Regulation 29

Fuel oil which has a flashpoint of less than 60° Celsius (closed cup test) as determined by an approved flashpoint apparatus shall not be used as fuel, except in emergency generators, in which case the flashpoint shall not be less than 43° Celsius: Provided that the Certifying Authority may permit the general use of fuel oil having a flashpoint of not less than 43° Celsius subject to such additional precautions as it may consider necessary and on condition that the temperature of the space in which such fuel is stored or used shall not rise to within 10° Celsius below the flashpoint of the fuel. (2) Safe and efficient means of ascertaining the amount of fuel oil contained in any oil tank shall be provided. If sounding pipes are installed, their upper ends shall terminate in safe positions and shall be fitted with suitable means of closure. Tubular gauge glasses shall not be fitted, but suitably protected gauges having flat glasses of substantial thickness and self-closing fittings may be used. Suitably protected tubular gauge glasses may be permitted on fuel tanks independent of the hull structure provided that they are fitted with self-closing valves to the satisfaction of the Certifying Authority. Other means of ascertaining the amount of fuel oil contained in any fuel oil tank may be permitted provided that their failure or over-filling of the tanks will not permit release of fuel. (3) Provision shall be made to prevent overpressure in any oil tank or in any part of the fuel oil system including the filling pipes. Relief valves and air or overflow pipes shall discharge to a position and in a manner which is safe. (4) Subject to the satisfaction of the Certifying Authority, fuel oil pipes which, if damaged, would allow oil to escape from a storage, settling or daily service tank situated above the double bottom, shall be fitted with a cock or valve on the tank capable of being closed from a safe position outside the space concerned in the event of a fire arising in the space in which such tanks are situated. In the special case of deep tanks situated in any shaft or pipe tunnel or similar space, valves on the tanks shall be fitted but control in the event of fire may be effected by means of an additional valve on the pipe or pipes outside the tunnel or similar space. If such an additional valve is fitted in the machinery space it shall be capable of being operated from outside this space. (5) Pumps forming part of the fuel oil systems shall be separate from any other system and the connections of any such pumps shall be provided with an efficient relief valve which shall be in closed circuit. Where fuel oil tanks are alternatively used as liquid ballast tanks, proper means shall be provided to isolate the fuel oil and ballast systems. (6) No oil tank shall be situated where spillage or leakage therefrom can constitute a hazard by falling on heated surfaces. Precautions shall be taken to prevent any oil that may escape under pressure from any pump, filter or heater from coming into contact with heated surfaces. (7) ( a ) Fuel oil pipes and their valves and fittings shall be of steel or other equivalent material, provided that restricted use of flexible pipes may be permitted in positions where the Certifying Authority is satisfied that they are necessary. Such flexible pipes and end attachments shall be of adequate strength and be constructed of approved fire-resistant materials or have fire-resistant coatings. ( b ) Where necessary, fuel oil and lubricating oil pipelines shall be screened or otherwise suitably protected to avoid, as far as practicable, oil spray or oil leakage on heated surfaces or into machinery air intakes. The number of joints in piping systems shall be kept to a minimum. (8) As far as practicable, fuel oil tanks shall be part of the ship’s structure and shall be located outside machinery spaces of Category A. Where fuel oil tanks, other than double bottom tanks, are necessarily located adjacent to or within machinery spaces of Category A, at least one of their vertical sides shall be contiguous to the machinery space boundaries, and shall preferably have a common boundary with the double bottom tanks where fitted and the area of the tank boundary common with the machinery space shall be kept to a minimum. When such tanks are sited within the boundaries of machinery spaces of Category A they shall not contain fuel oil having a flashpoint of less than 60° Celsius (closed cup test). In general, the use of free-standing fuel oil tanks shall be avoided in fire hazard areas, and particularly in machinery spaces of Category A. When free-standing fuel oil tanks are permitted, they shall be placed in an oil-tight spill tray of ample size having a suitable drain pipe leading to a suitably sized spill oil tank. (9) The ventilation of machinery spaces shall be sufficient under all normal conditions to prevent accumulation of oil vapour. (10) The arrangements for the storage, distribution and use of oil employed in pressure lubrication systems shall be to the satisfaction of the Certifying Authority. Such arrangements in machinery spaces of Category A and wherever practicable, in other machinery spaces shall at least comply with the provisions of paragraphs (1), (3), (6) and (7) and in so far as the Certifying Authority may consider necessary with paragraphs (2) and (4). This does not preclude the use of sight flow glasses in lubrication systems provided they are shown by test to have a suitable degree of fire resistance. (11) The arrangements for the storage, distribution and use of flammable oils employed under pressure in power transmission systems other than oils referred to in paragraph (10) in control and activating systems and heating systems shall be to the satisfaction of the Certifying Authority. In locations where means of ignition are present such arrangements shall at least comply with the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (6) and with paragraphs (3) and (7) in respect of strength and construction.