What is the easiest way to satisfy this fire extinguishing requirement?

[GL 3-G-1.8.] Craft with a length of 15m or more are to be provided with a water fire extinguishing installation ...

I never recall (on boats of just a bit above that size, say to 20m) seeing anything regarding fire extinguishing, apart from traditional CO2 bottles.

How is this requirement usually satisfied? I mean, what is the easiest system to install that will satisfy that requirement?


A plastic hose connected to a bilge pump? (guessing off the top of my head here)

 

A plastic hose will not satisfy the requirement. A regular fire hose will. A bilge pump takes water from the bilge so will not work either. You need a high pressure, high volume pump connected to a through-hull fitting to supply it with water.

 

I know, but this is a boat of 15.8m which has been lengthened from a 14.8m boat (don't ask). They used to have 2 CO2 bottles, and now the inspector is bugging them over that pump ("classification society inspector" <- is there a better term for this in english?).

I don't even know where they could install it (space is limited) so that it could be reachable. That is why I'm asking for workarounds, so to put it.
From what I read in the rules, a bilge pump can be used for this purpose (reversible, I guess?).

 

A bilge pump won't probably have the pressure or volume to satisfy the rule. A temporary water pickup, like a hose off the side, may work.

 

Sigh ... it looks the easiest way in the end will be to install a small pump after all.

Hose off the side ... they have a rather large freeboard, I don't think the bilge pump would be able to "take it".

Do you perhaps know what kind of pumps are installed for that purpose? I see nothing in the Vetus catalogue, under "fire protection pumps" or anything similar ("high pressure pumps" also nothing)?

 

A Steimel type KB twin chamber centrifugal pump is widely used on yachts.. One chamber is used for raw water cooling the engine , one chamber is avaible for water pumping. Its a 3000 euro pump. Better get approval for fire fighting before purchase. Engine driven pumps for firefighting are poor seamanship. http://www.steimel.com/download/prospekte/pumpen_en.pdf

 

I'm hoping for some cheaper solution. They already have everything on board (including the bilges); just missing this piece. Are there some small high pressure pumps available perhaps, that would be *just enough* to satisfy this?

Do you know perhaps?

 

What about simply asking the inspector?

-Tom

 

The project's finished, even the reconstruction is almost finished ... aparently someone just overlooked this detail.

I could ask the inspector, but I don't know the fella, and the boat is some 500km away ... I was just asked to think of some simple (read: cheap) solution/workaround around this, that would just satisfy this.
I don't think the inspector will put much trouble on it, but he wants *something* to be there.

 

The typical fire pump for a yacht is a small diesel engined portable. They are not cheap but they are what is required to make inspection.

 

You might want to think about a dewatering pump like http://www.waterpumpsdirect.com/Champion-65525-Water-Pump/p6945.html I don't know what your flow rate requirements are, but this type of pump is also commonly carried for emergency bilge pumping, and can do double duty as a fire pump. It just depends on where you put the inlet hose.

 

just get ABS or DNV class and you wont have to worry

 

Dewatering pumps don't have enough head for a firefighting pump. We all want cheap, but there is minimum cost for every piece of equipment. What is the flow and pressure at what head you are required?

 

I think you probably need something like this: http://www.benmeadows.com/Honda-Hig...555/?CID=BMPL10&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=165723

 

That looks like an okey solution; I'll recommend they try to find something like that. Probably could find a cheaper model in this part of the world, if they tried.

@gonzo - couldn't say. Will return home for the weekend, and then look at the numbers. I'm on a trip right now, and don't have my work laptop with me (and I'm very happy about that )