MSC.1/Circ.1516 8 June 2015 AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED

https://edocs.imo.org/Final Documents/English/MSC.1-CIRC.1516 (E).docx

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT

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MSC.1/Circ.1516

8 June 2015

AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED GUIDELINES FOR THE MAINTENANCE

AND INSPECTION OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES

(MSC.1/CIRC.1432)

1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninety-fifth session (3 to 12 June 2015),

approved amendments to the Revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire

protection systems and appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1432), as set out in the annex, concerning

testing of automatic sprinkler systems, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and

Equipment, at its second session.

2 Member Governments are invited to use the amendments when applying

MSC.1/Circ.1432 and to bring the amendments to the attention of ship designers, shipyards,

shipowners, systems manufactures and all parties concerned.

***

MSC.1/Circ.1516

Annex, page 1

https://edocs.imo.org/Final Documents/English/MSC.1-CIRC.1516 (E).docx

ANNEX

AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED GUIDELINES FOR THE MAINTENANCE

AND INSPECTION OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES

(MSC.1/CIRC.1432)

1 Paragraph 3.4 is amended to read as follows:

"3.4 In addition to the onboard maintenance and inspections stated in these

guidelines, manufacturer's maintenance and inspection guidelines should be

followed. The quality of water in automatic sprinkler systems is of particular

importance and should be maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.

Records of water quality should be maintained on board in accordance with

the manufacturer's guidelines."

2 A new paragraph 6.5 is added after the existing paragraph 6.4, as follows:

"6.5 Water mist, water spray and sprinkler systems

Assess system water quality in the header tank and pump unit against the

manufacturer's water quality guidelines."

3 Paragraph 7.5 is amended to read as follows:

"7.5 Water mist, water spray and sprinkler systems

.1 verify proper operation of all water mist, water-spray and sprinkler

systems using the test valves for each section;

.2 visually inspect all accessible components for proper condition;

.3 externally examine all high pressure cylinders for evidence of

damage or corrosion;

.4 check the hydrostatic test date of all high pressure cylinders;

.5 functionally test all fixed system audible and visual alarms;

.6 flow test all pumps for proper pressure and capacity;

.7 test all antifreeze systems for adequate freeze protection;

.8 test all system cross connections to other sources of water supply

for proper operation;

.9 verify all pump relief valves, if provided, are properly set;

.10 examine all filters/strainers to verify they are free of debris and

contamination;

.11 verify all control/section valves are in the correct position;

MSC.1/Circ.1516

Annex, page 2

https://edocs.imo.org/Final Documents/English/MSC.1-CIRC.1516 (E).docx

.12 blow dry compressed air or nitrogen through the discharge piping

of dry pipe systems, or otherwise confirm the pipework and

nozzles are clear of any obstructions. This may require the

removal of nozzles, if applicable;

.13 test emergency power supply switchover, where applicable;

.14 visually inspect all sprinklers focusing in areas where sprinklers

are subject to aggressive atmosphere (like saunas, spas, kitchen

areas) and subject to physical damage (like luggage handling

areas, gyms, play rooms, etc.) so that all sprinklers are inspected

within one year. Sprinklers with obvious external damage,

including paint, should be replaced and not included in the number

of sprinklers tested in subparagraph .17;

.15 check for any changes that may affect the system such as

obstructions by ventilation ducts, pipes, etc.;

.16 test a minimum of one section in each open head water mist

system by flowing water through the nozzles. The sections tested

should be chosen so that all sections are tested within a five-year

period;

.17 test automatic sprinklers and automatic water mist nozzles in

accordance with the following flow chart:

MSC.1/Circ.1516

Annex, page 3

https://edocs.imo.org/Final Documents/English/MSC.1-CIRC.1516 (E).docx

Has the Automatic Sprinkler

System been installed on the

ship for 5 years or more?

Functional test

2 randomly

selected sprinkler

heads/nozzles of

each type

installed on board.

Did one or

more sprinkler

heads/nozzles

fail?

For each type

sprinkler head/

nozzle installed on

board functional

test

of 2 randomly

selected sprinklers

heads/nozzles per

section in 10

sections (20

sprinkler heads/

nozzles in total).

