46 C.F.R. §§ 76.27-5–76.27-15

Detectors, manual alarm stations, control panels, cabinets, alarms, and other notifying devices must be of approved types.

The fire detection and alarm system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.

The fire detection and alarm system must control and monitor input signals for all connected detectors and manual pull stations or call points.

The fire detection and alarm system must provide fire or fault output signals to the pilothouse or fire control station.

The fire detection and alarm system must notify crew and passengers of a fire when appropriate.

The fire detection and alarm system must be so arranged and installed that the presence of a fire in any of the protected spaces will be automatically registered visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station. The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated. On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room.

Means to manually acknowledge all alarm and fault signals must be provided at the control panel. The audible alarm on the control panel may be manually silenced. The control panel must clearly distinguish between normal, alarm, acknowledged alarm, fault, and silence conditions.

The activation of any detector or manual pull station must cause an audible and visual fire detection alarm signal at the control panel. If the alarm signal has not been acknowledged within 2 minutes, an audible fire alarm must be automatically sounded throughout the crew accommodations and service spaces, control stations, and manned machinery spaces.

A fire detection and alarm system must automatically reset to a normal operating condition after alarm and fault situations are cleared.

Detectors in certain spaces, such as workshops during hot work and ro-ro spaces during on- and off-loading, may be disabled. The system must be restored automatically to normal surveillance after a predetermined time. Spaces must be manned when any detectors are disabled. Detectors in all other spaces must remain operational.

In fire detection and alarm systems with addressable detectors and manual pull stations, every fault (such as an open circuit, short circuit, or ground fault) must be monitored and must not prevent the continued individual identification of the remaining detectors and manual pull stations.

In fire detection and alarm systems with addressable detectors and manual alarm stations, the initiation of the first fire detector and resulting alarm must not prevent any other detector from responding.

Fire detection and alarm systems without addressable detectors and manual alarm stations must identify the zone that contains the activated detector or station upon activation of a detector or manual pull station.

Fire detection and alarm systems may output signals to other fire safety systems including, but not limited to, paging systems, fire alarm or public address systems, fan stops, fire doors, fire dampers, sprinkler systems, smoke extraction systems, low-location lighting systems, fixed local application fire extinguishing systems, and closed-circuit television systems.

Fire detection and alarm systems may accept signals from other safety systems. For example, a signal initiated from actuation of an automatic sprinkler valve may be sent to a fire detection and alarm system.

The fire detection and alarm system may be connected to a decision management system provided that—

Detectors must be responsive to heat, smoke, or other products of combustion, flame, or any combination of these factors. Detectors responsive to other indicators of incipient fires may be used if approved.

Detectors must be capable of being triggered or tested and restored to service without the replacement of any component.

Heat detectors must be rated not lower than 130 °F (54 °C) and not higher than 172 °F (78 °C). The operating temperature of heat detectors located in spaces of high normal ambient temperatures may be up to 260 °F (130 °C). The operating temperatures of heat detectors in saunas may be up to 284 °F (140 °C).

Fire detectors fitted in passenger cabins must also emit, or cause to be emitted, an audible alarm within the cabin when activated.

The required sensitivity and other performance criteria of detectors must be as set forth in 46 CFR 161.002.