Guideline No.

F-06 (201510)

F-06 Marine CO2 Fire

Extinguishing System

Issued date: 20th October, 2015

©China Classification Society

Foreword

This Guideline is a part of CCS Rules, which contains technical requirements, inspection and
testing criteria related to classification and statutory survey of marine products.

This Guideline is published and updated by CCS and can be found through http://www.ccs.org.cn.
Comments or suggestions can be sent by email to ps@ccs.org.cn.

Historical versions and release date:

Main changes and effective date:

 F-06(201510) Marine CO2 Fire Extinguishing System

Contents

1 Application ..................................................................................................................................... 4

2 Basis for approval and inspection .................................................................................................. 4

3 Terms and definitions..................................................................................................................... 4

4 Plans and technical documents....................................................................................................... 5

5 Materials and components.............................................................................................................. 5

6 Design and technical requirements ................................................................................................ 6

7 Selection of typical samples ......................................................................................................... 12

8 Type test items ............................................................................................................................. 13

9 Unit/batch inspection ................................................................................................................... 15

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Marine CO2 Fire Extinguishing System

1 Application

1.1 The Guideline applies to the fixed marine gas fire-extinguishing system required in 10.4.1.1.1
of Chapter II-2 of the modified Convention on the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) (1974).

1.2 The fixed marine CO2 fire-extinguishing system applies to the following international
navigation ships and places required in Chapter II-2 of SOLAS Convention:

1.2.1 Type-A machinery space for oil burning boiler, oil burning unit, turbine, enclosed
steam-engine, and internal combustion engine (10.5 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS Convention);

1.2.2 Place for storing flammable liquid (10.6.3 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS Convention);

1.2.3 Cargo space of the passenger ship of 1000 GT or more (10.7.1.1 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS
Convention)

1.2.4 Cargo space of the cargo ship of 2000 GT or more (10.7.1.3 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS
Convention);

1.2.5 Space for carrying dangerous goods (10.7.2 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS Convention);

1.2.6 Liquid cargo pump room of the liquid cargo ship (10.9.1.1 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS
Convention);

1.2.7 Vehicle and roll-roll shipment space (20.6.1.1 of Chapter II-2 of SOLAS Convention).

2 Basis for approval and inspection

2.1 Chapter II-2 of Amendment (2000) of Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS
Convention) (1974)

2.2 Chapter 5 of International Code for Fire Safety Systems(FSS CODE)

2.3 Amendment of MSC.206 (81) International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS CODE)

2.4 Section 2 "Fixed Gas Fire-extinguishing System", Chapter 2, Part Six of Rules for
Classification of Sea-going Steel Ship (2009).

3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Low pressure carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system:

The fire extinguishing system with carbon dioxide extinguishing agent stored at -18℃~-20℃.

3.2 Filling rate for cylinder: The ratio of the carbon dioxide mass and the volume of the cylinder,

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expressed in kg/l.

3.3 Remote control release station: The station used for release control of carbon dioxide
extinguishing agent, which is of pneumatic control generally. The remote control release station is
provided with two cylinder starting sets, one for starting the selector valve installed on the carbon
dioxide pipeline, and the other for starting the carbon dioxide cylinder set.

4 Plans and technical documents

4.1 When applying for CCS type approval, the applicant should submit the following plans and
technical documents to the product inspection unit assigned by CCS:

(1) Main components diagram (carbon dioxide cylinder, cylinder valve, release valve,
release device, check valve, and three-way valve);

(2) Schematic diagram of carbon dioxide system ;

(3) List of physical and chemical properties of main component materials;

(4) Technical conditions for product inspection and acceptance;

(5) Product type/factory test program;

(6) Instructions on product installation, application, and maintenance.

4.2 When applying for CCS product inspection, the applicant should submit the following plans
and technical documents to the plan approval unit assigned by CCS:

(1) Piping layout of the carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system (carbon dioxide cylinder
set, and remote control release station)

(2) Calculation book of the fire extinguishing dose of the carbon dioxide fire extinguishing
system and pipe network.

5 Materials and components

5.1 The materials and components of the product should be controlled as per relevant requirement
of current regulations of CCS.

5.2 The following outsourced parts should also be provided with the CCS marine product
certificate, and meet the expected application requirement:

(1) Starting cylinder;

(2) Check valve;

(3) Seamless steel tube and connecting pipe (between the cylinder valve of the carbon
dioxide cylinder and the collecting tube).
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6 Design and technical requirements

6.1 Control device

6.1.1 Automatic audible and visual alarm device for release of carbon dioxide should be provided
in the roll-roll shipment space or the place where any person works, comes in or goes out. The
audible alarm should be located at a place so that the alarm can be heard in the whole protected
area while all machines are working, and be differentiated from other audible alarms by sound
pressure or tune adjustment.

