NVIC 06-05: Unified interpretations of SOLAS fire protection provisions

NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 06-05 Subj: UNIFIED INTERPRETATIONS OF SOLAS CHAPTER II-2, THE FSS CODE, THE FTP CODE AND RELATED FIRE TEST PROCEDURES Ref: (a) MSC/Circ. 1120, Unified Interpretations of SOLAS Chapter II-2, the FSS Code, the FTP Code and Related Fire Test Procedures (b) SOLAS 2000 amendments

Unified interpretations of SOLAS Chapter 11-2, the FSS Code, the FTP Code and related fire test procedures. — PURPOSE. The unified interpretations in reference (a) were approved by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 78th session (MSC 78, 12-21 May 2004). The interpretations are included as enclosure (1) to this document and should be used as guidance when applying the provisions of SOLAS, the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code

1. PURPOSE. The unified interpretations in reference (a) were approved by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 78th session (MSC 78, 12-21 May 2004). The interpretations are included as enclosure (1) to this document and should be used as guidance when applying the provisions of SOLAS, the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) and the International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures (FTP Code) to ships constructed on or after 1 July 2004. These interpretations apply to the 2000 SOLAS amendments (reference (b)). These interpretations are clarifications only and are not intended to amend SOLAS or the FSS Code or the FTP Code. These interpretations are not retroactive. Interpretations of earlier editions of SOLAS are contained in NVIC 10-99.

Unified interpretations of SOLAS Chapter 11-2, the FSS Code, the FTP Code and related fire test procedures. — ACTION.

a. The Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center and Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection should use the interpretations contained in MSC/Circ. 1120 when applying the relevant provisions of SOLAS, the FTP Code and the FSS Code in plan review and vessel inspection functions. b. Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection are encouraged to bring this NVIC to the attention of appropriate individuals in the marine industry within their zones. c. This NVIC is available on the World Wide Web at www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/. Within the Coast Guard, it will be distributed by electronic means only.

Unified interpretations of SOLAS Chapter 11-2, the FSS Code, the FTP Code and related fire test procedures. — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

Unified interpretations of SOLAS Chapter 11-2, the FSS Code, the FTP Code and related fire test procedures. — BACKGROUND.

a. The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee, at its 69th session approved MSC/Circ. 847, with a view to ensuring uniform application of the requirements of SOLAS chapter II-2 containing vague expressions that could be open to diverging interpretations. These interpretations applied to ships constructed on or after 14 May 1998. The interpretations contained in MSC/Circ. 847 were subsequently issued as NVIC 10-99. b. On 5 December 2000, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee totally revised and reorganized SOLAS chapter II-2, and made the FSS Code mandatory through adoption of Resolution MSC. 92 (73). The FTP Code was previously made a mandatory document by the adoption of Resolution MSC.61(67), effective 1 July, 1998. The 2000 amendments to chapter II-2 apply to ships built on or after 1 July 2002. The interpretations in MSC/Circ. 847 are not applicable to the 2000 amendments, because of the changes made to chapter II-2. c. The IMO Sub-Committee on Fire Protection, at its 48th session, developed a revised set of unified interpretations to the 2000 amendments to chapter II-2, the FTP Code, the FSS Code and related fire test procedures. These interpretations were adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee at its 78th session as MSC/Circ.1120 and became effective on 1 July 2004.

Unified interpretations of SOLAS Chapter 11-2, the FSS Code, the FTP Code and related fire test procedures. — DISCLAIMER. While the guidance contained in this document may assist the industry, the public, the Coast Guard, and other federal and state regulators in applying statutory and regulatory requirements, this guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it in itself a rule. Thus, it is not intended to nor does it impose legally binding requirements on any party, i

5. DISCLAIMER. While the guidance contained in this document may assist the industry, the public, the Coast Guard, and other federal and state regulators in applying statutory and regulatory requirements, this guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it in itself a rule. Thus, it is not intended to nor does it impose legally binding requirements on any party, including the Coast Guard, other federal agencies, the states, or the regulated community. T. H. GILMOUR Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection Encl: (1) IMO MSC/Circ. 1120