§ 115.810 — Fire Protection

(a) At each initial and subsequent inspection for certification, the owner or managing operator shall be prepared to conduct tests and have the vessel ready for inspection of its fire protection equipment, including the following:

(1) Inspection of each hand portable fire extinguisher, semiportable fire extinguisher, and fixed gas fire extinguishing system to check for excessive corrosion and general condition;

(2) Inspection of piping, controls, and valves, and the inspection and testing of alarms and ventilation shutdowns, for each fixed gas fire extinguishing system and detecting system to determine that the system is in operating condition;

(3) Operation of the fire main system and checking of the pressure at the most remote and highest outlets;

(4) Testing of each firehose to a test pressure equivalent to its maximum service pressure;

(5) Checking of each cylinder containing compressed gas to ensure it has been tested and marked in accordance with § 147.60 in subchapter N of this chapter;

(6) Testing or renewal of flexible connections and discharge hoses on semiportable extinguishers and fixed gas extinguishing systems in accordance with § 147.65 in subchapter N of this chapter; and

(7) Inspection and testing of smoke and fire detecting systems (including sensors and alarms) and fire confining appliances (such as fire screen doors and fire dampers).

(b) The owner, managing operator, or a qualified servicing facility as applicable shall conduct the following inspections and tests:

(1) For portable fire extinguishers, the inspections, maintenance procedures and hydrostatic pressure tests required by NFPA 10, (incorporated by reference, see § 114.600 of this chapter) with the frequency specified by NFPA 10. In addition, carbon dioxide and halon portable fire extinguishers must be refilled when the net content weight loss exceeds that specified for fixed systems by Table 115.810(b). The owner or managing operator shall provide satisfactory evidence of the required servicing to the marine inspector. If any of the equipment or records have not been properly maintained, a qualified servicing facility may be required to perform the required inspections, maintenance procedures, and hydrostatic pressure tests. A tag issued by a qualified servicing organization, and attached to each extinguisher, may be accepted as evidence that the necessary maintenance procedures have been conducted.

(2) For semiportable and fixed gas fire extinguishing systems, the inspections and tests required by Table 115.810(b), in addition to the tests required by §§ 147.60 and 147.65 in subchapter N of this chapter. The owner or managing operator shall provide satisfactory evidence of the required servicing to the marine inspector. If any of the equipment or records have not been properly maintained, a qualified servicing facility may be required to perform the required inspections, maintenance procedures, and hydrostatic pressure tests.

Table 115.810(b)—Semiportable and Fixed Fire Extinguishing Systems

(c) The owner, managing operator, or master shall destroy, in the presence of the marine inspector, each fire hose found to be defective and incapable of repair.

(d) At each initial and subsequent inspection for certification, the marine inspector may require that a fire drill be held under simulated emergency conditions to be specified by the inspector.