(a) The provisions of this subpart, with the exception of § 76.10-90, shall apply to all fire main installations contracted for on or after May 26, 1965. Installations contracted for prior to May 26, 1965, shall meet the requirements of § 76.10-90.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) On all vessels on an international voyage, regardless of the date of construction, water pressure from the firemain protecting enclosed spaces shall be immediately available by maintenance of water pressure on the firemain at all times when passengers are aboard the vessel, or by remote control of fire pumps which control shall be easily operable and readily accessible.

(b) Where approved remote controls are not installed, an alarm shall be fitted which will sound in the engine room indicating a drop of water pressure on the system.

(a) Vessels must be equipped with independently driven fire pumps in accordance with table 76.10-5(a).

(b) Vessels on an international voyage shall have a minimum total fire pump capacity at least equal to two-thirds of the required total bilge pump capacity, but in no case less than that required by this section. Each of the required fire pumps shall have a capacity not less than 80 percent of the total required capacity divided by the number of required pumps.

(c) Each pump shall be capable of delivering water simultaneously from the two highest outlets at a Pitot tube pressure of approximately 50 p. s. i. Where one or both of these outlets is a 1 1/2-inch siamese fitting, both branches of the siamese fitting at each such outlet shall be utilized for the purpose of this requirements.

(d) Fire pumps shall be fitted on the discharge side with relief valves set to relieve at 25 p. s. i. in excess of the pressure necessary to maintain the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section or 125 p. s. i., whichever is greater. Relief valves may be omitted if the pumps, operating under shutoff conditions, are not capable of developing a pressure exceeding this amount.

(e) Fire pumps shall be fitted with a pressure gauge on the discharge side of the pumps.

(f) Fire pumps may be used for other purposes provided at least one of the required pumps is kept available for use on the fire system at all times. In no case shall a pump having connection to an oil line be used as a fire pump. Branch lines connected to the fire main for purposes other than fire and deck wash shall be arranged so that the requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section and any other services installed on the fire main can be met simultaneously.

(g) The total area of the pipes leading from a pump shall not be less than the discharge area of the pump.

(h) If a vessel uses main or auxiliary oil fired boilers or internal combustion propulsion machinery, and is required to have two fire pumps, the pumps must be in separate spaces and the arrangement of pumps, sea connections, and sources of power must be arranged to ensure that a fire in any one space will not put all of the fire pumps out of operation. However, in vessels of less than 300 feet in length, when it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commandant that it is unreasonable or impracticable to meet this requirement due to the size or arrangement of the vessel, or for other reasons, the installation of a total flooding carbon dioxide or clean agent extinguishing system may be accepted as an alternate method of extinguishing any fire that affects the powering and operation of at least one of the required fire pumps.

(a) The size of fire hydrants, hoses, and nozzles, and the length of hose required, must be as specified in Table 76.10-5(a) of this subpart.

(b) On vessels of more than 1,500 gross tons, the 2 1/2-inch hose and hydrants specified in Table 76.10-5(a) may be replaced with 1 1/2-inch hose and hydrants as follows:

(1) The hydrants in interior locations may have wye connections for 1 1/2-inch hose. In these cases, the hose must be 75 feet (22.86 meters) in length, and only one hose will be required at each fire station; however, if every interior space can be reached by a 50-foot hose then 50-foot hoses may be installed at each interior fire hydrant; and

(2) The hydrants for external locations may consist of two 1 1/2-inch outlets, each with a 1 1/2-inch hose, supplied through a wye connection as a substitute.

(c) On vessels of 500 gross tons or more, there must be at least one shore connection to the fire main available to each side of the vessel in an accessible location. Suitable cut-out valves and check valves must be provided. Suitable adaptors also must be provided for furnishing the vessel's shore connections with couplings mating those on the shoreside fire lines. Vessels of 500 gross tons or more on an international voyage must be provided with at least one international shore connection complying with ASTM F 1121 (incorporated by reference, see § 76.01-2). Facilities must be available that enable an international shore connection to be used on either side of the vessel.

(d) Fire hydrants must be of sufficient number and so located that any part of the vessel accessible to the passengers or crew while the vessel is being navigated, other than main machinery spaces and cargo holds, may be reached with at least two streams of water from separate outlets, at least one of which must be from a single length of hose. All areas of the main machinery spaces and cargo holds must be capable of being reached by at least two streams of water, each of which must be from a single length of hose from separate outlets. This requirement need not apply to shaft alleys containing no assigned space for the stowage of combustibles. Fire hydrants must be numbered as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.

