(a) A deepwater port may use fire fighting equipment that is not Coast Guard approved as excess equipment, pursuant to § 149.403 of this subpart, if the equipment does not endanger the port or the persons aboard it in any way. This equipment must be listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL), as set forth in 29 CFR 1910.7, and it must be maintained in good working condition.

(b) Use of non-Coast Guard-approved fire detection systems may be acceptable as excess equipment provided that—

(1) Components are listed by an NRTL as defined in 46 CFR 161.002-2, and are designed, installed, tested, and maintained in accordance with an appropriate industry standard and the manufacturer's specific guidance;

(2) Installation conforms to the requirements of 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter J (Electrical Engineering), with specific regard to the hazardous location installation regulations in 46 CFR 111.105;

(3) Coast Guard plan review is completed for wiring plans; and

(4) The system and units remain functional as intended. To ensure this, marine inspectors may test and inspect the system.

All portable and semi-portable fire extinguishers must be of an approved type under 46 CFR part 162, subparts 162.028 and 162.039, respectively.

(a) The fire extinguishers required by § 149.409 of this part must be on all manned deepwater ports at all times.

(b) The fire extinguishers required by § 149.409 of this part need be on unmanned deepwater ports only when personnel are working on the deepwater port during cargo transfer operations, or performing maintenance duties.

(a) Portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 (incorporated by reference, see § 149.3).

(b) Certification or licensing by a state or local jurisdiction as a fire extinguisher servicing agency will be accepted by the Coast Guard as meeting the personnel certification requirements of NFPA 10 for annual maintenance and recharging of extinguishers.

(c) Monthly inspections required by NFPA 10 may be conducted by the owner, operator, person-in-charge, or a designated member of the crew.

(d) Non-rechargeable or non-refillable extinguishers must be inspected and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10; however, the annual maintenance need not be conducted by a certified person and can be conducted by the owner, operator, person-in-charge, or a designated member of the crew.

(e) The owner or managing operator must provide satisfactory evidence of the required servicing to the marine inspector. If any of the equipment or records has not been properly maintained, a qualified servicing facility must perform the required inspections, maintenance procedures, and hydrostatic pressure tests. A tag issued by a qualified servicing organization, and attached to each extinguisher, may be accepted as evidence that the necessary maintenance procedures have been conducted.

(a) Approved portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be installed in accordance with table 149.409 of this section.

(b) Semi-portable extinguishers must be located in the open so as to be readily seen.

(c) Semi-portable extinguishers must be fitted so that all portions of the space concerned may be covered.

(d) Table 149.409 of this section indicates the minimum required classification for each space listed. Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used if the extinguishers meet the requirements of the table.

(e) Semi-portable extinguishers must be fitted with a suitable hose and nozzle, or other practicable means, so that all areas of the space can be protected.

Manned deepwater ports constructed before August 22, 2016, must meet the following requirements:

(a) Previously installed extinguishers with extinguishing capacities smaller than what is required in table 149.409 of this subpart need not be replaced and may be continued in service so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

(b) All new equipment and installations must meet the applicable requirements in this subpart for new vessels.

(a) Each manned deepwater port with nine or more persons must have at least two firemen's outfits complying with 46 CFR 108.497.

(b) The person in charge of safety must ensure that:

(1) At least two people trained in the use of firemen's outfits are on the deepwater port at all times;

(2) Each fireman's outfit and its spare equipment are stowed together in a readily accessible container or locker. No more than one outfit must be stowed in the same container or locker. The two containers or lockers must be located in separate areas to ensure that at least one is available at all times in the event of a fire; and

(3) Firemen's outfits are not used for any purpose other than firefighting.

Each manned deepwater port must have at least two fire axes as required by 46 CFR 108.499.

The manned deepwater port spaces or systems listed in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section must be protected by an approved fixed gaseous or other approved fixed-type extinguishing system.

(a) Paint lockers with a carrying capacity of more than 200 cubic feet, and similar spaces containing flammable liquids.

(b) Galley ranges or deep fat fryers.

(c) Each enclosed space containing internal combustion or gas turbine machinery with an aggregate power of more than 1,000 B.H.P., and any associated fuel oil units, purifiers, valves, or manifolds.

(a) All accommodation and service spaces on a manned deepwater port, and all spaces or systems on a manned or unmanned deepwater port for processing, storing, transferring, or regasifying liquefied natural gas, must have an automatic fire detection and alarm system that:

(1) Either complies with 46 CFR 108.405 or

(2) Is designed and installed in compliance with a national consensus standard, as that term is defined in 29 CFR 1910.2, for fire detection and fire alarm systems, and that complies with standards set by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, as that term is defined in 29 CFR 1910.7, for such systems or hardware.

