8 Mistakes You Should Never Make While Handling CO2 Fire Fighting System

1/7/2020 8 Mistakes You Should Never Make While Handling CO2 Fire Fighting System
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8 Mistakes You Should Never Make While

Handling CO2 Fire Fighting System
By Mohit | In: Marine Safety | Last Updated on November 28, 2019
CO2 fixed fire fighting system is the last resort available on board ships for fighting major engine room or
compartment space fires. The requirement for CO2 fire extinguishing is to discharge 85% of CO2 gas in
the fire affected space within 2 minutes in the engine room and 10 minutes in the cargo holds. This
means that there is no time to refer to the manuals or understand the CO2 system during emergency
situations. Needless to say, any mistake while operating the CO2 system can lead to devastating
situation.
It is the duty of ship management officers to ensure that all crew members know the exact location of the
system and correct procedure for operation of the CO2 System.
Following are the most common mistakes that take place while operating CO2 system and those which
mariners should never make:
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delay during emergency.
2. Wrong Operating Procedure: The Co2 system comprises of many valves and levers which need to
be operated in a sequential manner. The crew must know the correct order of operating the valves which
includes activation of alarm , operation of pilot bottle and opening of the correct location for discharge of
CO2 gas.
3. Not Checking the Pipes for Corrosion: The CO2 gas is carried to various compartments of the ship
via small pipelines. These pipelines must be checked for corrosion and damage, for in emergency if the
correct quantity of gas is not reached due to leakage, the fire will not be suppressed.
4. Improper Tightening After Maintenance: If the pipe connections, bottle connections or links which
operates the CO2 bottles are not tightened properly after maintenance, CO2 system will not operate or
will not be effective for suppressing the fire.
5. Not Performing Leak Test and Level Measurement: Leak test of the complete system to be
performed at designated interval by responsible ship officer. Any detection of leak to be immediately
rectified. Level measurement is another important procedure to be performed at regular intervals with
CO2 bottle level measuring instrument. Avoidance of these procedure will lead to less amount of CO2
reaching the affected compartment which will not suppress the fire.
6. Not Blowing Out Water from the Line: As the ship sails in varying temperature zones, the pipes tend
to accumulate condensed water which leads to blockage of the line and corrosion. It is important to clear
the lines by blowing it with pressurized air at regular intervals of time.
7. Failure of Sealing the Concerned Compartment: The CO2 gas suppresses the oxygen in the
compartment. The system can work very effectively when the compartment is properly sealed. It is
important to find time to properly seal the compartment before releasing the CO2 gas as failure to do so
will lead to improper fire suppression and once CO2 is released, the system cannot be stopped until fully
discharged.
8. Not Informing Fellow Crew While Testing/Operating the System: Fatal Incidents have been
reported of crew members getting trapped in the compartment while CO2 has been released, leading to
suffocation and death. Before testing or operating the CO2 system, all crew members must be informed
of the same and remove all from the compartment.
These are some of the important points to remember while handling CO2 fire fighting system. Do you
know of any other important points? Let us know in the comments below.
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Tags: fire safety general safety ship fire
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About Mohit
Mohit Kaushik is a marine engineer sailing with Maersk Shipping. He handles website
development and technical support at Marine Insight. Apart from handling web
development projects, he also manages a logistics company and have a keen interest in modern
logistic technologies .
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Comments
arunkumar says
FEBRUARY 12, 2014 AT 12:35 PM
Dear sir,Thanks for providing very useful information where everyone must know.
OK READ MORE
sajith says
Really useful. Thanks for the details.
halil says
İt is really usefull thanks
idris vumbi says

thanks for the knowledge
Hasib says
NOVEMBER 22, 2014 AT 9:22 PM
Good Day ! I would like to notify some additional point, as follow:

