Frequently Asked Questions
FIRE PROTECTION:
Industrial Applications: Local rules and regulations shall be checked as these may differ; but, most of the applicable standards states monthly, quarterly, six-monthly, and annual inspections.
Marine Applications: As for Industrial Applications the crew shall carry out frequent periodical inspections. The Administration (flag state) shall rule the servicing intervals which is in most of the cases based in the SOLAS Convention requirements for professional ocean-going vessels, and other local rules for smaller ships, coastal sailing, or less than 24 Mt. pleasure boats.
Industrial Applications: Local rules and regulations shall be checked, but a good part of the frequent visual inspections could be managed by the customer through trained staff and recording the inspections, but the deeper inspections/tests use to be required to be arranged through an approved fire protection service provider.
Marine Applications: Pleasure boats under local rules and regulations shall hire an approved fire protection service provider. Crew of vessels under the SOLAS Convention requirements may carry out the inspections and maintenance of some fire protection equipment if duly trained, approved and with all necessary tools available.
Alterations in an existing building, changes in the activities of a space, new machinery installation, modifications in the storage layout, or even the storage of new materials not planned initially in a fire protected space may require the changes or implementation in the fire protection equipment involved. In these scenarios it is necessary to reappraise the fire protection requirements according to the fire risk assessment and the applicable regulations.
Once the changes are defined according to the applicable regulations by a competent fire protection engineer, such changes shall be described in detail in the documentation of the installation as an attachment, adding technical literature about the process, new calculations, technical data sheets of the equipment, new layout, diagrams and drawing etc.
Due to the different possible scenarios, it is not possible to give a definitive answer; therefore, this information shall be taken as a guide but not definitive, as it may differ on a case by case basis.
Industrial Applications:
–Fire Extinguishers can be required to be replaced after 20 years from the manufacturing date or before due to applicable regulations or manufacturer standards.
-Typically, the Fire Hoses with no expiry date from the manufacturer are required to be replaced every 10 years, or before if found in poor conditions.
-The Fire Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems are typically required to be replaced every 10 years.
-The Photoluminiscence Signs have a limited life expectancy which should be marked by the manufacturer on the sign; typically, 10, 15 or 20 years. Depending of the applicable regulations, after its expiry date it may be kept in service but luminance tested by an approved service provider.
Marine Applications:
-Under the SOLAS Convention and FSS Code there is no expiry date for Fire Protection Equipment; therefore, the expiry date if any, shall be established under manufacturer requirements.
Commercial Kitchens: There are several standards related to this, so you need to check your local rules and regulations; but this is mandatory in most of the countries based in a risk assessment or due to clauses in the insurance policy. Regardless mandatory or not, Fire Suppression Systems for commercial kitchens are very recommended due to the high risk of fire in a working scenario where activity use to be very intense with multiple heat sources in combination with flammable products, and how it affects not only to the safety of staff and customers, but also to the asset and the business operations.
Marine Applications:
Vessels under the SOLAS Convention and other required by the Administration shall keep protected the deep fat fryers at galley with an approved fire suppression system according to ISO 15371:2015.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION:
The Respiratory Protective Equipment shall be visually and functionally tested by the user according to the manufacturer instructions before and after every operation; additionally, based in the manufacturer and type of the equipment, to be serviced by an approved service provider periodically (typically every 12 months), including the air cylinder which requires periodic visual inspections and pressure tests every 5 years.
The Escape Sets are stored in strategic locations where a breathable atmosphere can turn into a hazardous area with harmful substances. This equipment is frequently required in chemical plants, mining industry, pharmaceutical facilities, water treatment plants, oil & gas, and other industrial production facilities.
It is recommended to test the air quality every three months or more frequently according to the applicable standard (EN 12021:2014 or NFPA 1989) if any doubt about the air quality arises, or if the breathing air compressor have been relocated.
- The responsibility behind every air cylinder refilled with a breathing air compressor is quite relevant. An air cylinder charged with low quality or contaminated air may cause non-reversible damage to the users, getting worse if the air cylinder is being used in a critical environment (diving, firefighting, harmful atmospheres etc.). To hire the maintenance to a professional service with periodic controls guarantees the proper operation of the equipment keeping the quality standards of the air for the users.
- A breathing air compressor unit compress ambient gases to high pressures, often over 300 bar through different stages. A wrong handling or a poor maintenance of a breathing air compressor may cause fatal damages to assets and users.
- Inadequate maintenance of breathing air compressors will increase its downtime, and it will have a negative impact in the performance, power consumption, and wearing so the lifetime of the unit and its components will be dramatically reduced.
GAS DETECTION:
The calibration of a gas sensor is achieved when exposed to a known gas concentration during a specific time. The record of such reading becomes a reference point for future gas concentrations exposures.
When a gas sensor is exposed to certain atmospheres it may cause deviation on its reading accuracy, this is why it is recommended to calibrate the gas detection equipment regularly and more frequently on these cases; if any doubt arise about the reading results, it shall be calibrated before putting the unit in use.
Bump Test is basically a function test. During this short test the sensors are exposed to a gas concentration above the alarm’s set point so the alarm shall be activated. This test shows the sensors are working accordingly. This is not a test to check the reading accuracy of the equipment, it is only to check the sensors and alarms are in good working conditions. It is recommended to carry out a Bump Test before every shift where the gas detector will be used.
