Class notation for additional fire protection in accommodation.

Purpose

The requirements for the F-A notation are additional to and go beyond SOLAS. Fires in general represent 10 % of all fatalities at sea. Passenger ships have a higher reported fire frequency than other ship types.

Benefits

By using DNV’s experience with new technology and adapting the rules to meet market demands, the F-A rules continue to offer a design standard for fire safety well above the compulsory IMO standards. This is especially important to operators of high-value ships such as cruise liners, shuttle tankers and LNG carriers.

F-A rules are well known in the maritime industry as a high-quality fire safety standard. They are often included in design specifications for new buildings irrespective of the class society that is responsible.

Features

DNV’s Rules for additional fire protection have been updated to reflect changes in SOLAS and recent developments within fire extinguishing and detection technology, as well as new safety philosophies. The focus is on cost-efficient requirements in order to provide early detection and reduce the consequences of a fire:

• Fire detection in cabins

• Safe and efficient escape routes

• Restrictions to the use of combustible materials

• Improved manual fire fighting equipment, portable extinguishers and lightweight fireman’s equipment

Process

Approval and surveys are based on plans, specifications, related technical descriptions and data produced by the builder or sub-suppliers.