1. CO2 release cabinet point must be kept always accessible;
2. CO2 bottles/cylinders room must be equipped with special hanging scale to weighing them
in regular interval / class survey intervals
3. CO2 room must have exhaust fan and its switch must be outside of the room
Thanks !
John Fongers Inglasco Fire Systems Rotterdam says

OCTOBER 10, 2016 AT 2:00 PM
– Study the manual and discuss the work to be carried out with more technical persons
– Always ventilate the Co2 room after opening the door, wait before entering the Co2 room
– Co2 is heavier then air so if Co2 has escaped it will be most likely on the bottom
– Never ever work alone in a Co2 room
– Keep an EEBD or BA set at hand for each person working in the Co2 room.
– When you have to work on a row of cylinders, disconnect them by taking out the pilot loop
from the beginnng and the en dof the cylinder row, this will prevent the whole system to be
released in case of an accident.
– Some Japanese Co2 installations can release themselves when pressurizing the manifold
NEVER try to pressurize a manifold for blowing compressed air with a Japanese system; hire a
specialist.
– If in doubt DO NOT TOUCH !
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UDAY POTNIS says

DECEMBER 15, 2016 AT 11:00 AM
KINDLY LET ME KNOW HOW A CHIEF ENGINEER ASCERTAIN THAT 85% OF

CARBONDIOXIDE HAS BEEN DISCHARGED IN ENGINE ROOM?
AHMED SALAMA says

MARCH 19, 2017 AT 8:30 AM
Good day All

Just i would like to mention from my experience one study case that operator has to make sure
that he close the vent valve on the line other wise all the CO2 will go to the atmosphere.
SNEHASISH PADHI says

MAY 21, 2017 AT 1:58 AM
The above article was very useful.thanks for your kind effort in bringing this article in limelight.I
also want to share few article in this website .Sir can you guide me what is the procedure to
write a blog in here ?
krunal says
MARCH 3, 2018 AT 10:40 AM
how will u ascertain that 85%co2 is realeased?
suman says
JANUARY 26, 2019 AT 1:38 PM
If somebody is not present during muster, then what to? Suppose master told 4th engineer to
go for check? Should i go?
Anish says
JANUARY 29, 2019 AT 12:03 PM
@suman: It depends on the type of emergency. If you feel that going back to the
accommodation alone
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best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
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Prabir das says

JULY 22, 2019 AT 10:12 AM
@ prabir das.
GD morning .
U HV explain very much in professionally thanks.there is end of learning we learned every
day.such your comments.
My question is normally delay cylinder valve is must be open conditions.pl update me.
pdas.cgs@gmail.com.
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1/7/2020 8 Mistakes You Should Never Make While Handling CO2 Fire Fighting System

8 Mistakes You Should Never Make While

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Really useful. Thanks for the details.

İt is really usefull thanks

idris vumbi says

thanks for the knowledge

Good Day ! I would like to notify some additional point, as follow:

John Fongers Inglasco Fire Systems Rotterdam says

UDAY POTNIS says

KINDLY LET ME KNOW HOW A CHIEF ENGINEER ASCERTAIN THAT 85% OF

AHMED SALAMA says

Good day All

SNEHASISH PADHI says

how will u ascertain that 85%co2 is realeased?

Prabir das says

How Ships Can Prepare for PSC Inspection for IMO

Deceased Whale Found On Bow Of Cargo Ship,

Pirate Attack Leaves 4 Dead & 3 Kidnapped Crew

Watch: Breathtaking Battle Of Pelagitis With Stormy

Watch: IMO 2020 – Global Sulphur Cap Comes Into

Submit your best email & we

YES, SEND ME EBOOKS

 Privacy guaranteed! We hate spam too.

JOIN OVER 2 MILLION+ MARINERS

How To Join Merchant Navy? Maritime Piracy

Guide To MARPOL Maritime World

Types Of Ships Marine Environment

Maritime Jobs Offshore Industry

Financial Planning Linkedin

Combo Packs Pinterest

Copyright © 2010 - 2019 Marine Insight — All Rights Reserved |

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