FFA Maintenance

All fire protection systems and appliances should at all times be in good order and available for immediate use during the voyage and in port. Compressed air bottles of breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers should be refilled after any drill. Where refilling facilities are not available on board additional equipment may be carried to facilitate training. Discharged equipment should be clearly marked and stored for refilling when in port. Equipment dedicated for training purposes should be marked ‘for training purposes only’.

Monthly testing and inspection should be carried out to ensure that:

→ All fireman's outfits, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, hose and nozzles are in place and in serviceable condition;

→ All fixed fire fighting installation valves are set in the correct operational position;

→ All fixed gas fire extinguishing installations are free from leakage.

→ Sprinkler system pressure tank water levels are correct as indicated by glass gauges;

→ Dry pipe sprinkler systems are pressurized, where appropriate, and gauges indicate correctly;

→ All sprinkler system pumps operate automatically on pressure loss in the systems;

→ All fire pumps are operational;

→ All escape routes including stairways and corridors are free of obstructions and properly maintained;

→ Public address system and ship’s alarms are serviceable;

Quarterly testing and inspection should be carried out to ensure that:

→ All fire extinguishers are at correct pressure and are not due for servicing;

→ All automatic alarms for sprinkler systems activate using the section test valves;

→ Fire fighting equipment lockers contain their full inventory and the equipment they contain is in serviceable condition;

→ The international shore connection is serviceable;

→ All fire doors, fire dampers and closing devices can be operated locally.

Annual testing and inspection should be carried out to ensure that:

→ Where practicable all foam and water spray fixed fire fighting installations operate correctly;

→ All accessible components of fixed fire fighting systems, typically nozzles, are free from damage or obstruction on visual inspection;

→ All fire pumps, including sprinkler system pumps, develop correct pressures and flow rates;

→ All hydrants operate;

→ All fire doors, and ventilation dampers where appropriate, operate remotely;

→ Fixed fire detection systems operate correctly, according to manufacturers test instructions.

→ All antifreeze solutions are correctly maintained and cross connection between fire main and sprinkler system operates correctly; and

5 Yearly :

→ Pressure test of portable extinguishers.

→ Pressure test of all BA bottles.

10 Yearly :

→ The hydrodynamic test of CO2 bottles in CO2 room.