With reference to the low pressure CO2 fire extinguishing installation on board Singapore flag vessels, the flag requirements of maintenance, inspection and test have been informed by ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0520. The Singapore Government has notified ClassNK of Surveys Circular No.1/2004 for amendment of the requirement partly. The requirement of periodical inspection for low pressure CO2 fire extinguishing installation is substituted as underline part.
3. Low pressure CO2 fire extinguishing installation
(1) The tanks, together with fittings shall be inspected externally every 5 years. At the external inspection, insulation material of the tank points most likely to suffer corrosion / deterioration and considered necessary shall be removed to facilitate the external inspection. Pipes and valves at transitional points between insulated and uninsulated areas (cold-conducts) as well as tank supports, flange sockets and valves shall be included in the 5-yearly external inspection. The external inspection shall also include maintenance inspection stipulated in the manufacturer's operation and maintenance manual.
(2) At least once a year, a thorough external inspection of the tank supports, flange sockets and valves mentioned in (1) shall be carried out.
(3) At the 5-yearly external inspection stipulated above paragraph (1), the tank should be stripped of all its insulation material for the inspection at 10-year interval. If the inspection show the signs of corrosion of the tank which warrants a shorter period of external inspection with the tank stripped of all its insulation material, then it shall be so carried out at the next 5-yearly external inspection. In any way, if the corrosion is serious enough as to render the inquiry and strength of the container doubtful, then a pressure test should be carried out.
(4) Hydraulic tests of the pipes and tanks may be required at the discretion of the attending surveyor, in cases of corrosion / deterioration or the external or internal provided prudent to do so.
(5) In any case, hydraulic testing of the pipes and tanks shall be carried out after repairs to the tanks or pipes in case of cracks or holes.
For any questions about the above, please contact:
NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Survey Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan / 1-8-5 or 1-8-3 Ohnodai, Midori-ku, Chiba 267-0056, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2027 / 2028
Fax: +81-3-5226-2029
E-mail: svd@classnk.or.jp