6.1.2 The release alarm should be started automatically, for example, by opening the door of the
remote control release station. After the audible and visual alarm is released, sufficient time
should be provided for personnel to evacuate from the dangerous area, but in any circumstance,
the alarm time should be 20 s ahead of that for carbon dioxide release. Such alarm is not required
at common cargo space or those small spaces (for example, the compressor room and paint room)
provided with only partial release devices.

6.1.3 Two separate control devices should be provided to release the carbon dioxide to the
protected space. One is used to open the release valve (namely, to open the valve on the pipeline
used to transport the carbon dioxide gas to the protected space), and the other is used to open the
cylinder valve to release the carbon dioxide from the cylinder. The operation sequence should be
indicated on the operation manual to guarantee the safe release of carbon dioxide.

6.1.4 Both of the control devices should be placed in the same release box (generally the remote
control release station). Prominent mark should be provided on specific position of such box. If
the release box is locked normally, the key to open the box should be put into a box with glass
panel that is placed at a prominent position near the release box.

6.2 Dosage of the carbon dioxide extinguishing agent

6.2.1 The requirement on the dosage of the carbon dioxide extinguishing agent is as follows:

Requirement on the dosage of the carbon dioxide extinguishing agent Table 1

Space Free carbon dioxide gas volume

It should be at least 30% of the total volume of max. cargo

1 Shipment space
space (unless otherwise specified)

It should be at least the bigger of the following two values:

(1) 40% of the total volume of the max. machinery space

under protection, with calculation range limited to the
2 Machinery space horizontal plane of the engine room casing. On the above
horizontal plane, the horizontal area of the engine room
casing is equal to or less than 40% of the horizontal area
from the top of the double bottom to the lowest part of the
engine room casing;

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(2) 35% of the total volume of the max. machinery space

under protection (including the engine room casing).

For cargo ship of less than 2000 GT, it should be at least

the bigger of the following two values:

(1) 35% of the total volume of the max. machinery space

under protection, with calculation range limited to the
horizontal plane of the engine room casing. On the above
horizontal plane, the horizontal area of the engine room
casing is equal to or less than 35% of the horizontal area
from the top of the double bottom to the lowest part of the
engine room casing;

(2) 30% of the total volume of the max. machinery space

under protection (including the engine room casing).

If there is an air starting

The free air volume in the cylinder should be calculated as
3 cylinder in the engine
the additional volume of the fire extinguishing agent.
room

For the cargo pump room

of the liquid cargo ship It should be at least 45% of the total volume of the cargo
4 pump room (including the volume of the engine room
with cargo oil flash point
casing).
of not more than 60℃

For the cargo pump room

of the liquid cargo ship It can be treated as the machinery space if the cargo oil
5 with cargo oil flash point pump is placed separately at one space.
of more than 60℃

For the shipment space

used to carry motor
vehicles with fuel tank It should be at least 45% of the total volume of such max.
6
containing self-use fuel shipment space that can be sealed.
that can be sealed from an
external position

Closed roll-roll shipment It should be at least 45% of the total volume of the max.
7
space shipment space.

6.2.2 The volume of the free carbon dioxide gas should be calculated based on 0.56 m3/kg.

6.3 Carbon dioxide pipeline and layout

6.3.1 The pipeline used to transport the carbon dioxide gas to the protected space should be
provided with a release valve, and the space connected with the pipeline should also be marked
clearly.

6.3.2 Each connecting pipe between the cylinder valve of the carbon dioxide cylinder and the
collecting tube should be provided with a check valve.

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6.3.3 The main between the collecting tube and distribution valve chest should be provided with a
pressure gage of 24.5 MPa.

6.3.4 The carbon dioxide pipe between the Type-A machinery space and cargo pump room should
be sufficient in size and nozzle quantity, so that 85% of the total volume of the carbon dioxide
required can be sprayed into the protected space in 2 min.

6.3.5 The diameter of the carbon dioxide pipe between the Type-A machinery space and cargo
pump room should be determined according to the total volume of the carbon dioxide to be
transported. For the max. volume of carbon dioxide transported via relevant pipe diameter, see
Table 2.

6.3.6 The pipeline used for carbon dioxide transportation should be seamless steel tube. For min.
wall thickness, see Table 3.

