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Information Bulletin No. 150: Inspection and Testing of Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Information Bulletin No. 150: Inspection and Testing of Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Revision No.
150
01
Issue Date
19 Aug 2014
Effective Date
25 Aug 2014
1.
Purpose
1.1.
2.
Application
2.1.
This Bulletin applies to all Bahamian ships fitted with Automatic Sprinkler
Systems, as required by SOLAS Regulations II-2/10.4, II-2/10.5 & II2/10.6, or other IMO Codes such as the International Code of Safety for
High Speed Craft 1994 or 2000 (HSC Code).
2.2.
This Bulletin does not apply to dry pipe water based fixed local
application fire-extinguishing systems meeting the requirements of SOLAS
Regulation II-2/10.5.6 or dry pipe systems as defined in Resolution
MSC.44(65).
3.
Definitions
3.1.
For the purpose of this Bulletin the following definitions are used, unless
expressly provided otherwise:
i)
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iii)
iv)
v)
4.
Background
4.1.
4.2.
Due to the severity of these findings and the need to determine the extent
of these failures, the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has decided to
instigate increased testing for Bahamian ships fitted with Automatic
Sprinkler Systems. This revision of Bulletin No.150 takes into account the
findings related to failures on both high pressure and low pressure
systems.
4.3.
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5.1.
Companies1 operating Bahamian ships shall ensure that the relevant parts
of MSC.1/Circ.1432 and manufacturers inspection and maintenance
instructions for Automatic Sprinkler Systems are incorporated into their
Safety Management System.
5.2.
5.3.
Prior to the delivery of the ship from the building yard but, after all
installation testing has been completed;
Whenever the system is flushed and re-filled with water in accordance
with
manufacturers
maintenance
instructions
or
after
operation/testing.
6.
6.1.
Testing
gives
detailed
testing
requirements
and
6.1.3. All Initial and Basic testing shall be conducted on board during the Annual
Survey in the presence of a Recognised Organisation surveyor.
6.1.4. Extended testing shall be conducted on board during the Annual Survey in
the presence of a Recognised Organisation surveyor, except where shore-
The Company is the entity responsible for the management of the ship in accordance with the ISM Code.
For ships which the ISM Code is not applicable, the Company is the Managing Owner in accordance with
Section 52 of the Bahamas Merchant Shipping Act.
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Sending of sprinklers direct to the manufacturer for unsupervised inhouse testing is not acceptable.
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Replacement of sprinklers
6.3.1. Where test results indicate that it is necessary to replace all sprinklers in
some or all sections on board, the relevant requirements of Annex I are to
be followed.
6.3.2. Sections where all Sprinklers have been replaced are to be regarded as
new installations and testing in subsequent years is to be conducted as
appropriate for the age of the sprinklers at the next Annual Survey.
6.3.3. Details of sections where all sprinklers have been replaced are to be
maintained by the ship owner and Recognised Organisation to ensure the
appropriate testing is conducted at each subsequent Annual Survey.
6.3.4. If there is any doubt as to the extent of testing to be carried out on ships
where all Sprinklers have been replaced in a section, the scope of testing
may be agreed with the BMAs Inspections and Surveys Department.
6.4.
Reporting requirements
6.4.1. All Basic and Extended testing is to be reported using the spreadsheet
provided to all Bahamas Recognised Organisations for use by surveyors
carrying out annual Surveys on Bahamian ships fitted with Automatic
Sprinkler Systems.
6.4.2. The completed spreadsheet is to be reviewed by the Recognised
Organisation against the appropriate acceptance criteria in Annex I to
determine what further action, if any, is to be taken.
6.4.3. Once the action required is determined by the Recognised Organisation,
the BMA is to be advised. The submission to the BMA should include the
following information:
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6.4.4. If deemed necessary, the BMA may require the test results to be shared
with the system manufacturer and/or the body responsible for issuing the
Type Approval Certification for further investigation or comment.
6.5.
6.5.1. Where the test results require further testing or replacement of sprinklers,
the Recognised Organisation is to request permission from the BMA to
issue relevant short-term certification, in accordance with BMA
Information Bulletin No.8.
7.
