This document summarizes the key aspects of a ship's fire main system, including: - Types of fire main systems like single and looped main lines. - Advantages of using water like its cooling effects and ability to smother fires. - Requirements for fire pumps, capacities, and locations including at least two pumps and one emergency pump. - Standards for pipe diameters, pressures, and nozzle sizes to effectively fight fires.

1. FIRE MAIN SYSTEM

2. TYPE OF INSTALLATION
• SINGLE MAIN LINE SYSTEM
 Economical (cost)
• LOOPED MAIN LINE SYSTEM
 More comprehensive coverage.
 Uninterruptible supply even though one
section may be isolated for maintenance,
breakdown etc.

3. ADVANTAGE
• ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE
• GREAT COOLING EFFECT
– SPECIFIC HEAT OF WATER = 4.2 kJ/kg°K
– LATENT HEAT OF EVAPORATION = 2256.7 kJ/kg
• SMOTHERING ACTION OF WATER
AND STEAM
• EASILY HANDLED & TRANSPORT TO
THE SCENE OF FIRE.

4. DISADVANTAGE
• WATER DAMAGE – CARGO
• ENDANGERING STABILITY – WHEN
LARGE QUANTITY BEING USED
• DANGER TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
• DANGER TO SOME CARGOES
• DANGEROUS TO USE WATER AS A
JET ON DEEP SEATED BURNING OIL /
FAT – FIRE SPREAD DUE TO VIOLENT
BOILING WATER.

5. HOW FIRE IS PUT OFF?
• PRIMARILY AS A COOLING AGENT.
• ABSORBS HEAT MORE EFFICIENTLY.
• MOST EFFICIENT WHEN IT ABSORBS HEAT
TILL IT REACHES 100ºC AND TURN INTO
STEAM.
• REMOVES THE HEAT AWAY FROM THE
SEAT OF FIRE.
• STEAM ALSO SMOTHERS AND THUS
DEPRIVES FIRE OF OXYGEN.

6. ISOLATING VALVE
• ENABLE TO SEPARATE SECTION WHICH IS
REQD ATTENTION.
• THE 1ST ONE SHALL BE LOCATED OUTSIDE
ENGINE ROOM.
• EASILY ACCESSIBLE
• WHEN IN USE, WATER SUPPLY CAN BE
MAINTAINED BY OTHER FIRE PUMP.
• ADMINISTRATION MAY PERMIT SHORT
LENGTHS OF EMERGENCY FIRE PP
CONNECTION TO ER IF IMPRACTICLE TO
ROUTE EXTERNALLY, PROVIDED
INTEGRITY OF FIRE PP MAINTAINED BY
PIPING ENCLOSURE.

7. QUANTITY OF FIRE PUMP REQD:
• PASSENGER SHIP > 4000 TON
– AT LEAST 3 PUMPS
• PASSENGER SHIP < 4000 TON & CARGO
SHIP > 1000 TON
– AT LEAST 2 PUMPS
• CARGO SHIP < 1000 TON
– ADMINISTRATION DISCRETION
• SANITARY, BALLAST, BILGE OR GS PUMP
MAY ACCEPTED AS FIRE PP PROVIDED:
– NOT NORMALLY USED FOR PUMPING OIL.
– IF OCCASIONAL DUTY PUMPING OIL,
SUITABLE C/O ARRANGEMENTS ARE FITTED.

8. FIRE PUMP CAPACITY
• PASSENGER SHIP - > 2/3 OF BILGE PUMPS
CAPACITY WHEN PUMPING BILGES.
• CARGO SHIP - > 4/3 OF BILGE PUMP
CAPACITY PROVIDED TOTAL CAPACITY
OF FIRE PUMPS > 180M³/HR (EXCLUDING
EMERGENCY FIRE PP)
• EACH PUMP CAPACITY > 80% OF TOTAL
REQD CAPACITY ÷ MIN NO. OF REQD FIRE
PP & IN ANY CASES > 25M³/HR.
• CAPABLE OF DELIVERING > 2 JETS OF
WATER.

9. REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCY
FIRE PUMP
• MUST NOT LOCATED SAME
COMPARTMENT WITH MAIN FIRE PUMPS.
• DRIVEN BY SELF CONTAINED POWER
SOURCE – (ICE, ELECTRICAL OR HYDRAULIC)
• ITS SEA SUCTION, PRIMING UNIT, POWER
SOURCE SWBD, CABLES ETC MUST NOT
SAME LOCATION WITH MAIN FIRE PUMP.
• SUCTION LINE TO BE POSITIONED WHERE
PP RUNNING EFFICIENTLY AT LIGHTEST
DRAFT.

10. • PRIMING UNIT MUST BE FITTED IF PP
LOCATION > 2 MTR ABOVE LIGHTEST
DRAFT.
• ARRANGEMENT SHOULD PERMIT THE
ISOLATION OF FIRE MAIN FROM
MACHINERY SPACES.
• STARTING ARRANGEMENT MUST BE
OUTSIDE, INDEPENDENT FROM MAIN FIRE
PP SPACE.
• DIESEL DRIVEN – CAPABLE TO START AT
0ºC MANUALLY, IF NOT, HEATING SHALL
BE APPLY TOGETHER WITH
MAINTENANCE. (COMPRESSION RATIO 20:1)

11. • IF UNABLE, OTHER MEANS BY > 6 TIMES
WITHIN 30 MIN, > 2 TIMES WITHIN 10 MIN.
• SUFFICIENT FUEL SUPPLY FOR > 3 HRS &
RESERVE SUPPLY FOR 15 HRS.
• TOTAL SUCTION HEAD < 4.5 MTR UNDER
ALL CONDITIONS OF LIST & TRIM –
SUCTION LINE TO BE DESIGNED TO
MINIMISE SUCTION LOSSES.
• BOUNDARIES FOR PP SPACE INSULATED
SIMILAR TO CONTROL STATION
PROTECTION (REG 44)

12. EMERGENCY FIRE PUMP
LOCATION
• STEERING GEAR FLAT
• SHAFT TUNNEL
• FWD OF SHIP (AFT OF COLLISION
BULKHEAD)

14. EMERGENCY FIRE PUMP
CAPACITY
• NOT LESS THAN 40% OF TOTAL
CAPACITY OF MAIN FIRE PUMPS
REQD.
• IN ANY CASES, NOT LESS THAN
25M³/HR.
• POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN 2.5 BAR
WHILE SUPPLYING 2 HYDRANT
USING SINGLE HOSE.

15. INTERNATIONAL SHORE CONNECTION
• STANDARD SIZED FLANGE WITH NUTS,
BOLTS, WASHERS & COUPLINGS.
• MUST BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND 10.5
BAR.
• 4 X Ø16 X 50MM BOLTS & 8 WASHERS
• JOINTS MUST BE MADE OF RUBBER
(PAPER JOINTS CAN EASILY LEAK)
• AT LEAST ONE SET ONBOARD.
• ENABLE TO CONNECT EITHER SIDE OF
SHIP.
• OD=178MM, PCD=132MM, ID=64MM,
T=14.5MM, BOLT HOLE=19MM.

16. Ø & PRESSURE FOR FIRE MAIN
SYSTEM
• SHALL SUFFICIENT FOR EFFECTIVE
DISTRIBUTION OF MAX DISCHARGE FROM
2 PPS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
• CARGO SHIP – Ø SHALL SUFFICIENT TO
DISCHARGE 140M³/HR.
• MINIMUM PRESSURE AT HYDRANTS WITH
ABOVE SUPPLY:
– PASSENGER SHIP > 4000 TON = 0.31N/mm²
– 1000 TO 4000 TON = 0.27N/mm²
– < 1000 TON = ADMINISTRATION DISCRETION

17. CONT..
• CARGO SHIP
– > 6000 TON = 0.27N/mm²
– 1000 TO 6000 TON = 0.25N/mm²
– < 1000 TON = ADMIN DISCRETION

18. NOZZLES
• NORMAL SIZE : 12, 16, 19mm. LARGER
DIAMETER AT ADMIN DISCRETION.
• ACCOM & SERVICE SPACES – 12MM.
• MACH SPACE & EXTERIOR –
MAXIMUM DISCHARGE i.e. 19MM.
• APPROVED DUAL PURPOSE TYPE
(SPRAY & JET) INCOPRPORATING
SHUT OFF