Zerogoing also called Zero Calibration or Fresh Air Calibration provides a point of reference to the gas sensor. Doing a Zerogoing allow the sensor to recognize an atmosphere free of target gases avoiding false alarms. When carrying out a Zerogoing it is essential to do it in clean air environment, otherwise it may affect to the readings of the device.
The Multi-gas detectors with sampling pump and tubing or probe are a very reliable combination to take gas samples remotely. Following the applicable gas sampling protocol it’s important to take samples of different levels of the confined space (top, middle and bottom) to track possible different stratified gas concentrations. Gases with a higher concentration usually are located in the highest or lowest levels; the gases with a lower concentration can be located at any level of the confined space.
LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT:
Pleasure crafts:
Most of the countries categorize recreational crafts drawing a line at the 24 metres in length. ISO-9650 is the most common standard for liferafts for boats under this length in different versions; ISO-9650-1 (>24 Hr.) for long distance navigation, and ISO-9650-1 (<24) or ISO-9650-2 for coastal navigation (typically within 60 miles of the coastline).
Most of the flag states applies the SOLAS Convention requirements for Yachts over 24 metres in length, requiring therefore liferafts approved according to the SOLAS standards with two optional emergency packs, SOLAS A for long distance navigation, and SOLAS B for coastal navigation.
Commercial ships:
Most of the liferafts for commercial ships (cargo, passengers, tugboats, specialized vessels, etc) are required to be approved under the SOLAS Convention requirements; however, under some specific circumstances the administration can accept or require other suitable standards affecting to the type of liferaft, approval, and emergency pack content.
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Liferafts shall be serviced based in the Administration (flag state) and manufacturer requirements, applying the most restrictive period if different. For a convenient re-inspection planning, we recommend you to contact with your regular approved service station in advance.
Dependerá de lo que determine la Administración (bandera) y del fabricante, debiendo aplicarse la periodicidad más restrictiva.
The SOLAS Convention through the 402(96) Resolution of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) states that additionally to OEM certified agents, it is also acceptable to hire Authorized Service Providers with competent and trained technicians to carry out the maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats, rescue boats, launching appliances and release gears; therefore, not necessarily approved by the OEM.
Both are Personal Flotation Devices (PFD); however, a Buoyancy Aid is designed to provide extra flotation requiring the active participation of the user to stay afloat safely keeping the airways free of water. Unlike the Buoyancy Aids, a Lifejacket is designed not only to keep afloat the user, but also to keep the airways of the wearer free of water with no actions, turning up an unconscious user into a safe position.
The buoyancy of a lifejacket is the force pushing toward the surface of the water, this force is measured in Newtons (N). 10 Newtons is the equivalent to 1 Kg. of buoyancy. Currently, the three most common buoyancy ratings are 100, 150 and 275 N; however, it is acceptable to mark the real buoyancy in the lifejackets which may be slightly higher than the reference value, so a lifejacket marked as 290 N is inside the buoyancy rating of 275 N.
Choosing an inflatable lifejacket shall be based in the user application, approval, and buoyancy; but additionally, it shall be according to the applicable regulations or standards.
Applications:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); or
- Life-saving Equipment for emergencies and evacuation of a ship.
Approvals:
- ISO/CE/USCG: commonly acceptable as PPE at any environment, and as life-saving equipment for pleasure crafts less than 24 metres in length.
- SOLAS Standards: commonly acceptable as life-saving equipment under specific approvals required by the flag state as Marine Equipment Directive (MED), Red Ensign (UK) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) for any kind of vessel.
Buoyancy:
- As PPE the right buoyancy must be chosen considering the comfort of the wearer and the scenarios where it will be used. The 150 N lifejackets are lighter and more compact, but if the user will carry additional weight (e.g. tools, safety shoes, etc.) or clothes that may trap air or add extra load hindering during the self-righting, it is recommended to choose a 275 N lifejacket.
- As life-saving equipment, additionally to the previous described scenarios, the applicable regulations shall be considered:
- Typically for pleasure boats <24 Mt:
-Long distance navigation: 275 N ISO/CE/USCG, 150 or 275 N SOLAS
-Coastal navigation: 150 N ISO/CE/USCG
*Check your local flag state requirements
- SOLAS: Both 150 and 275 N are acceptable
Installing an approved light in your lifejacket is not always mandatory, but very recommended and priceless as it will increase dramatically your options to be located when floating at sea. The obligation will depend on the applicable regulation; but normally required when the lifejacket is used as a life-saving equipment.
It is remarkable to check visually the good general conditions of your inflatable lifejackets before fitting. Except as required by applicable regulations, the inflatable lifejackets servicing period will depend on the approval:
- ISO/CE/USCG Non-SOLAS approved: according to the servicing period established by the manufacturer
- SOLAS: every 12 months
- When there is any sign or doubt about the good conditions of the lifejacket
- According to the SOLAS Convention reg. III/20.7 and MSC/Circ. 1047, the general conditions of the immersion suits and its components shall be verified monthly by the crew.
- According to the MSC/Circ. 1114 “…it is recommended that each suit be subjected to an air pressure test…, at intervals not exceeding three years, or more frequently for suits over ten years of age…”.
Additionally, the applicable flag state requirements shall be checked. There are Administrations requiring pressure tests to different intervals to the recommended by the SOLAS Convention.
The immersion suits with a floating “pillow” integrated will NOT need to be used in combination with a lifejacket.
The immersion suits with no need to be used in combination with a lifejacket will be required to wear an approved light.