Solas requirements for fire extinguishers inspection

barbadosmaritime ship registryINFORMATION BULLETIN No.230BMSR REVISED GUIDELINES: MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF FIRE-PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES To:ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF MERCHANT SHIPS AND AUTHORISED CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES This bulletin supersedesBMSR Bulletin No. 200which is hereby cancelled.GUIDELINES: 1.0 The specific guidelines contained in this bulletinaddress areas where BMSR feels there is need for additional guidance or clarification. Vessel owners should be familiar with and follow the equipment manufacturers’recommendations, as well as class society requirements and applicable requirements of SOLAS, except where these recommendations or requirements are superseded by this Notice. 1.1 Operational Readiness:All fire protection systems and appliances should at all times be in good order and available for immediate use while the ship is in service.1.2 Maintenance and Testing:Instructions for on-board maintenance, not necessarily by the ship’s crew, and testing of active and passive fire protection systems and appliances should be easily understood, illustrated wherever possible, and, as appropriate, should include the following for each system or appliance: .1 maintenance and repair instructions; .2 schedule of periodic maintenance; .3 list of replaceable parts; and .4 log and records of testing, inspections and maintenance, listing identified non-conformities and their targeted completion dates. 1.3 Weekly Testing and Inspections:Weekly inspections should be carried out to ensure that: .1 all public address systems and general alarm systems are functioning properly; .2 breathing apparatus cylinders do not present leakages; and .3 allfireman’s outfits and EEBDs are appropriately supplied, arranged, and in proper condition.
1.4 Monthly Examinations and Inspections: 1.4.1Ships’officers are responsible for performing monthly examinations of fire-fighting system equipment and recording the examinations in the ship's official logbook. Monthly inspections should be carried out to ensure that: .1 all fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, hose and nozzles are in place, properly arranged, and are in proper condition; .2 dry pipe sprinkler systems have appropriate pressures as indicated by gauges; .3 sprinkler system pressure tanks have correct levels of water as indicated by glassgauges; .4 all sprinkler system pumps automatically operate on reduction of pressure in the systems; .5 all fire pumps are operated; and 1.4.2 With regards to fixed fire-fighting systems, a general visual inspection should be made of the overall system condition for obvious signs of damage, and should include verification that: .1 all fixed fire-extinguishing installations using extinguishing gas are free from leakage. .2 all stop valves are in the closed position; .3 all releasing controls are in the proper position and readily accessible for immediate use; .4 all discharge piping and pneumatic tubing is intact and has not been damaged; .5 all high pressure cylinders are in place and properly secured; and .6 the alarm devices are in place and do not appear damaged. 1.4.3 In addition, on low pressure systems the inspections should verify that: .1the pressure gauge is reading in the normal range; .2 the liquid level indicator is reading within the proper level; .3 the manually operated storage tank main service valve is secured in the openposition; and .4 the vapour supply line valve is secured in the open position. 1.5 Quarterly Examinations and Inspections: Ships’officers are responsible for performing quarterly tests and examinations of the fire-fighting system equipment as shown below and recording the test and examinations in the ship's official logbook. Quarterly inspections should be carried out to ensure that: .1 all automatic alarms for the sprinkler systems are tested using the test valves for eachsection; .2 the internationalshore connection is in proper condition; .3 lockers and fire stations providing storage for fire-fighting equipment contain proper inventory and equipment is in proper condition; .4 all fire doors and fire dampers are tested for local operation; and .5all CO2 bottle connections for cable operating system clips should be checked fortightness on fixed fire-extinguishing installations. 1.6 Annual Testing and Inspections:As part of the annual statutory survey for Safety Equipment Certification, the following inspections and tests should be carried out to ensure that: .1 all fire extinguishers are checked for proper location, charging pressure, and condition; .2 fire detection systems are tested for proper operation, as appropriate; .3 all fire doors and dampers are tested for remote operation; .4 all foam-water and water-spray fixed fire-fighting systems are tested for operation;