Fire Detection and Extinction

A fire detection system is designed to detect immediately a fire, give early warning of the situation and so provide the crew with the best possible chance to control and extinguish a fire before it can damage property (имущество), a ship and lives. The system has a central control and monitoring panel, heat, smoke and flame detectors, and alarm sounders.

Fixed water fire extinguishing systems are the most popular ones. Water is cheap for fire-fighting and has a large capacity to absorb heat. Water systems are simple to install and maintain. For example, automatic sprinkler systems detect, control and extinguish a fire in its early stages.

To protect large high risk areas such as machinery spaces and cargo holds fixed gas fire extinguishing systems are used.

Fixed low and high expansion foam systems are permitted in machinery spaces and fixed low expansion systems are required on cargo tank decks of tankers.

Vessels carrying liquefied gases must be provided with a dry chemical powder system for the fire protection of the cargo deck area and any bow and stern loading areas. It must be possible to deliver powder to any part of the cargo deck from at least two monitors and/or hand held hose. An inert gas, usually nitrogen, stored in pressurized cylinders located near the powder storage is used to start the system.

nitrogen – азот pressurized – герметизированный

Exercise 9. Check the procedures for the fire-fighting. Translate the words into the brackets.

Procedures for Fighting a Fire Onboard

Signal: Continuous sounding of ship's whistle and (общесудовая тревога) for at least 10 seconds

FIND the fire, the location, and its size

INFORM the Captain immediately to:

• Sound the general alarm (собраться на месте сбора) the crew and notify all hands

• Make a (сигнал бедствия) to Coast Guard and nearby vessels

• Activate emergency (противопожарное оборудование)

RESTRICT the fire by one of the following ways:

• Shut off air supply to the fire - close (люки), ports, etc.

• De-energize electrical systems in affected space

• (установите) fire boundaries to confine the fire

• Shut off (подача топлива) and ventilation

• Maneuver vessel to minimize the effect of wind on the fire

• Prior to activating (стационарная система пожаротушения), ensure that all personnel have been evacuated from the space

EXTINGUISH the fire by one of the following ways:

• Determine class of fire, appropriate equipment, extinguishing agent and method of attack

• (тщательно осмотреть) and set re-flash watch

• Muster crew to account for all personnel

• If unable to control fire, prepare (покидать судно)

Warning: As soon as water is used for extinguishing, dewatering procedures should commence to avoid impairment of stability!

Exercise 9. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Chapter II-2 of Solas concerns fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction. It is divided into four parts: A – general, B – fire safety measures for passenger ships, C – fire safety measures for cargo ships and D – just the same for tankers.

2. Smoking should be avoided at the workplace even if there is no smoking ban, besides open containers with combustible substances should be kept as far as possible.

3. When welding one should have at hand suitable extinction materials and appliances, and in enclosed spaces effective ventilation should be ensured.

4. Ashtrays of non-combustible material must be emptied at regular intervals and should be fixed preventing their slipping and tipping over, lighted cigarette ends are never thrown over the side, because they can be carried inboard again and start fires.

5. Coffee machines and other small electrical appliances are a particular source of danger if after use they are not switched off and the plug pulled out of the socket, that’s why electric irons, portable heaters and other appliances may after use be laid down only on any non-combustible surfaces.

6. The extinguishers, their type and size should be shown on the fire plan of the ship, while the number of them depends on the type of vessel and the risk of fire. At least one extinguisher should be provided in accommodation, machinery and service spaces and control stations.

7. An extinguisher is activated by removing the safety pin and pressing the control lever, it should be held in front of the body and while coming to the fire it should be kept as low as possible.

8. Not less than five plus one spare fire hoses stored in dry and well-ventilated conditions should be tested according to the instructions. After contact with oils and grease and after use with foam hoses should be washed, blown through, drained and wiped down before stowing.

9. As water fire extinguishers are cleaner than other extinguishing agents, they are a good choice for assisting in the emergency, for example, a powder extinguishing agent could enter the eyes of the user. But water conducts electricity and thereby presents a risk of electrocution to the user.

10. CO2 fire extinguishers work by displacing oxygen at the source of the fire with an inert gas. They also have some cooling properties.

Exercise 10. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Огнетушители могут быть автоматическими или ручными, а также углекислотными, пенными, порошковыми и водными.

2. Огнетушители маркируются буквами, характеризующими вид огнетушителя, и цифрами, обозначающими его вместимость.

3. Все огнетушители проверяются не реже раз в год, количество и тип ручных огнетушителей на судне определяются пра­вилами регистра.

4. В начале пожара большая проблема - это распространение дыма, а судовые коридоры быстро заполняются ядовитым дымом.

5. Пожары класса А вызываются горением воспламеняющихся твердых веществ (дерево, бумага, ткани, пластмасса, резина), наиболее эффективно они тушатся водой, но возможно применение пены и порошка.

6. Пожары класса В, вызванные горением воспламеняющейся жидкости (бензин, дизтопливо, пищевое масло), тушатся водой, порошком и углекислым газом.

7. Если горит электрическое оборудование, то сначала следует отключить питание.

8. Применение большого количества воды может ухудшить ситуацию (to worsen).

9. Наиболее распространенной причиной возгорания являются утечки в системе питания двигателя.

10. При тушении пожара в закрытом отсеке лучше всего использовать стационарную систему пожаротушения.