AUTOMATED DECK FOAM FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS FOR TANKERS

Full-scale tests were conducted on the tank vessel A.E. WATTS at the U.S. Coast Guard Fire and Safety Test Facility, Mobile, Alabama, to investigate alternatives to the manually operated monitor in a deck foam fire extinguishing system. The alternatives included oscillating, automatic, and remotely controlled monitors. The test series investigated the effectiveness and efficiency of these alternatives through maneuverability tests, pattern tests, foam placement tests, and full-scale fire tests. Alternative monitors were compared to a U.S. Coast Guard-approved manual monitor utilizing Coast Guard-approved three percent protein foam as the extinguishing agent. The automated monitors proved effective in controlling and extinguishing the deck fires at slightly longer times than the manual monitor. However, their effectiveness was increased by their ability to function under fire conditions which rendered the manual monitor impossible to approach and operate. The principal problems of the automated monitors were their reliability and durability over short periods of testing. Fail-safe manual override controls for each monitor would partially make up for these problems. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  United States Coast Guard

  Research and Development Center, 1082 Shennecossett Road
  Groton, CT  United States  06340-6096
• Authors:
  • Beene, DEJ
  • Richards, R C
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 72 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Decks (Ships); Fail safe systems; Fire detection systems; Fire extinguishing agents; Fire fighting equipment; Fires; Flammability tests; Foams; Maneuverability; Manual control; Marine safety; Monitoring; Operators (Persons); Remote control; Research; Ships; Signal generators; Tanker shipping; Tankers; Test facilities
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship fires
• Old TRIS Terms: Fail safe; Fire testing; Full scale systems; Manual operation; Oscillators; Remote control systems; Tanker automation; Tanker safety
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00169188
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: USCG-D-51-77 Final Rpt., CGR/DC-7/77
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 1978 12:00AM