Ch.

II-2 of SOLAS is divided in 6 parts as follows:

▪ Part A, relevant to the application, objectives and definition,
▪ Part B, relevant to the prevention of fire and explosion,
▪ Part C, relevant to the suppression of fire,
▪ Part D, relevant to the means of escape,
▪ Part E, relevant to the operational requirements,
▪ Part F, relevant to the alternative design and arrangements, and
▪ Part G, relevant to the special requirements.

Ch. II-2 of SOLAS was amended by

Date of entry Content
IMO Res.
into force
Ch. II-2 is re-arranged to consider strengthened fire safety requirements for
MSC.1(45) 01/09/1984
Cargo Ships and Passenger Ships.
The amendments to Ch. II-2 aim at increasing safety of Bulk Carriers and
MSC.6(48) 01/07/1986
Passenger Ships.
The amendments introduce, inter alia, regulations concerning fixed gas fire-
MSC.13(57) 01/02/1992 extinguishing systems, smoke detection systems, arrangements for fuel and
other oils, the location and separation of spaces.
MSC.22(59) 01/01/1994 The amendments improve fire safety requirements for Passenger Ships.
The amendments introduce, inter alia, fire safety measures for existing
Passenger Ships carrying more than 36 passengers, including mandatory
MSC.24(60) 01/10/1994
requirements for smoke detection and alarm and sprinkler systems in
accommodation and service spaces, stairway enclosures and corridors
The amendments introduce, inter alia, fire safety requirements for new
MSC.27(61) 01/10/1994
Passenger Ships; for ships carrying 36 passengers or less; and for Oil Tankers.
MSC.31(63) Annex Amendments to Reg. II-2/15 “Arrangements for oil fuel, lubricating oil and
01/07/1998
2 other flammable oils”.
SOLAS/CONF.3/46 01/07/1997 The amendments introduce new requirements for ro-ro Passenger Ships.
Ch. II-2 is considerably modified, with changes to the general introduction,
Part B (fire safety measures for Passenger Ships), Part C (fire safety measures
for Cargo Ships) and Part D (fire safety measures for tankers). The changes
MSC.57(67) 01/07/1998
made mandatory a new International Code for Application of Fire Test
Procedures intended to be used by Administrations when approving products
for installation in ships flying their flag.
Revision of Ch. II-2 and adoption of the new International Code for Fire Safety
MSC.99(73) 01/07/2002
Systems (FSS Code).
The amendments introduce reference to the IMDG Code in regulations II-2/3
MSC.134(76) 01/07/2004
“Definitions” and II-2/19 “Carriage of dangerous goods”.
MSC.194(80) Annex
01/01/2009 The amendments aim at updating references due to the revision of Ch. II-1.
2
Amendments to Reg. II-2/9 “Containment of fire” so as to include a
requirement for water-mist nozzles which should be tested and approved in
accordance with the guidelines approved by the Organization; and to Reg. 15
MSC.201(81) 01/07/2010
“Arrangements for oil fuel, lubricating oil and other flammable oils”, specifying
the application (for example ships constructed on or after 1 February 1992 and
on or after 1 July 1998).
MSC.216(82) Annex The amendments aim at strengthening the fire protection arrangements in
01/07/2008
1 relation to cabin balconies on Passenger Ships.
MSC.216(82) Annex
01/07/2010 The amendments introduce, inter alia, safe return to port regulations.
3
The amendments introduce requirements for the drainage of special category
MSC.256(84) 01/01/2010 and ro-ro spaces to prevent accumulation of water on the vehicle deck of ro-
ro Ships.
MSC.269(85) Annex Amendments to Reg. II-2/9 “Containment of fire” and Reg. II-2/10
01/07/2010
1 “Firefighting”.
MSC.269(85) Annex Amendments to Table 19.3 “Application of the requirements to different
01/01/2011
2 classes of dangerous goods except solid dangerous goods in bulk”.
Amendments introduce, inter alia, Arrangements for fixed hydrocarbon gas
MSC.281(87) 01/01/2012
detection systems in double-hull and double-bottom spaces of Oil Tankers.
Ch. II-2, Paragraph 5.7 is replaced introducing
MSC.291(87) 01/01/2012
new arrangements for “Gas measurement and detection”.
Revision of Ch. II-2:
• Amendments to Regulation 3 makes mandatory the Fire Test Procedure
MSC.308(88) 01/07/2012 Code (2010 FTP Code),
• Amendments to Regulation 7 establish new requirements for
“enclosed spaces containing incinerators”.
Revision of Ch. II-2, in details Regulations 9, 10, 15 and 20, the Res.
MSC.338(91) includes new fire-fighting arrangements for the following areas:
• Means of communications;
MSC.338(91) O1/07/2014
• Breathing apparatus;
• Fixed fire-extinguishing systems (for all ships, vehicles spaces and ro-ro
spaces).
Revision of Ch. II-2, in details Regulations 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 16, 20, and new 20-
1:
Res.MSC.365(93) 01/01/2016
• Requirements for vehicle carriers carrying motor vehicles with compressed
hydrogen or natural gas in their tanks for their own propulsion as cargo.
Revision of Ch. II-2, Regulation 10.5.2 includes new fire-fighting arrangements
Res.MSC.380(94) 01/07/2016 for the following areas:
• Machinery spaces of category A containing internal combustion machinery.
Revision of Ch. II-2, in details Regulations 4, 11, includes for tankers
constructed on or after 1 January 2017:
• Cargo tank venting: passage of large volumes of vapour, air or inert gas
mixtures during cargo loading and ballasting, or during discharging;
Res.MSC.392(95) 01/01/2017
• Protection of cargo tank structure against pressure or vacuum in tankers;
Regulation 20, For passenger and cargo ships constructed on or after 1 January
2017:
• Power and performance of the ventilation system.
Revision of Ch. II-2, in details Regulations 3, 13, 18
• Definitions (new) of Helicopter landing area and winching area;
Res.MSC.404(96) 01/01/2020 • Means of escape in passenger ships, deleting reference to Interim Guidelines
MSC.1/Circ.1238 and introducing evacuation analysis for passenger ships;
• foam firefighting appliances for ships having a helicopter landing area.
Revision of Ch. II-2, in details Regulations 1, 10
Res.MSC.409(97) 01/01/2020 • Applicable requirements for firing space in each boiler room (also to
existing ships).
Revision of Ch. II-2, in details Regulations 3, 9, 20, 20-1
• Definition (new) of vehicle carrier;
Res.MSC.421(98) 01/01/2020 • Protection of openings in fire resisting divisions: windows and sidescuttles;
•requirements for vehicles with fuel in their tanks for their own propulsion
and for vehicle carriers.