1. No category

Fire Testing of Flexible Hose
and Non-metallic Pipe
Thane Gilman, P.E.
USCG Systems Engineering Division
CG-5213
Phone (202) 372-1383
Email: thane.gilman@uscg.mil
USCG Regulations (46 CFR 56.60-25)
•
56.60-25 contains primary requirements
for both non-metallic pipe (plastic pipe) and
flexible hose.
•
Applicable primarily to larger vessels
subject to 46 CFR Subchapter F (Marine
Engineering).
•
Incorporates IMO Resolution A.753(18)
for plastic pipe and SAE J1942 for flex hose.
•
Fire test procedures of ISO 15540 for
hose are accepted in this section also.
Flexible hose – SAE J1942, Hose and Hose
Assemblies for Marine Applications
•
SAE J1942 requires fire tests for hose to
be installed in fuel or lube oil systems. Hose for
hydraulic and water systems are excluded from
fire test.
•
J1942 recently accepted similar fire test
arrangement to ISO 15540/15541 (30 minute
test). 2.5 minute test still allowed.
•
SAE J1942-1, Qualified Hoses for Marine
Applications, provides list of hose products
meeting J1942
Flexible hose – ISO 15540, 15541 and other
standards
•
ISO 15540 requires a 30 minute fire test
at 800 deg. C, with water flowing through hose.
ISO 15541 defines test apparatus.
•
Classification societies – IACS Unified
Requirements for Piping references ISO 15540
and 15541.
•
IMO – SOLAS Ch. II-2, Regulation 4
references ISO 15540 for tests fuel oil piping.
Flexible hose – Requirements for smaller
vessels and boats
•
Regulations for fuel system hose on
noncommercial, uninspected vessels are found
in 33 CFR Section 183.540.
•
“USCG Type A1” hose means hose
meeting SAE J1527 or UL 1114.
•
“USCG Type A2”, “B1” and “B2” in this
section also.
•
A1 and A2 must meet fire test in section
183.590 (2.5 minute heptane fire).
Plastic pipe – IMO Resolution A.753(18),
Guidelines for the Application of Plastic
Pipes on Ships, Appendix 4
System
Cat. A
Mach
space
Other
mach.
Space
Cargo
pump
rooms
Ro-ro
cargo
holds
Dry
cargo
holds
Cargo
tanks
Control
air
L1
L1
L1
L1
L1
NA
Service
air
0
0
0
0
0
NA
Brine
0
0
NA
0
0
NA
L2
L2
0
0
0
0
Low
pressure
steam
L1 – 60 minute dry test
L3 – 30 minute wet test
L2 – 30 minute dry test
0 - No fire test required
X – must be metallic
pipe
NA – not applicable
Plastic pipe – IMO Resolution A.753(18),
USCG Type Approval of Fire Testing
•
Coast Guard type approval of fire tests for
plastic piping conducted by CG-5214,
Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division.
•
Policy File Memo 1-98 (PFM 1-98) still
primary governing document for type approval
testing of plastic pipe.
Resources
Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards:
Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG-5214) website:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214
Coast Guard Marine Safety Blog website:
http://cgmarinesafety.blogspot.com/
SAE website: www.sae.org
(Search J1942 or J1527)
ISO website: www.iso.ch
(Search ISO 15540)
IMO website: www.imo.org