Franz Evegren

Fire risk assessment of alternative ship design

ABSTRACT The procedure to evaluate fire safety of alternative ship design solutions, described in MSC/Circ.1002, has been found insufficient for novel and large scopes. In this paper, it is analysed with regards to function and applicability as a risk-based assessment procedure. Deficiencies are addressed based on risk assessment research and involvement in over a dozen performed assessments. Clarified are inconsistencies in the fire safety regulations, which must be considered particularly during identification of hazards. It is also suggested that affected safety functions are evaluated separately if possible and that the assessment sophistication is adapted to the scope of introduced hazards; four levels to perform parts of or the whole assessment are proposed.

Fire safety regulations and performance of fibre-reinforced polymer composite ship structures

This article presents a procedure for how to relate fire performance of fibre-reinforced polymer composite structures to the fire safety regulations in Safety of Life at Sea II-2. It can be used as basis when performing a fire risk assessment to demonstrate that the degree of safety is at least equivalent to that provided by prescriptive requirements. A key issue is that requirements and test methods are based on the use of steel structures, which requires seeking the safety level implied by the regulations. This was demonstrated for the regulations and introduced hazards affecting the growth stage of a fire. The safety implied by regulations was related to fire performance of fibre-reinforced polymer composite by reference to fire tests involving typical materials and some relevant safety measures. Ignition was described as uncritical, while the fire growth on a fibre-reinforced polymer composite surface can be rapid. Flammability requirements are generally not achieved by an untreated panel but different means can be used for protection. A fire protective coating can be used to prevent ignition, and sprinkler is effective for both fire prevention and extinguishment on interior and external surfaces. For interior spaces, it can be relevant with a coating or thermal insulation also to hinder increased generation of smoke and toxic gases during fire evacuation. In all, it is shown that fire hazards during the fire growth stage are manageable, and a foundation is lain out for a well-structured fire risk assessment.

Structural fire integrity testing of lightweight structures

To reduce environmental impact and to manage weight in shipping and offshore, lightweight structures are becoming increasingly important. A critical issue for loadbearing structures is their struct ...