Pipe flow volume and inner diameter Table 2

Inner diameter Inner diameter

Max. total volume of carbon of the pipe Max. total volume of carbon dioxide of the pipe
dioxide flowing in the pipe (kg) flowing in the pipe (kg)
(mm) (mm)

60 15 2400 80

100 20 3300 90

135 25 4750 100

275 32 6800 114

500 40 9500 127

1100 50 15250 152

1600 65

Min. wall thickness of the carbon dioxide pipeline Table 3

Pipe wall thickness (mm)

External diameter of the pipe

(mm) Branch pipe between the
Main in front of the distribution
distribution valve chest and the
valve chest
protected compartment

21.3 ~ 26.9 3.2 2.6

30.0 ~ 48.3 4.0 3.2

51.0 ~ 60.3 4.5 3.6

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63.5 ~ 76.1 5.0 3.6

82.5 ~ 88.9 5.6 4.0

101.6 6.3 4.0

108.0 ~ 114.3 7.1 4.5

127.0 8.0 4.5

133.0 ~ 139.7 8.0 5.0

152.4 ~ 168.3 8.8 5.6

6.3.7 The diameter of the carbon dioxide pipe connected to the shipment space should not be less
than 20 mm. The diameter of the branch pipe connected to the nozzle should not be less than 15
mm.

6.3.8 Compressed air purge tube joint should be provided on the collecting tube or distribution
valve chest.

6.3.9 For vehicle space and enclosed shipment space of the roll-on roll-off ship, the pipeline
arrangement should guarantee that 2/3 of the carbon dioxide gas can be injected into such space in
10 min.

6.3.10 If the valve arrangement forms a closed pipe section in the pipeline segment, such closed
pipe section should be provided with pressure release valve with outlet connected to the exposed
deck.

6.3.11 All carbon dioxide pipes, accessories and nozzles in the protected space should be made
with materials with melting temperature of higher than 925℃. The pipeline and relevant
accessories should be provided with sufficient supports.

6.4 Carbon dioxide container and assembly

6.4.1 Carbon dioxide container should be seamless steel cylinder, with the following contents
marked clearly and permanently on the cylinder body:

(1) Container weight, volume, hydraulic test pressure, test date, factory number and
inspection mark;

(2) The container body should be printed with prominent color with the words "Carbon
Dioxide (or CO2)", and the mark mentioned above should be printed in white for
verification;

6.4.2 The container filling ratio should be in line with the container strength, which should not
exceed 0.67 kg/L generally;

6.4.3 The cylinder valve should be provided with a piece of steel or copper pipe with diameter of
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10~12mm and oblique section at the tail, which should be extended to the bottom of the container;

6.4.4 The cylinder valve should be provided with a safety diaphragm or other type of safety device,
and the safety diaphragm should be broken automatically when the pressure reaches 18.6±1 MPa.
Relevant technical test documents should be provided for other type of safety device to prove that
the fire extinguishing agent can be released at the same pressure mentioned above;

6.4.5 After the safe diaphragm is broken, the fire extinguishing agent released from the cylinder
valve should be led to the atmosphere of the outdoor open deck via the exhaust pipe. However, if
the carbon dioxide cylinder storage space is provided with a special power ventilation system, by
which ventilation can be carried out at least 6 times per hour and the storage space temperature
can not exceed 45℃, as well as temperature alarm device, the above-mentioned exhaust pipe may
not be required;

6.4.6 The cylinder valve should be made with cast bronze or other proper materials;

6.4.7 The carbon dioxide cylinders should be grouped as per the protected compartment, and the
quantity of those in each group should not exceed 12 if the release device is to be started
manually.

6.5 Low-pressure carbon dioxide extinguishing system

6.5.1 The volume of the carbon dioxide in the fire extinguishing system, time for releasing it to the
protected space, nozzle position in the protected space and alarm device started by the fire
extinguishing system should meet relevant requirements of the high-pressure carbon dioxide
system.

6.5.2 The container, refrigeration equipment, control equipment and other equipment of the fire
extinguishing system should lie at the space meeting the requirement of the high-pressure carbon
dioxide system.

6.5.3 The container and relevant equipment should meet the following requirements:

(1) The rated liquid carbon dioxide should be stored in the container with working pressure
of 1.8~2.2 MPa, and the normal liquid filling quantity in the container should not exceed
95% of the container volume, so as to provide sufficient vapor space to allow the liquid
to expand at max. storage temperature (such expansion rate is bigger than that obtained
at the setting of the pressure release valve);

(2) The design, manufacturing and test of the container should meet the requirement on
pressure container in Chapter 6, Part Three of CCS Rules for Classification of
Sea-Going Steel Ships, and the design pressure adopted should not be less than the
setting value of the safe valve. In addition, the following devices should be provided:

① Pressure gage;

