Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Schedules

Second Schedule

Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974

Annex

Chapter II-2 : Construction—Fire Protection, Fire Detection and Fire Extinction

Part B — Fire Safety Measures for Passenger Ships Carrying More than 36 Passengers

Regulation 24 : Openings in “B” Class divisions

Purchase

(a)	Where “B” Class divisions are penetrated for the passage of electrical cables, pipes, trunks, ducts, etc., or for the fitting of ventilation terminals, lighting fixtures and similar devices, arrangements shall be made to ensure that the fire resistance is not impaired.

(b)

Doors and door frames in “B” Class divisions and means of securing them shall provide a method of closure which shall have resistance to fire as far as practicable equivalent to the divisions except that ventilation openings may be permitted in the lower portion of such doors. Where such opening is in or under a door the total net area of any such opening or openings shall not exceed 0,05 square metres (78 square inches). When such opening is cut in a door it shall be fitted with a grill made of noncombustible material. Doors shall be noncombustible.

(c)	The requirements for “B” Class integrity of the outer boundaries of a ship shall not apply to glass partitions, windows and sidescuttles. Similarly, the requirements for “B” Class integrity shall not apply to exterior doors in superstructures and deckhouses.

(d)	Where an automatic sprinkler system complying with the provisions of Regulation 12 of this Chapter is fitted—

(i)	openings in decks not forming steps in main vertical zones nor bounding horizontal zones shall be closed reasonably tight and such decks shall meet the “B” Class integrity requirements in so far as is reasonable and practicable in the opinion of the Administration; and

(ii)	openings in corridor bulkheads of “B” Class materials shall be protected in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 19 of this Chapter.