copy to MMD. The surveyors are required to witness the hydraulic pressure testing in case the service station is not approved by DGS.


5. Periodical check of the Gas Content of Carbon Dioxide Cylinders

(a) The gas content of such carbon dioxide cylinder must be checked at intervals of not more than 2 years by weighing or in some other manner, a maximum weight reduction of 5 per cent may be allowed, provided the total quantity of carbon dioxide is never less than the prescribed minimum.
(b) Equipment for weighing each cylinder must be available on board. If a level detector employing radioactive radiation is used to deck check the cylinders, this equipment must be removed from the ship before sailing.

The approved servicing station shall undertake the weighment of the CO2 cylinders only. The company/service stations are required to submit an application to MMD, and the same is to be witnessed by the surveyor of the department and certificate of weighment endorsed. In case of non-availability of surveyor, Principal Officer may allow the servicing station to carry out the weighment of the cylinders. In such cases the endorsement shall not be done by the MMD, however during the safety equipment survey, the Company shall have the certificate of weighment endorsed by the attending surveyor. Prior to endorsement of the weighment certificate, surveyor may carry out weighment of CO2 bottles on sample basis to his satisfaction. To avoid duplication of the work, company may plan the weighment during the annual/renewal of safety equipment survey.

All service stations that are registered with Directorate General of Shipping are required to follow the above procedure.

6. Procedure for approval of Fire Fighting Appliances and Fire Control Plans.

1. Reference: ENG/ MMAM - 37(6)/99 dated 07/02/2003
2. Reference: MSC Cir. 451, Guidance concerning the location of fire control plans for assistance of shore side fire-fighting personnel.
3. IMO Resolution A. 756(18) guidelines on the information to be provided with fire control plans and booklets required by SOLAS regulation II-2/20 and 41-2.
4. For new installation system drawing and calculation is required to be submitted to MMD. After scrutinizing, same is to be forwarded to DGS for approval. The CO2 installation shall be as per the approved drawing. Tests of new CO2 Fire extinguishing system shall be as described in 3 (c).

7. Guidelines for inspection of the CO2 Retrofit on board any vessel

particularly for holds (Ref.: ENG/COORD- 62(1)/94 dated 01.03.94)
(a) Procedures outlined are to be followed for old CO2 bottles as regards to Inspection and Certification of these CO2 bottles:

(b) Old CO2 bottles should not be fitted if the vessel is less than 10 years old. (From the date of delivery).

(c) Sectional drawing with original Test Certificate of the CO2 bottles to be produced for new CO2 bottles.

(d) For using old CO2 bottles following conditions must be met:
(i) Water capacity of each bottle to be physically checked.
(ii) Ten yearly pressure test to be carried out.
(iii) Results of test (i) & (ii) to be submitted to D.G.S.
(iv) If old CO2 bottle are not identified by Original Test Certificate then at least one bottle from the same batch to be cut, test piece made, tested and test results submitted to this Directorate.

(v) If original Test Certificates are available and bottles can be identified with the certificates, the requirement of cutting the sample bottle and testing as specified in (iv) above is not required.

(vi) Head assembly material original test results to be furnished with identification. If material test certificate are not available at least one out of 20 head assembly of the bottles to be selected at random and tested for chemical composition of the material. The test results are required to be submitted to the D.G.S.

(vii) Inspection and testing of Line Valves, Relief Valves, Diffuser Nozzles, Pipeline, Unions and Deck penetration to be carried out and results submitted to the D.G.S.