APPROVAL GUIDANCE FOR FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

APPROVAL CATEGORY:  161.002

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION:  Follow 46 CFR 161.002 and Subchapter J (Electrical) for power requirements of detection systems.  The Coast Guard only approves the entire detection system.  The system must include all initiating devices, notification devices and power supply systems.

The following is a clarification of the information provided in the 46 CFR 161.002-4b:

Test Standards Required for Type Approval

All components must pass the environmental tests for control and monitoring equipment in either

ABS Rules Table 4/11.1 (1996 version) OR Category ENV3 tests of Lloyd’s Register Type Approval System, Test Specification Number 1 (1990 version).

Documentation required:  Test report from an Independent Laboratory acceptable by the U.S. Coast Guard for testing under 46 CFR 161.002.
Ref:  46 CFR 161.002-4(b)(2) and (3)

All components that are to be installed in locations requiring exceptional degrees of protection must also pass one of the following:

• the salt spray (mist) test in ABS Rules Table 4/11.1 (1996),
• the salt spray (mist) test in Lloyd’s Register Type Approval System, Test Specification No. 1 (1990), or
• ASTM B 117-95 for 200 hours and does not show pitting, cracking, or other deterioration more severe than that resulting from a similar test on passivated AISI Type 304 stainless steel.

Locations requiring an exceptional degree of protection means a location exposed to weather, seas, splashing, pressure-directed liquids, or similar moisture conditions.  These locations include--


The components must meet the standards as indicted in the table below.  For UL and NFPA standards, we currently accept all later versions as equivalent.  There should be a factory follow-up service by an independent agency that checks to see components are manufactured as tested and that monitors modifications to ensure previous test results are valid.

Component	Non-environmental Standards required by 46 CFR 161.002– 4(b).
Control Unit	Either UL 864, Standard for Control Units for Fire-Protective Signaling Systems, 1991 (including revisions through May 1994); OR both of these: Factory Mutual Engineering and Research -- Class Number 3820: Electrical Utilization Equipment, September, 1979, and NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, 1993
Heat Detectors	Either one of the following standards: Factory Mutual Engineering and Research -- Class Number 3210: Thermostats for Automatic Fire Detection, July, 1978 OR UL 521, Standard for Heat Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems, 1993 (including revisions through October 1994).
Smoke Detectors	Either one of the following standards: Factory Mutual Engineering and Research -- Class Number 3230–3250: Smoke Actuated Detectors for Automatic Fire Alarm Signaling, February, 1976 OR UL 268, Standard for Smoke Detectors for Fire Protective Signaling Systems, 1989 (including revisions through June 1994).
Flame Detectors	Factory Mutual Engineering and Research -- Class Number 3260: Flame Radiation Detectors for Automatic Fire Alarm Signaling, September, 1994
Pull Stations	UL 38, Standard for Manually Actuated Signaling Boxes for Use with Fire-Protective Signaling Systems, 1994.
Alarms (horn, bell, or other audible device)	46 CFR 161.002-4(b) specifies the following: Factory Mutual Engineering and Research (FMER) -- Class Number 3150: Audible Signal Devices, December, 1974 and NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, 1993. The following are recognized as equivalent for satisfying the CFR requirement for FMER 3150: UL 464 Audible Signal Appliances (May 11, 1999) UL 1480 Speakers for Fire Protective Signaling Systems (July 28, 1998).
Alarms (visual)	46 CFR 161.002-4(b) specifies the following: NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, 1993. The following are recognized as equivalent: UL 1971 Signaling Applications for the hearing Impaired.

Additional Issues:

The American with Disabilities Act does not currently apply to the notification equipment for fire protection systems installed on passenger vessels.  Manufacturers can incorporate visual devices (e.g. strobes) that meet the latest version of UL 1971 for the design and installation of their fire protective equipment to mitigate the potential of causing an epileptic seizure.

If part of the system might be installed in a hazardous location (such as a cargo hold containing hazardous cargoes), one should be aware of the requirements in 46 CFR 111.105.  The list of laboratories for testing to the requirements in 46 CFR 111.105 is different than those for testing for type approval of fire detection systems.  

Please note that when a reference is made in the Detection Systems regulations to the Lloyds and ABS standards it does not mean or infer approval by Lloyds and/or ABS.

APPROVED INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES:  The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval.  Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory. 
Use the ACCEPTED INDEPENDENT LABORATORY SEARCH ENGINE to find the laboratories that can conduct the relevant product testing.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE:  Please submit the follow information in the Submittal Package:

• A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
• Test report(s) from an Accepted Independent Laboratory be acceptable by the U.S. Coast Guard for testing under 46 CFR 161.002.
• Three original copies of the manual for the system.  In general, the manual should be easy to follow and provide information on how the system is to installed and maintained.  In addition it should also include a description of the type of system, what type of faults are indicated within the system, and the limitations of the system such as the number of detectors allowed on a circuit.
• List of authorized components. (If the component is not listed, it cannot be installed in the system.)
• Required drawings/plans and specification sheets of the equipment.  The drawings and plans should provide this office with a description of each component and the application of the components including their limitations.  The drawings should clearly show how each component is connected to the system.

Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to TypeApproval@uscg.mil.