Part A - General

Regulation 2 - Fire safety objectives and functional requirements

1.    Fire safety objectives
1.1    The fire safety objectives of this chapter are to:

1.1.1    prevent the occurrence of fire and explosion;

1.1.2    reduce the risk to life caused by fire;

1.1.3    reduce the risk of damage caused by fire to the ship, its cargo and the environment;

1.1.4    contain, control and suppress fire and explosion in the compartment of origin; and

1.1.5    provide adequate and readily accessible means of escape for passengers and crew.

2.    Functional requirements
2.1    In order to achieve the fire safety objectives set out in paragraph 1, the following functional requirements are embodied in the regulations of this chapter as appropriate:

2.1.1    division of the ship into main vertical and horizontal zones by thermal and structural boundaries;

2.1.2    separation of accommodation spaces from the remainder of the ship by thermal and structural boundaries;

2.1.3    restricted use of combustible materials;

2.1.4    detection of any fire in the zone of origin;

2.1.5    containment and extinction of any fire in the space of origin;

2.1.6    protection of means of escape and access for fire fighting;

2.1.7    ready availability of fire-extinguishing appliances; and

2.1.8    minimization of possibility of ignition of flammable cargo vapour.

3.    Achievement of the fire safety objectives
The fire safety objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall be achieved by ensuring compliance with the prescriptive requirements specified in parts B, C, D, E or G, or by alternative design and arrangements which comply with Part F. A ship shall be considered to meet the functional requirements set out in paragraph 2 and to achieve the fire safety objectives set out in paragraph 1 when either:

3.1    the ship's design and arrangements, as a whole, comply with the relevant prescriptive requirements in parts B, C, D, E or G;

3.2    the ship's design and arrangements, as a whole, have been reviewed and approved in accordance with part F; or

3.3    part(s) of the ship's design and arrangements have been reviewed and approved in accordance with part F and the remaining parts of the ship comply with the relevant prescriptive requirements in parts B, C, D, E or G.