INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR E
Telephone: 020 7735 7611
Fax: 020 7587 3210
IMO

Ref. T4/4.01 MSC.1/Circ.1315

GUIDELINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FIXED DRY CHEMICAL POWDER

1 The Committee, at its eighty-sixth session (27 May to 5 June 2009), having considered
the proposal by the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection, at its fifty-third session, approved
Guidelines for the approval of fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems for the
protection of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk, as set out in the annex.

2 Member Governments are invited to apply the annexed Guidelines when approving fixed
dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems for the protection of ships carrying liquefied
gases in bulk, and bring them to the attention of ship designers, shipowners, equipment
manufacturers, test laboratories and other parties concerned.

***

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ANNEX

GUIDELINES FOR THE APPROVAL OF FIXED DRY CHEMICAL POWDER

1 Application

These Guidelines apply to fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems for the
protection of on-deck cargo areas of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk in accordance with
SOLAS regulation II-2/1.6.2 and chapter 11 of the International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).

2 Definitions

2.1 Caking is a chemical reaction between dry chemical powder and moisture that causes
individual particles of the medium to bind together to form an aggregate mass.

2.2 Dry chemical powder is an extinguishing medium consisting of very fine particles of
sodium or potassium bicarbonate treated or supplemented with additional materials to prevent
packing and caking (moisture absorption) and to ensure consistent flow characteristics.

2.3 Dry chemical powder unit is a complete system including dry chemical storage
container(s), pressurizing gas storage container(s), controls, piping and hand hose lines.

2.4 Gas point is a defined point in the discharge of a dry chemical powder unit when the
discharge of dry chemical powder ends, and is marked by a change in the nozzle stream to the
discharge of primarily pressurizing gas.

2.5 Hand hose line is a hand-held dry chemical powder nozzle covering cargo areas not
covered by a monitor.

2.6 Monitor is a fixed dry chemical powder nozzle protecting cargo loading and discharge
manifold areas.

2.7 Packing is a phenomenon that occurs when dry chemical powder stored in a container is
subjected to vibration causing the smaller particles to move to the bottom of the container and the
larger particles to travel to the top.

2.8 Pressurizing medium is the gas used to expel the dry chemical from the system, usually
dry nitrogen.

3 Principal requirements for the system

3.1 The system should be capable of manual release. A manual release station should be
located adjacent to each hand hose line storage area and each monitor. A back-up release station
should be provided at the fixed dry chemical powder unit. The operation of any manual release
station should initiate the pressurization of the fixed dry chemical powder unit and begin the
discharge of dry chemical powder to all connected hand hose lines and monitors.

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3.2 The system and its components should be designed to withstand ambient temperature
changes, vibration, humidity, shock, impact and corrosion normally encountered on the open
deck of ships, and manufactured and tested to the satisfaction of the Administration in
accordance with the criteria given in the appendix.

3.3 Systems should be designed for the discharge characteristics and flow rates of a specific
dry chemical medium. The type of dry chemical in the system should not be changed unless
testing to verify performance is conducted by a laboratory to the satisfaction of the
Administration. Different dry chemical media should not be mixed.

3.4 Only chemicals based on the salts of potassium should be used. Dry chemical storage
containers should be designed to pressure codes of practice acceptable to the Administration, for
the maximum system pressure developed at 55C.

3.5 A means for pressurizing the system using an inert gas, which is normally dry nitrogen, in
high pressure cylinders should be provided. The nitrogen should be industrial grade with a
dewpoint of -50C or lower. Pressure gauges should be provided for monitoring the contents of
the cylinders. A pressure regulator should be installed to reduce the gas pressure to the required
system operating pressure.

3.6 The quantity of expellant gas should be adequate for the system to discharge the entire
charge of dry chemical powder within the time period specified in paragraph 4.1 below. If
multiple gas cylinders are provided, they should be arranged with normally closed cylinder
valves that are automatically opened by a pilot system when a release station is actuated. Each
cylinder should have, in addition, the capability of manual operation.

3.7 System piping should be arranged to ensure that the required flow rates are achieved at
each hand hose line and monitor. Flow through the piping should be based on flow calculation
methods determined by the test laboratory for the specific dry chemical powder medium and
equipment used.

3.8 Hand hose line nozzles, monitors and hose couplings should be constructed of brass or
stainless steel. Piping, fittings and related components, except gaskets, should be designed to
withstand 925C.

3.9 Dry chemical storage container pick-up tubes and related internal structures should be
shown to be resistant to corrosive effects of the dry chemical medium.

3.10 Dry chemical storage containers should have a fill opening of at least 100 mm to allow
onboard recharging, and suitable connections to allow the dry powder charge to be fully agitated
with nitrogen, in accordance with the system manufacturers maintenance instructions.

3.11 Operating instructions for the system should be placed at each operating station.

3.12 Recharging instructions should be provided on a permanent nameplate affixed to the fixed
dry chemical powder unit. As a minimum, the instructions should indicate the required type of
dry chemical powder, the manufacturer of the powder and the required charge. The required
pressurizing medium pressure, number of cylinders and regulator valve setting should also be
provided.