For each type tested did

3 or more out of 20 sprinkler

heads/nozzles fail? (i.e. failure

rate, R

15%)

No further action required, situation will be monitored at next Annual Survey.

Are there any

sections where both

sprinkler heads/

nozzles tested

failed?

For the sections

where both

sprinkler heads/

nozzles tested

failed undertake

additional testing

of a further 10

sprinkler heads/

nozzles per

affected section.

Part 1 - Basic Testing

Are there any sections

where 2 or more of the

additional sprinkler heads/

nozzles tested failed?

Replace all sprinkler

heads/nozzles in Sections

which failed and

commission as necessary.

Yes

For each type that failed

proceed to Extended

testing in Part 2.

Extended testing of these

sections is not required.

Start

AND

MSC.1/Circ.1516

Annex, page 4

https://edocs.imo.org/Final Documents/English/MSC.1-CIRC.1516 (E).docx

Did ≥10% of all

sprinkler heads/

nozzles tested fail?

15% ≤R

≤ 20%?

Extended testing Case 1

(for failure rates between R

≤ 20%)

Function test

2 randomly selected sprinklers per sprinkler

section. Sprinkler sections should be selected as follows:

- If number of sections <20, test all sections;

- If number of sections is between 20 and 40, test 20

sections;

- If number of sections >40, test 50% of the sections.

Extended testing Case 2

(for failure rates above 20%)

Function test

7 randomly selected sprinklers from

each sprinkler section. All sprinkler sections to be

tested except where the decision has been made to

replace all sprinklers at this stage.

Are there any

sections where both

sprinkler heads/

nozzleds tested

failed?

For the sections

where both

sprinkler heads/

nozzles tested

failed undertake

additional function

testing

of a

further 10 sprinkler

heads/nozzles per

affected section.

Are there any

sections where 2 or

more of the additional

sprinkler heads/nozzles

tested failed?

Part 2 - Extended testing

For any section with a type

failure rate greater than 10%

replace all sprinkler heads/

nozzles of this type.

No further action required, situation will be

monitored at next Annual Survey.

For any section with a type failure rate

greater than 15% replace all sprinkler

heads/nozzles of this type. Remaining

sections will be monitored at next Annual

Survey

Are there any sections

with a failure rate >15%?

If the number of sprinkler

heads/nozzles tested in any

particular section represents

less than 10% of all sprinkler

heads/nozzles installed in this

section a decision may be to

conduct further function testing

limited to 30% of the total

number of sprinkler heads/

nozzles in that section and the

results can be reassessed with

all sprinkler heads/nozzles

tested in that section being

considered.

After further testing are

there any sections with a

type failure rate >15%?

For each type that has

failed Basic testing obtain

the Failure rate, R

FB.

Yes

AND

MSC.1/Circ.1516

Annex, page 5

https://edocs.imo.org/Final Documents/English/MSC.1-CIRC.1516 (E).docx

Explanatory notes to the flow chart

1 Functional test is defined as a test that demonstrates

the operation and flow of water from sprinkler head/nozzle.

2 Type is defined as each different manufacturer model of

sprinkler head/nozzle.

3 Static/standby pressure is defined as the constant pressure

maintained in the system at all times prior to activation.

4 All testing should be carried out at static/standby pressure.

5 Failure rate (R

) is the number of sprinkler heads/nozzles

to fail testing divided by test sample size multiplied

by 100; and

.18 during basic testing, and extended testing when applicable, of

automatic sprinkler heads/nozzles as outlined in subparagraph .17,

water quality testing should be conducted in each corresponding

piping section. Note – should a tested sprinkler fail, assessing

the corresponding water quality at that time would assist in

determining the cause of failure."

4 Paragraph 9.3 is replaced by the following:

"9.3 Water mist, water spray and sprinkler systems

.1 flush all ro-ro deck deluge system piping with water, drain and

purge with air;

.2 perform internal inspection of all control/section valves; water

quality testing should be conducted in all corresponding piping

sections, if not previously tested as outlined in paragraph 7.5.18

within the last five years;

.3 check condition of any batteries, or renew in accordance with

manufacturer's recommendations; and

.4 for each section where the water is refilled after being drained or

flushed, water quality should meet manufacturer's guidelines.

Testing of the renewed water quality should be conducted and

recorded as a new baseline reference to assist future water quality

monitoring for each corresponding section."

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