Part G. Special requirementsRegulation 18

Part GSpecial requirements

Regulation 18Helicopter facilitiesI Purpose

The purpose of this regulation is to provide additional measures in order to address the fire safery objectivesoiih'i, ihaptcr fo1. ,liip, fitted wiih special facilities for helicopters. For this purpose, the followingtunctional rcquircments shall bc met:

.l helideck strucrure shall be adequate to protect the ship from the fire hazards associated withhcl icopter oPerat ion s:

.Z fire-fighting appliances shall be provided to adequately protect the ship from the fire hazardsassociated with helicopter operations,

.3 refuclling and hangar facilitics and opcrations shall provide the necessary measures to protect theship froi the fire-irazards associated with hclicopter operations, and

.4 operation manuals and training shall be provided'

2 Application

2.1 In addition to complying with the requirements of regulations in parts B, 9,P and E, as appropriate,ships equipped with helidlcki shall comp\ with the requirements of this regulation.

2.2 'Where hclicopters land or conduct winching opcrations on an occasional or emergency basis on ships

*.ithout helidecks, fire-figfiting equipment fitteJi" accordance with the requirements in part C may beused. This equipment stiitt Ue"maae readily available in close proximity to the landing or winching areasduring helicopter oPeratrons.

2.3 Notwithstanding the requiremenrs of paragraph 2.2 above, ro-ro passenger ships without helidecksshall comply with regulation III/28.

3 Structure

3.f Construction of steel or other equivalent material

I' general, the construction of the helidecks shall be of steel or other equivalent materials. If the helideckforirs the deckhead of a deckhouse or superstructurc, it shall be insulated to

"A-60" class standard.

3.2 Construction oJ aluminium or othet low melting point metals

If the Administration permits aluminium or other low melting point metal construction that is not madec'quivalent to stcel, the following provisions shall bc satisfied:

.1 if the platform is cantilevered over the side of the ship, aftet each. fire on the ship or on theplatform, the platform shall undergo a structural analysis to determine its suitabiliry for furtheruse, ano

.Z if the platform is located above the ship's deckhouse or similar structure, the followingconditions shall be satisfied:

.2.1 the deckhousc top and bulkheads under thc platforrn shall have no opcnings:

.Z.Z windows under the platform shall be provided with steel shutters; and

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Chapter II-2: Construction - fire protection, detection, extinctionRegulation 1B

aftcr cach fire on the platform or in close proximiry, the platform shall undergo a structlrr:ranalysis to determine its suitability for further use.

4 Means of escapeA hclidcck shall be provided with both a main and an emergcncy mcans of escape and access for fir-.fighting and rescue personnel. These shall be located as far apart from each other as is practicable an.ipreGrably on opposite sides of the helideck.

5 Fire-fighting appliances5.1 In close proximity to the helideck, the following fire-fighting appliances shall be provided and storetinear the me-ans of access to that helideck:

.1 at lcast two dry powder extinguishers having a total capacity of not lcss than 45 kg;.

.2 carbon dioxide extinguishers of a total capacity of not less than 18 kg or equivalent;*

.3 a suitable foam application system consisting of monitors or foam-making branch pipes capableof dclivcring foam to all parts of the helideck in all wcathcr conditions in which helicopters canoperate. The system shall be capable of delivering a discharge rate as required in table 18.1 for arleast f ive minures;

Table 18.1 - Foam discharge ratesCategory Helicopter overall length Discharge rate foam

solution(//min)

H 1 up to but not including l5 m 250t t ' from 15 m up to but not including 24 m 500H3 from 24 m up to but not including 35 m 800

.4 the principal agent shall be suitable for use with salt water and conform to performance standardsnot inferior to those acceptable to the Organization;t

.5 at lcast two nozzles of an approved dual-purpose type f et/spray) and hoscs su{ficient to reach anr'part of the helideck;

.6 in addition to the requirements of regulation 10.10, t\,vo sets of fire-fighter's outfits; and

.l at lcast the following equipment shall be stored in a manner that providcs for immediate use andprotection fron the elements:.1 adjustable wrench;.2 blanket, fire-resistant;.3 cutters, bolt, 60 cm,.4 hook, grab or salving;.5 hacksaw, hear.y dury complete with 6 spare blades;.6 ladder:.7 lift line 5 mm diameter and 15 m in length;.8 pl iers. s ide-cutt ing:.9 set of assorted screwdrivers; and.10 harness knifc complete with sheath.

- I\efer to Unified interpretation of SOLAS chapter II-2 on the numbcr and arrangement of portabic fire extinguishers on boardsh ip r tMSC. lTCi rc . 1 27 .51 .1 l\efer to the Intcmational Ciuil Auiation Organizatiott Airport Seruices Manual, part 1, Rescue and Fire Fighting, cl-rapter B,Extinguishing Agent Characteristics, paragraph 8.1.5, Foam Specificatiorrs table 8-1, levcl'B'.

