Transport Publication TP 11469 E
3.1.1 All approved structural fire protection materials for use on Canadian registered ships are listed in TP 438, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: List of Approved Products". In order for a product to be listed as "approved" it must first be tested in accordance with the applicable test procedure described in TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures". After successful testing, and approval of the manufacturer's installation drawings (where required), a certificate of approval will be issued by the Board of Steamship Inspection and the product listed in TP 438.
3.1.2 Methods of construction and installation of such materials must be strictly in accordance with those described in the certificate of approval and shown on the manufacturer's approved drawings. No departure will be permitted without the prior consent of the Board of Steamship Inspection.
3.2.1 One of the basic principles of the Coast Guard's structural fire protection philosophy is that the material from which the vessel is constructed should not add to the fuel load available for combustion.
3.2.2 This requires that the majority of materials of construction within the accommodation and service spaces be non-combustible and must successfully pass the tests described in TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures" except for certain materials which are known to be inherently non-combustible. The following materials fall under this category and are accepted without testing:
- sheet glass, block glass, clay, ceramics and uncoated glass fibres;
- all metals except magnesium and magnesium alloy;
- portland cement, gypsum and magnesite concretes having aggregates of sand, gravel, expanded vermiculite, expanded or vesicular slags, diatomaceous silica, perlite or pumice;
- woven, knitted or needle punched glass fabric containing not more than 2.5% lubricant.
3.3 Structural Fire Insulations
3.3.1 The basic element of bulkhead and deck construction is steel plate. Without additional insulation, steel plate of the required thickness suitably stiffened can be classified as an A-0 or B-0 division. Structural integrity, however, is not the sole parameter upon which the structural fire protection system is dependent. To prevent the spread of fire by radiant or conducted heat, some structural divisions must also act as insulators to prevent the transmission of heat to the unexposed side of the bulkhead or deck.
3.3.2 There are basically three ways to achieve this insulating capability on bare steel:
- application of an approved structural fire insulation;
- application of an approved bulkhead or ceiling panel; or
- a combination of (a) and (b) above.
3.3.3 Materials which have been approved only for use as an insulation for 'A' Class bulkheads should not be used as an insulation for 'A' Class decks and vice versa.
3.3.4 Structural fire insulations are to be tested in accordance with the tests for 'A' Class bulkheads and decks described in TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures".
3.4 Bulkhead, Lining and Ceiling Panels
3.4.1 Generally, bulkhead, lining and ceiling panels are constructed of non-combustible binder board or steel faced mineral wool. These panels may be used in the construction of 'B' Class bulkheads, ceilings and linings or as components in 'A' Class bulkheads and decks when tested in accordance with the tests described in TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures".
3.5.1 Deck coverings fall into two categories, fire rated and non-fire-rated. Fire rated deck coverings are materials which have been approved for use as an insulation material in the construction of 'A' Class decks. Non-fire-rated deck coverings consist of two types, primary and surface. Primary materials are normally in the form of an underlay applied directly to the deck plating and are used for levelling and smoothing. Surface materials are the exposed deck covering materials fitted for decorative purposes. TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures" describe the test requirements for both fire-rated and non-fire-rated deck coverings.
3.5.2 Soft floor coverings such as carpets which are fitted in corridors, stairways and spaces containing furniture and furnishings of restricted fire risk require to be tested in accordance with TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures.
3.5.3 Soft floor coverings which are fitted in spaces other than the type described above should be to the satisfaction of the local surveyor who must satisfy himself that the material fitted does not constitute a hazard.
3.6.1 The interior finish applied to shipboard compartments is important because the spread of flame and the generation of smoke is dependent upon the properties of the interior finish materials.
3.6.2 In passenger ships the following surfaces are to have low flame spread characteristics:
- Exposed surfaces of bulkheads, linings, and ceilings in corridors and stairway enclosures;
- Exposed surfaces of bulkheads, linings, and ceilings in all accommodation spaces, service spaces and control stations.
- Surfaces in concealed or inaccessible spaces in accommodation spaces, service spaces and control stations.
3.6.3 In cargo ships and tankers the following surfaces are to have low flame spread characteristics:
- Exposed surfaces of bulkheads, linings and ceilings in corridors and stairway enclosures;
- Exposed surfaces of ceilings in accommodation spaces, service spaces and control stations;
- Surfaces in concealed or inaccessible spaces in accommodation spaces, service spaces and control stations.
3.6.4 The above requirements do not apply to furniture, furnishings, machinery and similar items except where required by a specific regulation e.g. The Towboat Crew Accommodation Regulations.
3.6.5 Where surfaces are required by the regulations to have low flame spread characteristics, they should be tested in accordance with TP 439, "Structural Fire Protection Standards: Testing and Approval Procedures".
3.6.6 Where exposed surfaces of ceilings are required to have low flame spread characteristics plastic light diffusers may be fitted in way of ceiling mounted light fittings provided the fitting is enclosed in a steel housing. The total surface area of the plastic diffusers in any one space should not exceed 20% of the total ceiling area.
3.7.1 Where insulations are exposed to oil and oil vapours they should be faced with a vapour barrier of impervious material such as aluminum foil or plastic film. Any joints should be sealed with a tape of compatible material having a minimum width of 50 mm . Details of and the method of applying the vapour barrier material should be shown on the plan of insulation details described in Part 2. In no case where a vapour barrier is fitted should the expanded metal used to secure 'A' Class insulation be dispensed with.
3.7.2 Where there is a risk of an 'A' Class insulation becoming damaged by the shipping or unshipping of machinery or similar operations, then the vapour barrier should be protected by a metal sheathing. The metal sheathing should be attached to the structure independently of the 'A' Class insulation with a gap of at least 25 mm and the number and size of the means of securing the metal sheathing should be kept to a minimum. Figure 2 shows an acceptable method of installing the metal sheathing but any other similar method of attachment may be considered.
3.8.1 In passenger ships, the total volume of combustible facings, mouldings, decorations and veneers in any accommodation and service space should not exceed a volume equivalent to a 2.5 mm thick veneer on the combined area of the walls and ceilings.
3.8.2 In cargo ships and tankers, non-combustible bulkheads, linings and ceilings fitted in accommodation and service spaces may have a surface combustible veneer not exceeding 2 mm in thickness within any such space, except corridors and stairway enclosures where the veneer should not exceed 1.5 mm in thickness.