② High-pressure alarm: Sound an alarm at the pressure of 2.2 MPa;

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③ Low-pressure alarm: Sound an alarm at the pressure of 1.8 MPa;

④ Safety diaphragm;

⑤ Fire extinguishing agent filling branch pipe with check valve;

⑥ Exhaust pipe;

⑦ Liquid carbon dioxide level instrument installed on the container (remote control
fluid level gauge should be provided at the place with carbon dioxide release
remote control);

⑧ 2 safety valves, the arrangement of which should guarantee that when one valve is
closed, the other should turn on the container. The setting pressure of the safety
valve should not be less than 2.2 MPa, and the discharge of the each valve should
guarantee that the pressure increase in the container should not exceed 20% of the
setting pressure when the steam generated is released under ignition. The steam
released from the safety release valve should be exhausted to the atmosphere;

6.5.4 Thermal insulation layer should be provided for container filled with carbon dioxide
permanently and the delivery pipe, so that the safety valve can be prevented from operating when
the ambient temperature is 45℃ and the reset pressure is equal to the starting pressure of the
refrigeration equipment in 24h after the refrigeration equipment loses power. The thermal
insulation materials and lining should meet the expected application requirement especially with
respect to the fireproof performance and mechanical property of the materials, as well as the
protection against water vapor intrusion.

6.5.5 The refrigeration equipment should meet the following requirements:

(1) The container should be provided with 2 special completely-independent automatic

refrigeration equipment, with each containing one compressor and prime motor,
evaporator and condenser;

(2) The refrigeration equipment should meet relevant requirement of CHAPTER FIVE of
CCS Rules for Classification of Sea-Going Steel Ships, and the refrigeration capacity
and automatic control of each equipment should guarantee the temperature of the carbon
dioxide container does not exceed the required one when the seawater temperature and
ambient temperature reach 32℃ and 45℃ respectively after 24 h of continuous
operation;

(3) When one of the refrigeration equipment fails, the other one should be started
automatically, which should be provided with local manual control device;

(4) The power of each electric refrigeration equipment should be supplied by the bus bar of
the main switchboard via independent feeder;

(5) The cooling water of the refrigeration equipment should be provided at least by 2

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cooling water pumps, one of which is used for standby. The standby pump can be used
for other purpose, but it should not affect the water supply of other essential equipment
on the ship when being used for cooling water supply. The cooling water should be
taken from two sea connections, which should be preferably located on the larboard and
starboard respectively.

6.5.6 The pipeline and accessories should meet the following requirements:

(1) The pipe, valve and accessories should meet relevant requirement of Chapter Three of
CCS Rules for Classification of Sea-Going Steel Ships, and the design pressure should
not be less than the design pressure of the carbon dioxide container;

(2) If the medium pressure in any pipe section separated by the check valve may exceed the
design pressure of any part in such section, safety valve should be provided;

(3) The pipe system design should guarantee that the carbon dioxide can flow to the release
nozzle in the form of liquid, and the pressure at the nozzle end should not be less than
1.0 MPa;

6.5.7 Visual and auditory alarm should be provided at the fire control station and in the marine
engineer compartment, and triggered in the following circumstance:

(1) The pressure in the container reaches the lower or higher alarm limit specified in
6.5.3(2);

(2) Any refrigeration equipment fails;

(3) The liquid in the container reaches the min. allowable liquid level.

6.5.8 The release control measures of the low-pressure carbon dioxide extinguishing system
should meet the following requirements:

(1) The release of the carbon dioxide extinguishing system should be started manually;

(2) If any automatic regulating equipment is provided to release the carbon dioxide to the
protected space, such equipment should also be regulated manually;

(3) If such fire extinguishing system protects more than one space, equipment should be
provided to control the carbon dioxide release volume, such as the autotimer or accurate
fluid level gauge at the control position.

7 Selection of typical samples

During type test, the complete unit, including the carbon dioxide cylinder set, remote control
release station, release valve, collecting tube and release alarm device, should be tested. In
addition to the complete unit test, each type of component should be selected for function test,
tightness test, and strength test.

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8 Type test items

8.1 Cylinder valve

8.1.1 Valve body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 24.5 MPa, and there is no wetting or
leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.1.2 Safety diaphragm bursting test: Bursting pressure is 18.6±1 MPa.

