NVIC 09-97: Structural fire protection guide update

NAVIGATION AND INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 9-97, CH – 1

Guide to Structural Fire Protection — BACKGROUND. This change to the Guide to Structural Fire Protection serves four

purposes: (1) It updates the structural fire protection guidance for domestic vessels in NVIC 9-97 to reflect current shipbuilding practices; (2) It adds new guidance on the SOLAS chapter II-2 structural fire protection requirements for U.S. flag vessels on international voyages; (3) It provides an explanation of the type approval requirements for materials approved under the provisions of the Mutual Recognition Agreements on Marine Equipment (MRA); and (4) It provides an explanation of the Coast Guard type approval requirements for structural fire protection materials under the provisions of the IMO International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures (FTP Code).

Guide to Structural Fire Protection — DISCUSSION.

a. The guidance in NVIC 9-97 has been updated in this change to reflect recent trends in the shipbuilding industry. Significant progress has been made in the design and approval of structural fire protection materials such as fire resistant glazing, fire resistant furniture and FRP gratings since the publication of NVIC 9-97. In addition, the original guidance in NVIC 9-97 for passenger ships was intended primarily for large ocean-going ships, and did not fully address the 46 CFR Subchapter K requirements for small passenger vessels. b. The passenger, cargo and tank vessel regulations in 46 CFR provide design criteria for both domestic vessels and those on international voyages. The international requirements in 46 CFR were at one time consistent with chapter II-2 of SOLAS. Thus, if a vessel complied with 46 CFR, it met the associated SOLAS requirements. Over the years, the amendments to SOLAS have outpaced the regulations in 46 CFR. In particular, the 2000 amendments completely reorganized and updated chapter II-2 to the extent that vessels constructed to 46 CFR do not meet all of the criteria in SOLAS. There are also new requirements for items such as the construction of exterior cabin balconies. This new guide to structural fire protection has been prepared with a separate explanation within each subject area, which compares the requirements for domestic vessels with those for vessels on international voyages. The guide also covers requirements specific to the IMO HSC Code. c. The mutual recognition agreement between the U.S. and the European Community

(EC) was signed on February 27, 2004 and became effective on July 1, 2004. The mutual recognition agreement between the U.S. and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein which represent the European Economic Area-European Free Trade Association (EEA-EFTA) member states was signed on October 17, 2005 and became effective on March 1, 2006. The MRAs allow a manufacturer to obtain a Coast Guard type approval certificate from an EC or EEA-EFTA Notified Body. Conversely, a European approval and wheelmark for the product can be issued by the Coast Guard. A new section has been added to this NVIC to explain the MRA type approval program. d. Type approvals for structural fire protection materials tested to the procedures in 46 CFR Part 164, Subchapter Q were previously accepted for vessels in domestic as well as international service, because the SOLAS Convention did not have mandatory fire testing procedures. After the FTP Code became a mandatory part of SOLAS, it was necessary