MSC Guidelines for Fire Detection Systems

Procedure Number: E2-09 Revision Date: 6/11/2014

P. W. Gooding, CDR, Engineering Division, Chief

References: a) Title 46 CFR 76.05 (Subchapter H)

b) Title 46 CFR 113.10 (Subchapter J)
c) Title 46 CFR 118.400 (Subchapter K)
d) Title 46 CFR 130.470 (Subchapter L)
e) Title 46 CFR 161.002 (Subchapter Q)
f) NFPA 72
g) Navigation and Inspection Circular (NVIC) 7-80, “Use of Fire Detection Systems
Which are Not Approved Under 46 CFR 161.002”
h) Safety Of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Consolidated Edition, 2004, Chapter II-2
______________________________________________________________
Contact If there are questions or comments concerning this document, please contact the Marine
Information: Safety Center by e-mail or phone, and refer to Procedure Number: E2-09.
E-mail: MSC@uscg.mil
Phone: 703-872-6732
Website: http://homeport.uscg.mil/msc

Responsibilities: Using applicable portions of references (a) through (i), the submitter shall provide
sufficient documentation and plans to support fire detection system review. If the
Responsibilities: submission is mailed to MSC than all plans shall be made in triplicate. To facilitate plan
review and project management, all plans and information specified in this guideline
should be submitted as one complete package through a single point of contact for the
project.

General Guidance: Note: For Subchapter “K” and “T” vessel fire detection systems, see Plan Review
Guideline E2-23, Electrical Plans Small Passenger Vessels (K & T).
 The fire detection system must be listed in the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime
Information eXchange “Approved Equipment” as a Type Approved system. Refer
to this website: http://cgmix.uscg.mil/Equipment/EquipmentSearch.aspx

 Unapproved fire detection systems are not allowed on the following vessel
classes:
 Subchapter H (46 CFR 76.01-5).
 Subchapter I (46 CFR 95.05-1).
 Subchapter K (46 CFR 118.120).
 Unapproved, surplus to regulation fire detection components and/or systems
may ONLY be considered as equivalent by MSC on a case-by-case basis under
the guidance of reference (g) and 46 CFR 110.20.

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 Fire Detection Systems
Procedure Number: E2-09 Revision Date: 6/11/2014
 Each alarm annunciator, fire detector, test station, manual station and vibrating
bell must be approved per reference (e) (46 CFR 113.10-1).
General Guidance  The fire detecting system must be divided into separate zones to restrict an area
(continued): covered by any particular alarm signal. If used to isolate a fire zone, isolator
modules must be Type Approved (46 CFR 76.27-5(a), 46 CFR 113.10-1).

 For Subchapter L vessels, with an unattended machinery space, the engine room
fire detection loop may not share a common circuit with any detector outside of
the engine room (46 CFR 130.470(b)).
 Fire detectors must be installed in all spaces required by vessel class. Note that
locations may vary by class. Refer to reference (b) for installation and wiring
details:
 For Subchapter H vessels (46 CFR Table 76.05-1(a).
 For Subchapter I vessels (46 CFR 95.05-1(a)).
 For Subchapter I-A vessels (46 CFR 108.405).
 For Subchapter K vessels (46 CFR 118.400(c)).
 For Subchapter L vessels (46 CFR 130.470(b),(c)).
 All fire detection system components must have part numbers from the
corresponding manufacturer's "Type Approved" manual.

 All fire detector systems must have a Type Approval expiration date in excess of
18 months from document submission.

Power Supply
 A fire detection system must have two sources of power. The normal source
must be the main power source with an automatic switching capability to the
emergency power source. If the second source is a battery, the battery charger
must be powered from the final emergency power source per 46 CFR
112.15.1(p), 112.15-5(a), 113.10-9.
 The cable capacity of branch circuits used to power fire detection and/or alarm
systems must not be less than 125% of the maximum branch circuit load (46
CFR 113.10-9(c)).

Layout

 Verify that each fire detecting system is divided into separate zones, per 46 CFR
76.27-5, to restrict the area covered by a particular alarm signal. This is not
applicable if the detectors are of an intelligent or addressable type, per 46 CFR
76.27-5(c)(3) and reference (h).

 A fire detecting zone may not contain more than 50 rooms or spaces, per 46
CFR 76.27-5(d).

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 Fire Detection Systems
Procedure Number: E2-09 Revision Date: 6/11/2014
General Guidance  A conductor must not be used as a common return from more than one zone.
(continued): Approved Type Isolator modules may be used to isolate each fire Zone (46 CFR
113.10-5). This is not applicable if the detections are of an intelligent or
addressable type, per 46 CFR 76.27-5(c)(3) and reference (h).

 For Subchapter L vessels, if the vessel has an unattended machinery space,

verify that the engine room fire detection loop does not share a common circuit
with any detector outside of the engine room per 46 CFR 130.470(b). If
isolators are installed outside of the engine room, the loop may contain other
spaces. (This is allowed as fire detection regulations were written before
isolators where developed and proven.)
 Verify that cable installation between the fire alarm annunciator and fire
detecting zones is as direct as practicable and does not pass through enclosed
spaces such as staterooms, engine rooms, lockers, etc. (46 CFR 113.10-3).

 On vessels greater than 150 feet, an audible alarm must sound in both the
pilothouse and engine room, per 46 CFR 76-27-15(a).
 Verify that fire detectors are installed in all spaces required by vessel class. Note
that locations may vary by class. Refer to reference (e) for installation and
wiring details.
 For Subchapter H vessels: 46 CFR Table 76.05-1(a).
 For Subchapter I vessels: 46 CFR Table 76.05-1(a)
 For Subchapter I-A vessels: 46 CFR 108.405.
 For Subchapter L vessels: 46 CFR 130.470(b),(c).
 For Subchapter U vessels: 46 CFR Table 76.05-1(a).
Gas detectors may be connected to fire detection system if they are connected to a
separate zone, or loop, of an addressable circuit. See NVIC 7-80 discussion below.

NVIC 7-80: Unapproved Fire Detection Systems

MSC is the ONLY authority that can approve or determine equivalent status for
excess unapproved equipment. Fire detection systems that have unapproved
components should not be submitted via NVIC 10-92 or 2-95 (ACP).

Per 46 CFR 95.01-5, Fire Detection systems that are installed, but not required must
meet the Fire Protection requirements of 46 CFR Subchapter H.

The Coast Guard has published proposed new regulations for Fire Detection
systems. The Federal Register detailing these changes can be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-01-13/pdf/2013-
29863.pdf

Disclaimer: This guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it by itself a rule. It is not
intended to nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party. It represents the Coast
Guard’s current thinking on this topic and may assist industry, mariners, the general public, and the
Coast Guard, as well as other federal and state regulators, when applying statutory and regulatory

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Procedure Number: E2-09 Revision Date: 6/11/2014
requirements. You can use an alternative approach to comply with these requirements if the approach
satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. If you want to discuss an
alternative, you may contact the Marine Safety Center, the unit responsible for implementing this
guidance.

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