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Part G: Special requirementsRegulation 18

6 Drainage facilitiesDrainage facilities in way of helidecks shallindependent of any other system and shall besn1p.

be constructed of steel and shall lead directly overboarddesigned so that drainage does not fall onto any part of the

7 Helicopter refuelling and hangar facilitiesWhere the ship has helicopter refuelling and hangar facilities, the following requirements shall be compliedwltn:

.1 a designatcd area shall be provided for thc storage of fuel tanks which shall be:

.1.1 as remote as is practicable from accommodation spaces, escape routes and embarkationstations, and

.1.2 isolated from areas containing a source of vapour ignition;

.2 the fuel storage area shall be provided with arrangements whereby fuel spillage may be collectedand drained to a safe location;

.3 tanks and associated equipment shall be protected against physical damage and from a fire in anadjacent space or area;

.4 where portable fuel storage tanks are used, special attention shall be given to:

.4.1 design of the tank for its intended purpose;

.4.2 mounting and securing arrangements;

.4.3 electric bonding; and

.4.4 inspectionprocedures;,5 storage tank fuel pumps shall be provided with means which permit shutdown from a safe

remote location in the event of a fire. Where a gravity fuelling system is installed, equivalentclosing arrangements shall be provided to isolate the fuel source;

.6 the fuel pumping unit shall be connected to one tank at a time. The piping berween the tank andthe. pumping unit shall be of steel or equivalcnt material, as short as possible, and protectedagalnst damage;

.7 electrical fuel pumping units and associated control equipment shall be of a type suitable for thelocation and potential hazards;

.8 fuel pumping units shall incorporate a device which will prevent over-pressurization of thedelivery or filling hose;

.9 equipment used in refuelling operations shall be clcctrically bonded;

.10 "NO SMOKING" signs shall be displayed at appropriate locations;

.11 hangar, refuclling and maintenance facilities shall be treated as category A machinery spaces withregard to structural fire protection, fixed fire-extinguishing and detection system requirenrents;

.12 enclosed hangar facilities or enclosed spaces containing refuelling installations shall be providedwith mcchanical ventilation, as required by regulation20.3 for closed ro-ro spaces of cargo ships.Vcntilation fans shall be of non-sparking rype; and

.13 electric equipment and wiring in enclosed hangars or enclosed spaces containing refuellinginstallations shall comply with regulations 20.3.2,20.3.3 and 20.3.4.

I Operations manual and fire-fighting arrangements8.1 Each helicoptcr facility shall have an opcrations manual, including a description and a chccklist of.rtbry precautions, procedures and equipment requirements. This manual may be part of the ship's. nrergency response proceoures.8.2 The procedures and prccautions to be followed during refuelling operations shall be in accordance'. rth recognized safe practices and contained in the operations manual.

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Chapter II-2: Construction - fire protection, detection, extinctionRegulation 19

8.3 Fire-fighting personnel, consisting of at least rwo personsand fire-fighting equipment shall be immediately available atexpected.8.4 Fire-fighting personnel shall be present during refuelling operations. However, the fire-fightingpersonnel shall not be involved with refuelling activities.8.5 On-board refresher training shall be carried out and additional supplies of fire-fighting media shall beprovided for training and testing of the equipment.

Regulation 19Carriage of dangerous goods*

1 PurposeThe purpose of this regulation is to provide additional saGfy measures in order to address the fire safeq'objcctives of this chapter for ships carrying dangerous goods. For this purpose, the following functionalrequirements shall be met:

.1 fire protection systems shall be provided to protect the ship from the added fire hazardsassociated with carriage of dangerous goods;

.2 dangerous goods shall be adequately separated from ignition sources; and

.3 appropriate personnel protective equipment shall be provided for the hazards associated with thecarriagc of dangerous goods.

2 General requirements2.1 In addition to complying with the requirements of regulations in parts B, C, D, E and regulations 18and20,t as appropriate, ship rypes and cargo spaces, referred to in paragraph2.2, intended for the carriage ofdangerous goods shall comply with the requirements of this regulation, as appropriate, except whencarrying dangerous goods in limited quantities+ unless such requirements have already been met br'compliance with the requirements elsewhere in this chapter. The types of ships and modes of carriage ofdangerous goods are referred to in paragraph 2.2 and in table 19.1. Cargo ships of less than 500 grosstonnage shall comply with this regulation, but Administrations may reduce the requirements and suchreduced requirements shall be recorded in the document of compliance referred to in paragraph 4.2.2 The following ship rypes and cargo spaces shall govern the application of tables 19.1 and19.2:

.1 ships and cargo spaces not specifically designed for the carriage of freight containers, butintended for the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form, including goods in freightcontainers and portable tanks;

.2 purpose-built containerships and cargo spaccs intended for the carriage of dangerous goods infreight containers and portable tanks;

.3 ro-ro ships and ro-ro spaces intended for the carriage of dangerous goods;

.4 ships and cargo spaces intendcd for the carr'age of solid dangerous goods in bulk; and

.5 ships and cargo spaces intended for carriage of dangerous goods other than liquids and gases inbulk in shipborne barges.

Special requirementstJnless otherwise spccified, the following requirements shall govern the application of tables 19.1, 79.2 and1,9.3 to both "on-deck" and "under-deck" stowage of dangerous goods where the numbers of thefollowing paragraphs are indicated in the'first column of the tables.

- Refer to the Interim guidelines for open-top containerships (MSC/Circ.608/Rev.1).r Refer to partT of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.I RcGr to chapter 3.4 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

trained for rescue and fire-fighting duties,all times when helicopter operations are

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