NVIC 16-91: Fire protection systems for passenger ship atriums
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
NVIC 16-91 is Coast Guard guidance that calls attention to and endorses IMO MSC/Circular 526 on special fire protection for atriums on passenger ships. The Coast Guard endorses the recommended amendments. Owners and naval architects may choose to fully implement the circular instead of earlier agreed design alternatives.
Applies toThe text addresses passenger ships with large open multi-deck areas (atriums), and it speaks to owners and naval architects.
What it says
The purpose of this Circular is to call attention to and endorse IMO MSC/Circular 526 on special fire protection systems for large open multi-deck areas on passenger ships.
“The purpose of this Circular is to. call attention to and endorse IMO MSC/Circular”
MSC/Circ.526 gives recommendations on special fire safety requirements for large open multi-deck areas on passenger ships that the Safety of Life at Sea Convention does not presently cover.
NVIC 16-91 a.“MSC/Circ.526 provides recommendations not presently covered in the Safety of Life at Sea Convention”
The Coast Guard endorses the proposed amendments recommended by the Maritime Safety Committee.
NVIC 16-91 a.“The Coast Guard endorses the proposed amendments as recommended by the Maritime Safety Committee.”
Ships in advanced stages of design or construction before the approval date of the recommendations were reviewed on a ship by ship basis.
NVIC 16-91 b.“Ships that may have been under advanced stages of design or construction prior to the approval date of these recommendations were reviewed on a ship by ship basis.”
Owners and naval architects may elect to fully implement the special requirements in the MSC circular instead of design alternatives previously agreed upon.
NVIC 16-91 c.“Owners and naval architects may elect to fully implement the special requirements outlined in the MSC”
The Maritime Safety Committee adopted the amendment at its 59th session, and it shall enter into force on 1 January 1994.
NVIC 16-91 d.“the amendment was adopted and shall enter into force on 1 January 1994.”
Common questions
What is NVIC 16-91 about?
It calls attention to and endorses IMO MSC/Circular 526 on special fire protection systems for large open multi-deck areas on passenger ships.
“The purpose of this Circular is to. call attention to and endorse IMO MSC/Circular”
Does the Coast Guard endorse the MSC recommendations on atriums?
Yes. The Coast Guard endorses the proposed amendments as recommended by the Maritime Safety Committee.
“The Coast Guard endorses the proposed amendments as recommended by the Maritime Safety Committee.”
When does the atrium fire protection amendment enter into force?
The amendment was adopted at the 59th session of the Maritime Safety Committee and shall enter into force on 1 January 1994.
“the amendment was adopted and shall enter into force on 1 January 1994.”
The text of NVIC 16-91
U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 16-91 (main body; enclosures not shown)
Special Fire Protection Systems for Atriums
United States Coast Guard COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 16-91 4 Nov 1991 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 16-91 Electronic Version for Distribution on the World Wide Web Subj: Special Fire Protection Systems for Atriums
Special Fire Protection Systems for Atriums — PURPOSE. The purpose of this Circular is to. call attention to and endorse IMO MSC/Circular
526, "Special Fire Protection Systems for Large Open Multi-Deck Areas on Passenger Ships," which was approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 58th session in May 1990 pending introduction into the SOLAS Convention.
Special Fire Protection Systems for Atriums — BACKGROUND.
a. MSC/Circ.526 provides recommendations not presently covered in the Safety of Life at Sea Convention regarding special fire .safety requirements. for large open multi-deck areas on passenger ships. b. Increasing use of attractive shoreside architectural features is being incorporated into passenger vessel design. Specialized fire protection and life safety concepts are needed to offset the hazards associated with many of these unique concepts. Implementation of the recommendation outlined in MSC/Circ.526 will incorporate design features which provide an adequate level of safety for both crew and passengers.
Special Fire Protection Systems for Atriums — DISCUSSION.
a. The Coast Guard endorses the proposed amendments as recommended by the Maritime Safety Committee. Use of these recommendations by the naval architectural community should improve the overall level of safety on passenger vessels when designs of this type are instituted. b. Ships that may have been under advanced stages of design or construction prior to the approval date of these recommendations were reviewed on a ship by ship basis. Fire protection requirements for large open multi-deck areas (atriums) on those vessels vary in nature due to differing agreements made among flag administrations and classification societies. c. Equivalent levels of safety for atrium spaces agreed upon for ship construction prior to the development of the MSC circular were based on discussions with designers and Headquarter's staff using sound fire protection engineering principles. Owners and naval architects may elect to fully implement the special requirements outlined in the MSC circular in lieu of design alternatives previously agreed upon. d. At the 59th session of the Maritime Safety Committee, the amendment was adopted and shall enter into force on 1 January 1994.
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.