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3.13 An approved design, installation, operation and maintenance manual should be provided
to the shipowner for each type of fixed dry chemical powder unit.

4 Onboard testing

After installation, the pipes, valves fittings and assembled systems should be tested to the
satisfaction of the Administration, including functional testing of the remote and local release
stations. All distribution piping should be blown through with air to ensure that the piping is free
of obstructions.

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APPENDIX

APPROVAL TESTS

Except for paragraph 5, a fully charged fixed dry chemical powder unit conditioned at 21 3C
for at least 24 h should be used.

1 Discharge duration test

A fixed dry chemical powder unit should have a discharge duration of at least 45 s with all
attached hand hose lines and monitors operating. The hand hose lines should be fully deployed
for this test. To conduct the test, the hose lines and monitors should be held in a horizontal
position and their discharge valves fully opened. The duration of discharge should be measured
from the time dry chemical powder begins flowing from all attached devices until the gas point is
reached at the first nozzle.

2 Maximum length of piping and fittings test

The discharge duration test should be conducted with the maximum length of discharge piping,
elbows, tees and other fittings to be used on board, as recommended by the manufacturer. One
nozzle should be located at the maximum height for which approval is requested.

3 Discharge range test

Dry chemical powder monitors should have a minimum discharge range as follows:

Monitor flow rate Minimum range

10 kg/s 10 m

25 kg/s 30 m

45 kg/s 40 m

For monitors with a discharge rate between the above listed values, the minimum range should be
determined by interpolation. The test should be conducted with the monitor positioned
horizontally, 1 m above the floor. The monitor should be capable of achieving the minimum
range for at least 40 s of the 45 s discharge.

4 Flow rate test

The minimum flow rate of each type of hand hose line nozzle should be at least 3.5 kg/s and each
type monitor should be at least 10 kg/s. The minimum flow rate should be determined based on
the average of three discharge tests. The tests should be conducted with the nozzle/monitor
discharged for at least 30 s. The fixed dry chemical powder unit should be placed on a load cell
or weighed before and after testing to determine the quantity of medium discharged during the
test.

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5 Minimum temperature test

A fully charged fixed dry chemical powder unit conditioned at the minimum expected storage
temperature for at least 24 h should be capable of discharging at least 85% of the dry chemical
medium with all attached hand hose lines and monitors operating. The minimum expected
storage temperature should be determined by the Administration.

6 Hand hose line hydrostatic test

A full length representative sample of a hand hose line should be subjected to a hydrostatic
pressure equal to two times the operating pressure that would be developed in the line by a fully
charged unit with the nozzle discharge valve closed. The hose should be capable of withstanding
this test pressure for a period of 1 min without rupturing.

7 Salt spray test

7.1 Representative samples of valves, pressure regulators, gauges, releasing controls and
related components that will be installed at locations exposed to the weather should be subjected
to a salt spray within a fog chamber. Prior to exposure, any components with inlet or outlet
orifices should be sealed.

7.2 The salt solution should be a 20% by mass sodium chloride solution in distilled water.
The pH should be between 6.5 and 7.2 and the density between 1.126 g/ml and 1.157 g/ml when
atomized at 35C. Suitable means of controlling the atmosphere in the chamber should be
provided. The specimens should be supported in their normal operating position and exposed to
the salt spray (fog) in a chamber having a volume of at least 0.43 m3 in which the exposure zone
should be maintained at a temperature of 35 2C. The temperature should be recorded at least
once per day, at least 7 h apart (except weekends and holidays when the chamber normally would
not be opened). Salt solution should be supplied from a recirculating reservoir through
air-aspirating nozzles, at a pressure between 0.7 bar (0.07 MPa) and 1.7 bar (0.17 MPa). Salt
solution run-off from exposed samples should be collected and should not return to the reservoir
for recirculation. The samples should be shielded from condensate dripping.

7.3 Fog should be collected from at least two points in the exposure zone to determine the
rate of application and salt concentration. The fog should be such that for each 80 cm2 of
collection area, 1 m1 to 2 m1 of solution should be collected per hour over a 16 h period and the
salt concentration should be 20 1% by mass.

7.4 The samples should withstand exposure to the salt spray for a period of 30 days.
After this period, the samples should be removed from the fog chamber and allowed to dry
for 4 to 7 days at a temperature of 20C to 25C in an atmosphere having a relative humidity not
greater than 70%.

7.5 Following the drying period, the samples should be examined for evidence of failure.
Any operating components should be functionally tested to verify continued operability. Gauges
should remain watertight for at least 2 h when immersed in 0.3 m of water.

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8 Dry chemical powder tests

8.1 Fluidity

The dry chemical powder should be tested to ensure that it remains free flowing throughout the
temperature range requested by the applicant. Elevated temperature tests and hygroscopicity
tests should be performed to the satisfaction of the Administration.

8.2 Fire-extinguishing capability

The dry chemical powder should be demonstrated capable of extinguishing fires in liquefied gas
cargoes. Representative equipment should be subjected to full-scale fire tests to the satisfaction
of the Administration.

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