(e) All parts of the fire main located on exposed decks must either be protected against freezing or be fitted with cut-out valves and drain valves so that the entire exposed parts of such piping may be shut off and drained in freezing weather. Except when closed to prevent freezing, such valves must be sealed open.

(f) The outlet at each fire hydrant must be provided with a cock or valve fitted in such a position that the firehose may be removed while the fire main is under pressure. In addition, the outlet must be limited to any position from the horizontal to the vertical pointing downward, so that the hose will lead horizontally or downward to minimize the possibility of kinking.

(g) Each fire hydrant must have at least one length of firehose, a spanner wrench, and a hose rack or other device for stowing the hose.

(h) Firehoses must be connected to the outlets at all times. However, on open decks where no protection is afforded to the hose in heavy weather, or where the hose may be liable to damage from the handling of cargo, the hose may be temporarily removed from the hydrant and stowed in an accessible nearby location.

(i) A firehose must not be used for any purpose other than fire extinguishing and fire drills.

(j) Each firehose on each hydrant must have a combination solid stream and water spray firehose nozzle that meets the requirements in 46 CFR 162.027. Firehose nozzles previously approved under subpart 162.027 of this chapter may be retained so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.

(k) Straight stream firehose nozzles approved under 46 CFR 162.027 must have low-velocity water spray applicators for—

(1) Two firehoses within the accommodation and service areas; and

(2) Each firehose within propulsion machinery spaces containing an oil-fired boiler, internal combustion machinery, or an oil fuel unit on a vessel on an international voyage or on any vessel of 1,000 gross tons or more. The length of each applicator must be not more than 1.8 meters (6 feet).

(l) Fixed brackets, hooks, or other means for stowing an applicator must be next to each fire hydrant that has an applicator under paragraph (k) of this section.

(m) Fire hydrants, nozzles, and other fittings must have threads to accommodate the hose connections noted in paragraph (l) of this section.

(n) Firehose and couplings must be as follows:

(1) Fire station hydrant connections must be brass, bronze, or other equivalent metal. Couplings must either—

(i) Use National Standard (NS) firehose coupling threads for the 1 1/2-in (38-mm) and 2 1/2-in (64-mm) hose sizes, i.e., 9 threads per inch for a 1 1/2-in hose, and 7 1/2 threads per inch for a 2 1/2-in hose; or

(ii) Be a uniform design for each hose diameter throughout the vessel.

(2) Each section of firehose must be a lined commercial firehose that conforms to UL 19 (incorporated by reference, see § 76.01-2). A hose that bears the label of UL as a lined firehose is accepted as conforming to this requirement.

(a) All piping, valves, and fittings shall meet the applicable requirements of subchapter F (Marine Engineering) of this chapter.

(b) All distribution cut-off valves shall be marked as required by § 78.47-15 of this subchapter.

(c) For vessels on an international voyage, the diameter of the fire main shall be sufficient for the effective distribution of the maximum required discharge from two fire pumps operating simultaneously. This is in addition to § 76.10-5(c). The discharge of this quantity of water through hoses and nozzles at a sufficient number of adjacent hydrants shall be at a minimum Pitot tube pressure of approximately 50 pounds per square inch.

(a) Installations contracted for prior to May 26, 1965, shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Except as specifically modified by this paragraph, the requirements of §§ 76.10-5 through 76.10-15 shall be complied with insofar as the number and general type of equipment is concerned. Existing equipment, except firehose nozzles and low-velocity water spray applicators, previously approved but not meeting the applicable requirements of §§ 76.10-5 through 76.10-15 may be continued in service so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. Minor repairs, alterations, and replacements may be permitted to the same standards as the original installation. However, all new installations or major replacements shall meet the applicable requirements in this part.

(2) All vessels contracted for prior to November 19, 1952, shall be fitted with fire pumps, hoses, and nozzles in accordance with table 76.10-90(a)(2).

(3) When reasonable and practicable, where two or more fire pumps are required, they shall not all be located in the same space. Vessels on an international voyage shall, however, comply with the requirements of § 76.10-5(h).

(4) The general requirements of § 76.10-5(c) through (h), § 76.10-10(d) through (i), and § 76.10-15, shall be complied with insofar as is reasonable and practicable. In addition, vessels on an international voyage shall comply with the requirements of § 76.10-5(b).

(5) Vessels on an international voyage shall comply with the requirements of § 76.10-3.

(6) Firehose nozzles and low-velocity spray applicators must meet the requirements of §§ 76.10-10(j), 76.10-10(k), and 76.10-10(l)

(b) [Reserved]