76.10-10—Fire station hydrants, hose and nozzles-T/ALL.
(a)
The size of fire hydrants, hose, and nozzles and the length of hose required shall be as noted in table 76.10-5(a).
(b)
In lieu of the 2 1/2 -inch hose and hydrants specified in table 76.10-5(a), on vessels over 1,500 gross tons, the hydrants in interior locations may have siamese connections for 1 1/2 -inch hose. In these cases the hose shall be 75 feet in length, and only one hose will be required at each fire station; however, if all such stations can be satisfactorily served with 50-foot lengths, 50-foot hose may be used.
(c)
On vessels of 500 gross tons and over 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 shore fire lines. Vessels of 500 gross tons and over 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 enabling an international shore connection to be used on either side of the vessel.
(d)
Fire hydrants shall be of sufficient number and so located that any part of the vessel, other than main machinery spaces, accessible to the passengers or crew while the vessel is being navigated and all cargo holds may be reached with at least two streams of water from separate outlets, at least one of which shall be from a single length of hose. For the purpose of this requirement, all watertight doors and all doors in main vertical zone bulkheads and stairway enclosures shall be closed, although hose ports may be installed in doors other than watertight doors and doors in main vertical zone bulkheads for the passage of the hose. In main machinery spaces, all portions at such spaces shall be capable of being reached by at least two streams of water, each of which shall be from a single length of hose from separate outlets; however, this requirement need not apply to shaft alleys containing no assigned space for the stowage of combustibles. Fire hydrants shall be numbered as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.
(e)
All parts of the fire main located on exposed decks shall 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 shall be sealed open.
(f)
The outlet at each fire hydrant shall be provided with a cock or valve fitted in such a position that the fire hose may be removed while the firemain is under pressure. In addition, the outlet shall 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 fire hose, a spanner, and a hose rack or other device for stowing the hose.
(h)
Fire hose shall 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.
(j)
Each firehose on each hydrant must have a combination solid stream and water spray firehose nozzle that meets the requirements in subpart of this chapter. Firehose nozzles previously approved under subpart 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)
Firehose nozzles previously approved under subpart of this chapter must have low-velocity water spray applicators also previously approved under subpart of this chapter as follows—
(2)
In each propulsion machinery space containing an oil-fired boiler, internal combustion machinery, or oil fuel unit on a vessel on an international voyage or of 1000 gross tons or more—each firehose. 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 shall have threads to accommodate the hose connections noted in paragraph (l) of this section.
(1)
Fire station hydrant connections shall be brass, bronze, or other equivalent metal. Couplings shall either—
(i)
Use National Standard fire hose coupling threads for the 1 1/2 inch (38 millimeter) and 2 1/2 inch (64 millimeter) hose sizes, i.e., 9 threads per inch for 1 1/2 inch hose, and 7 1/2 threads per inch for 2 1/2 inch hose; or
(2)
Each section of firehose must be lined commercial firehose that conforms to UL 19 (incorporated by reference; see 46 CFR 76.01-2 ). Hose that bears the label of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. as lined firehose is accepted as conforming to this requirement.
[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16940, Dec. 30, 1965]