8.1.3 Final assembly hydraulic pressure tightness test: The test pressure is 19.6 MPa, and there is
no pressure drop after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.1.4 Air cylinder body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 22.1 MPa, and there is no
wetting or leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.1.5 Cylinder assembly body airtightness test: The test pressure is 14.7 MPa, and there is no
bubble generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

8.2 Release valve

8.2.1 Valve body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 22.1 MPa, and there is no wetting or
leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.2.2 Valve assembly body airtightness test: The test pressure is 14.7 MPa, and there is no bubble
generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

8.2.3 Air cylinder body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 22.1 MPa, and there is no
wetting or leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.2.4 Air cylinder assembly body airtightness test: The test pressure is 14.7 MPa, and there is no
bubble generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

8.3 Tee conversion valve

8.3.1 Valve body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 22.1 MPa, and there is no wetting or
leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.3.2 Valve assembly body airtightness test: The test pressure is 14.7 MPa, and there is no bubble
generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

8.4 Check valve

8.4.1 Valve body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 11.8 MPa, and there is no wetting or
leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.4.2 Valve assembly body airtightness test: The test pressure is 14.7 MPa, and there is no bubble
generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

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8.5 Release device

8.5.1 Valve body hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is 17.7 MPa, and there is no wetting or
leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.5.2 Valve assembly body airtightness test: The test pressure is 11.8 MPa, and there is no bubble
generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

8.6 Pneumatic remote control release

8.6.1 Low temperature test: It should work normally after a test at -30±3℃ for >0.5 h.

8.6.2 Dry heat test: It should work normally after a test at 55±2℃ for >0.5 h.

8.6.3 Impact test: It should work normally after a test at 50 m/s2 for 11 ms.

8.6.4 Impact test: It should work normally after the axial impacts for 1000±10 times at 50 m/s2 for
16 ms.

8.6.5 Inclining test: It should work normally with longitudinal inclination of ±10° in the front and
back for at least 15 min and transverse inclination of ±22.5° in the left and right for at least 15
min.

8.6.6 Sway test: It should work normally with pitching of ±10° for at least 30 min and rolling of
±22.5 for at least 30 min.

8.6.7 Vibration test: It should work normally with frequency of 2~13.2 Hz and displacement of ±1
mm as well as frequency of >13.2~80.0 Hz and acceleration of ±0.7 g.

8.8 Salt mist test: The surface should be free of verdigris after a test at 35±2℃ for 48 h.

8.6.9 Shell waterproof test: It should work normally with IP×2 after a test for at least 10 min.

8.6.10 Function test: The pressure in the starting air cylinder should not be less than 2.47 MPa, the
linked audible and visual alarm can be started normally after the remote control release station
door is opened, the release handle should be manually turned on steadily and reliably, and the time
delay of the delayer should be ≥20 s after the release handle is manually turned on.

8.7 Assembly test

Airtightness test after connection of carbon dioxide cylinder and cylinder valve: The test pressure
is 14.7 MPa, and there is no bubble generated after being immersed in the water for 1 min.

Hydraulic pressure tightness test on connecting pipe between cylinder valve and check valve: The
test pressure is 17.7 MPa, and there is no pressure drop after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

Collecting tube hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is at least 11.8 MPa, and there is no
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wetting or leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

8.8 Joint system debugging test

8.8.1 The carbon dioxide storage containers should be filled as required, the starting cylinder
should be filled with driving gas, and the pressure should not be less than 2.47 MPa;

8.8.2 After the release handle is opened manually, each part should operate steady and reliably, the
linked audible and visual alarm can work normally, the time delay of the delayer should not be
less than 20 s, each part and pipe connection should be sealed properly without any leakage or
bubble, the release valve should be opened normally, and all the cylinder valves of the carbon
dioxide cylinders should be opened normally.

8.8.3 Pipeline unblocking test: All the pipelines and nozzles should be subject to compressed air
blow-through test to check whether the carbon dioxide release pipeline is unblocked.

9 Unit/batch inspection

9.1 10% of the safety diaphragms should be selected for bursting test with bursting pressure of
18.6±1 MPa.

9.2 Collecting tube hydraulic intensity test: The test pressure is at least 11.8 MPa, and there is no
wetting or leakage on the surface after pressure maintaining for 5 min.

9.3 The cylinder valve, release valve, tee conversion valve, check valve and release device should
be subject to hydraulic pressure strength test and airtightness test.

9.4 Joint system debugging test

9.4.1 The carbon dioxide storage containers should be filled as required, the starting cylinder
should be filled with driving gas, and the pressure should not be less than 2.47 MPa.

9.4.2 After the release handle is opened manually, each part should operate steady and reliably, the
linked alarm can work normally, the time delay of the delayer should not be less than 20 s, each
part and pipe connection should be sealed properly without any leakage or bubble, the release
valve should be opened normally, and all the cylinder valves of the carbon dioxide cylinders
should be opened normally.

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