(b) Sleeping quarters must be fitted with smoke detectors that have local alarms and that may or may not be connected to the central alarm panel.

(c) Each fire detection and fire alarm system must have both a visual alarm and an audible alarm at a normally manned area.

(d) Each fire detection and fire alarm system must be divided into zones to limit the area covered by a particular alarm signal.

(a) Each pumping platform complex must have a fixed fire main system. The system must either:

(1) Comply with 46 CFR 108.415 through 108.429 and 33 CFR 127.607 if it is a natural gas deepwater port; or

(2) Comply with a national consensus standard, as that term is defined in 29 CFR 1910.2, for such systems and hardware, and comply with the standards set by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, as that term is defined in 29 CFR 1910.7, for such systems and hardware.

(b) If the fire main system meets the requirements outlined in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, it must provide, at a minimum, protection to:

(1) Accommodation spaces;

(2) Accommodation modules;

(3) Control spaces; and

(4) Other areas frequented by deepwater port personnel.

(c) The hose system must be capable of reaching all parts of these spaces without difficulty.

(d) Under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the fire main system may be part of a fire water system in accordance with 30 CFR 250.803.

(e) A fire main system for a natural gas deepwater port must also comply with 33 CFR 127.607.

Each natural gas deepwater port must be equipped with a dry chemical system that meets the requirements of § 127.609 of this chapter.

Each helicopter landing deck on a manned deepwater port must have the following:

(a) A fire hydrant and hose located near each stairway to the landing deck. If the landing deck has more than two stairways, only two stairways need to have a fire hydrant and hose. The fire hydrants must be part of the fire main system; and

(b) Portable fire extinguishers in the quantity and location as required in Table 149.409 of this part.

In addition to the portable fire extinguishers required under Table 149.409 of this part, each helicopter fueling facility must have a fire protection system complying with 46 CFR 108.489.

(a) The water supply for the helicopter deck fire protection system required under § 149.420 or § 149.421 of this part may be part of:

(1) The fire water system, installed in accordance with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regulations under 30 CFR 250.803; or

(2) The fire main system under § 149.415 of this part.

(b) If the water supply for the helicopter deck fire protection system is part of an independent accommodation fire main system, the piping design and hardware must be compatible with the system and must comply with the requirements for fire mains in 46 CFR 108.415 through 108.429.

At least one escape route from an accommodation space or module to a survival craft or other means of evacuation must provide adequate protection. Separation of the escape route from the cargo area by steel construction, in accordance with 46 CFR 108.133, or equivalent protection is considered adequate protection for personnel escaping from fires and explosions. Additional requirements for escape routes are in subpart F of this part.

An existing fire detection and alarm system on a deepwater port need not meet the requirements in this subpart until the system needs replacing, provided it is periodically tested and maintained in good operational condition.

This subpart applies to all deepwater ports except unmanned deepwater ports consisting of a submerged turret loading or comparable configuration in which cargo transfer operations are conducted solely aboard the tank vessel by the vessel crew.

Each deepwater port must comply with the requirements for firefighting and fire protection equipment in this subpart.

Except as permitted under § 149.403, § 149.415(c) or (d), § 149.419(a)(1), or § 149.420 of this part, all required firefighting and fire protection equipment on a deepwater port must be approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG). Firefighting and fire protection equipment that supplements required equipment must also be approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG), unless approval by the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection (OCMI) is requested and granted pursuant to § 149.403 of this subpart.

(a) The operator may request the use of alternate or excess equipment or procedures than those required in this subchapter.

(b) Upon request, the Sector Commander, or MSU Commander with COTP and OCMI authority, may allow the use of alternate equipment or procedures if the alternatives will:

(1) Accomplish the purposes for the requirement; and

(2) Provide a degree of safety equivalent to or greater than that provided by the requirement.

(c) The Sector Commander, or MSU Commander with COTP and OCMI authority, may require that the requesting party:

(1) Explain why applying the requirement would be unreasonable or impracticable; or

(2) Submit engineering calculations, tests, or other data to demonstrate how the requested alternative would comply with paragraph (b) of this section.

(d) The Sector Commander, or MSU Commander with COTP and OCMI authority, may determine, on a case-by-case basis, that the Commandant (CG-ENG) must approve the use of the alternate equipment or procedure.