5 yearly routines:
At intervals of not more than 5 years,
a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing installation must be subjected to the tests
described below
(i) The servo - cylinders and any remote
controlled stopcocks to be tested by opening one pilot cylinder. The battery
must be uncoupled for the purpose
(ii) The proper operation and correct
connections to the cargo holds to be checked.
(iii) The entire installation to be checked
to make sure that it is operational.
(iv) The spring-loaded safety valves must be
also checked and reset to 180 kg/cm.
(v) The alarm system must be tested to
make sure that it functions properly.
10 yearly routines:
(i) At intervals of not more than 10 years,
the section of a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system, which can be shut
off, must be tested with carbon dioxide or air at a minimum pressure of
25kg/cm2.
(ii) All the tests described in
"a" above.
15 yearly routines:
The piping must be pressure tested as
follows: -
1) The high pressure section up to and
including the engine room, boiler room or pump room stopcock and up to and
including the operating valves or cocks to the cargo holds:
At a pressure of at least 190 kgf/cm2 using
a suitable liquid.
2) The medium pressure section (open ended
pipes where they run through accommodation spaces, together with the section of
the main supply line running to the engine room, boiler room or pump room
between the stopcock and the room concerned):
At a pressure of at least 80 kgf/cm2 using
a suitable liquid.
Low pressure section (other pipes with
open ends):
With air at a pressure of at least 6 kgf
/cm2
Pipes running from the pilot cylinders to
the servo-cylinders and the sections of pipes to deep tanks, which can be shut
off, must be considered as part of the high-pressure system. Pipe sections and
valves tested hydraulically with water must be blown dry with air.
(ii) The servo-cylinders and any
remote-controlled stopcocks to be tested by opening 1 pilot cylinder. The
battery must be uncoupled for the purpose;
(iii) The alarm system to be tested with
the engine operating to full capacity;
(iv) The setting of the spring loaded
safety valves at 180 kgf/cm2 .
(v) The proper operation and correct
connections to the cargo holds to be checked
(vi) The free flow of carbon dioxide out of
the nozzles into the engine room, boiler room or pump room to be checked by
opening one or more cylinders of the battery or by using air at a minimum
pressure of 25 kgf/cm2;
(vii) The entire installation to be checked
to make sure that it operational.
The high-pressure section that can be shut
off, the stopcocks and the controls to be checked for tightness under
operational conditions by opening one cylinder of the battery. This check may
be omitted if the equipment is intended solely for the engine room and consists
of not more than 15 cylinders.
Periodical Tests
When
extensive repairs or modifications are carried out, the part of the carbon
dioxide fire extinguishing equipment involved must be subjected
Inspections:
At intervals of 24 months the whole
installation must be inspected externally to the extent that this is possible
and blown through with air.
Before servicing shipping companies
/service stations will apply to the respective MMD regarding carrying out the
periodical pressure testing of the CO2 system. The surveyors are required to
witness the hydraulic pressure testing. The servicing of CO2 systems shall be
carried out by the DGS approved service stations/ Approved by Maritime
Administration only.
Periodical Inspection of Carbon Dioxide
Cylinders
(a) Each carbon dioxide cylinder must be
inspected internally at intervals of 10 years and tested at the prescribed
pressure. After 20 years the cylinders should be examined and tested at
intervals of 5 years. The date of testing and stamp must be placed on the
cylinder.
(b) Carbon dioxide cylinders, which exhibit
a permanent increase in volume after being pressure tested, must be condemned.
(c) Before refilling the riser tube must be
inspected visually.
(d) The valve must also be tested for
gas-tightness and if appropriate ensure that it is movable.
(e) Statement must be issued by the filling
station to the effect that each cylinder is filled with the prescribed quantity
of carbon -dioxide.
Before servicing Shipping Companies
/service stations will inform/apply to the respective MMD regarding carrying
out hydraulic testing of cylinders. The servicing of CO2 bottles shall be
carried out by the DGS approved service stations only. The Chief Engineer of
the approved service station shall witness the hydraulic pressure testing and
endorse the certificate, and submit a copy to MMD. The surveyors are required
to witness the hydraulic pressure testing in case the service station is not
approved by DGS.
Periodical check of the Gas Content of
Carbon Dioxide Cylinders
(a) The gas content of such carbon dioxide
cylinder must be checked at intervals of not more than 2 years by weighing or
in some other manner, a maximum weight reduction of 5 per cent may be allowed,
provided the total quantity of carbon dioxide is never less than the prescribed
minimum.
(b) Equipment for weighing each cylinder
must be available on board. If a level detector employing radioactive radiation
is used to deck check the cylinders, this equipment must be removed from the
ship before sailing.
The approved servicing station shall
undertake the weighment of the CO2 cylinders only. The company/service stations
are required to submit an application to MMD, and the same is to be witnessed
by the surveyor of the department and certificate of weighment endorsed. In
case of non-availability of surveyor, Principal Officer may allow the servicing
station to carry out the weighment of the cylinders. In such cases the
endorsement shall not be done by the MMD, however during the safety equipment
survey, the Company shall have the certificate of weighment endorsed by the
attending surveyor. Prior to endorsement of the weighment certificate, surveyor
may carry out weighment of CO2 bottles on sample basis to his satisfaction. To
avoid duplication of the work, company may plan the weighment during the
annual/renewal of safety equipment survey.
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