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CO2 and SOLAS (Reg 5)
o
Isolated
from engine room & cargo space.
o
1.5
times heavier than air. Smothers the fire.
o
Stored
in cylinder about 55 bars. Expands to about 450 times its volume. (0.56m3/Kg)
o
30%
of gross volume of biggest cargo space
o
40%
of gross volume of machinery space
o
50% of the gas discharged within 1 min
o
85% of the gas discharged within 2 mins
o
Machinery sector valve with alarm
o
Activated from locally or remote station
outside the engine room
o
Safeguard against unauthorized access
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Requirements of CO2
bottle
o
Stamped
pressure (52 bar)
o
Bursting
disc (177-193 bar) @ 63OC
o
Recharging
if 5% of content is lost
o
Hydraulically
tested 228 bar
o
If
bottle>10 years, internal & external inspection
o
Stored at < 55 degC
o
Level tested – radioactive level
indication
o
¨ Inspection:
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Entry
requirement:
o
Consider as enclosed space
o
Follow the procedure of enclosed space
entry.
o
Risk assessment to be carried out.
o
Testing of atmosphere should be
considered
o
Arrangement of ventilation, adequate
lighting & satisfactory exhaust fan operation
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Weekly:
o
Cabinet door & key position
o
General cleanliness & lighting
o
Satisfactory of exhaust fan operation
o
CO2 alarm & stopping function of
ventilation & pumps.
o
E/R flaps working condition.
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Monthly:
o
Pull wire
o
Sketches
o
Pullys to be checked for corrosion &
greased
o
Co2 manifold relief valve to be checked
o
Master v/v operating condition to be
checked locally with precaution
o Installation check monthly to
ensure no leakage
¥ For
cable operating system, wires and accessories checked every 3 months
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Annually:
o
CO2 line and nozzle to be blow through
with compressed air
o
All control valves to be inspected
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Quantity
of CO2 in the cylinder should be checked once every 4 years (25% yearly, or 50%
biennially)-every bottle must be check once every 4 years
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Internally
inspected every 5 years
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CO2
bottles to be hydraulically tested 20 years after date of installation and
every 5 years thereafter
¨
Limitations:
o
If
> 10 – 12 mins : ineffective
o
Total
evacuation – time wasted if crew injured
o
Heavy
bottles – recharge, maintenance facilities
o
“One
– off” no reserve
o
Leakage
o
Accidental
release
o
No
protection to personnel
o
Little
cooling effect
o
Highly
asphyxiating
o
Static
electricity.
¨
Operation of CO2 flooding system:
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Steps to be taken before
operation:
o
Should
be employed if the master is fully convinced that the situation is out of
control
o
All
personnel to be evacuated from the machinery space, head count to carried out.
o
All
remote (quick closing) closing valves to be closed such as HO service to M/E, DO & HO from sett tank
to purifier, DO service to generators.
o
All
openings such as entrances skylight, funnel flaps to be closed.
o
Stop
all ventilation fans from remote position.
o
All
fuel, Lo pumps to be stopped from remote position.
o
Upon
opening the control box, activates the CO2 alarm warning all
personnel that CO2 is going to be released.
¨ Reoccupation in E/R
after releasing CO2 total flooding system
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Observation
before re – entry:
o
24 hours by ABS
o
Ensure that the fire in the compartment
is fully extinguished and could be ascertained by:
ü No
steaming water vaporized in boundary cooling.
ü No
blistering of paints along the bulkhead & temperature is < 100OC
(feeling the bulkhead)
ü By
feeling the bulkhead or hearing any hissing sound of fire
ü By
checking the bulkhead temperature by laser thermometer.
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Re
– Entry:
o
Upon satisfactory from the observation
company checklist “Re – Entry after CO2 flooding” should be filled up.
o
Two person (min) ready with firemen’s
outfit with SCBA set & life line with pressurized hose.
o
One responsible person should be stand
by at the entrance and establish communication and co-ordination.
o
Radio communication should be provided
if possible.
o
Confirm the permission from master to
entry.
o
Entry to be made from possible lowest
position (if possible use exit door).
o
Enter the E/R side by side and
extinguish small fire if present.
o
Upon confirmation of no fire “re –
occupation procedure to be commenced.
o
Record all the timings.
o
Engine compartment should be well
ventilated before any damage inspection.
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