1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-first session (7 to 11 December 1992), adopted amendments to regulation II-2/5.3.1 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention prohibiting the new installation of halon fire-extinguishing systems, as a follow-up action to Assembly resolution A.719(17) - Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships.

　

2 The Committee noted progress being made by the Sub-Committee on Bulk Chemicals in developing regulations for a new annex to MARPOL 73/78 dealing with the prevention of air pollution from ships and by the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection (FP Sub-Committee) in considering necessary measures for existing halon fire-extinguishing systems on board ships.

　

3 The Committee recognized that alternative fire-extinguishing systems are still being developed, that reception facilities to store or dispose of halogenated hydrocarbons removed from ships are not yet readily available and that it would take some time to develop and put into force international regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships under the MARPOL Convention. Having considered the recommendations of the FP Sub-Committee, the Committee, therefore, agreed to draw attention to existing halon fire-extinguishing systems to prevent the possibility of leakage into the air by establishing a requirement for periodic examinations and maintenance.

　

4 Member Governments are, therefore, urged to introduce in their survey and inspection system established under the SOLAS and MARPOL Conventions, an annual leakage test programme for existing halon fire-extinguishing systems

　

　

1 At its sixtieth session, the Maritime Safety Committee approved "Guidelines for the performance and testing criteria, and surveys of low-expansion foam concentrates for fixed fire-extinguishing systems".

　

2 Member Governments are recommended to ensure that tests for type approval and periodical control of the low-expansion foam concentrates are performed, in accordance with the attached guidelines.

　

　

　

　

 These Guidelines apply to the foam concentrates for fixed low-expansion fire-extinguishing systems required by SOLAS 74(83) Reg. II-2/61 for oil tankers. These Guidelines also apply to foam concentrates for fixed low-expansion fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces according to SOLAS 74(83) Reg. II-2/8.

　

 For the purpose of these Guidelines the following definitions apply.

　

　

 The sampling method should ensure representative samples which should be stored in filled containers.

 The sample size should be:

　

- 30 litres for type tests (see Section 3)

- 2 litres for periodical controls (see Section 4).