Revision History
Rev.1 (18 August 2014) General revision, Consolidation of testing
requirements, inclusion of Initial testing and testing flow charts in Annex
I.
Rev.0 (02 August 2013) First issue
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2.
If more than one type of sprinkler is installed on board a ship to which this
bulletin applies, then the different types of sprinkler are to be assessed
separately against the requirements of this Bulletin.
3.
The starting point for testing, based on age of system, is shown in table 3
below.
Age of System
1.
<5 years
Initial Testing
5 years
Basic Testing
Initial testing
4.
5.
6.
The test results shall be recorded in accordance with section 6.4 of BMA
Information Bulletin No.150 and assessed against paragraph 7 below.
Initial testing acceptance criteria
7.
If one or both of the sprinklers tested fail to operate at pilot pressure then
proceed to Basic testing.
Basic testing
8.
9.
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11.
If there are less than 10 sprinkler sections installed on board then testing
should be 2 sprinklers per section on board. The BMA shall be consulted
on the acceptance criteria to be applied in such cases.
12.
13.
The test results shall be recorded in accordance with section 6.4 of BMA
Information Bulletin No.150 and compared to the acceptance criteria
defined in paragraphs 14, 15 & 16 below.
Basic testing acceptance criteria
14.
15.
16.
In the special case of 2 sprinklers from the same sprinkler section failing,
it should be ensured that the remaining sprinklers in the same section are
not impaired. Typically, an additional 10 sprinklers should be tested in the
same section. If 2 or more of the additional sprinklers fail the test, the
section is to be deemed contaminated and all sprinklers within that section
should be replaced.
17.
18.
19.
Based on the results from Basic testing the following Extended test
programme in Table 19 is implemented:
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ii
RFB>20%
20.
21.
22.
The test results shall be recorded as per section 6.4 of Bulletin No.150 and
checked with regard to the acceptance criteria in paragraphs 23, 24 & 25.
Extended testing acceptance criteria
23.
A case by case review should always be carried out taking into account
the failure rate at the pilot pressure, the actual opening pressure, number
of sprinklers within the protected spaces in question (e.g. only 1 sprinkler
installed being more critical than 20), number and percentage of
sprinklers tested in the section in question and water quality.
24.
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25.
Each section is assessed and for sections with a failure rate 15%,
no further action is required and the situation will be monitored by
new tests at the next Annual Survey.
For sections with a failure rate > 15%, all sprinklers within that
section should be replaced.
Water samples
26.
It is recommended that water samples are taken from the sprinkler tank,
pump unit and relevant sections (as close as practicable to the sprinkler
as this represents the water in the branch pipe).
27.
28.
If only Basic testing is required, the samples can be taken and analysed
on board by the crew.
29.
30.
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pH;
INSPECTION AND TESTING OF AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER
SYSTEMS
[email protected]
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chloride content;
Conductivity of the water.
Water test results shall be reported to the BMA in accordance with section
6.4 of BMA Information Bulletin No.150.
31.
It must be remembered that the water may have been exchanged and
that the system may have been charged with better or worse water in the
past.
32.
33.
34.
Sprinklers shall be removed from all branch piping and all piping shall be
blown through with air, or flushed properly with water complying with the
manufacturers recommendations.
35.
Replacement sprinklers shall be of the correct type and approved for use
in the system. Unapproved modifications to the system or sprinklers will
render the systems Type Approval invalid.
36.
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No
Note:
1) All Initial and Basic testing is to be carried out at pilot pressure.
2) Water quality is to be assessed in accordance with the
requirements of Annex I of Bulletin No.150
3) Where the testing results require sprinkler replacement the
recommendations on replacement of sprinklers in Annex I of
Bulletin No.150 should be followed.
Yes
Initial Testing.
Test 2 Sprinklers of
each type installed
on board in
accordance with
MSC.1/Circ.1432.
Yes
Basic Testing.
Test 2 sprinklers per
section in 10
sections (20
sprinklers in total).
No
Yes
Proceed to Extended testing
Yes
No
Yes
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Extended testing
No
RFB>20%?
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Replace all Sprinklers in
Sections which failed
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Yes
Are there any sections with
a failure rate >15%?
Yes
Yes
No
No further action required, situation will be monitored at
next Annual Survey.
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