SOLAS Regulation 11-2/10
Who is affected by this firefighters communications Solas regulation?
Regulation II – 2/10.10.4 is applicable to all new SOLAS ships, newly constructed on or after the date of July 1st 2014.
Existing ships, built prior to that date should comply with this requirement no later than the first survey after July 1st 2018.
Why was this regulation been introduced?
This regulation was proposed in the aftermath of an incident involving a fire, in the engine room on board the
Swedish tanker ‘Ek – River’ ,while in dry – dock.
Following this incident upgrades of radio-communication equipment for fire
fighters, including additional equipment such as smoke diver emergency alarm, PASS alarm and location lights
were proposed.
Entel Solas Compliant Intrinsically Safe Radio
What does the regulation say?
MSC 91 adopted amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-2/10 to add a new paragraph 10.4 to clarify that a minimum of two two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus for each fire party for fire-fighters’ communication shall be carried on board.
These radio devices shall be of an explosion proof type or Intrinsically Safe (IS).
Which type of ships does this regulation apply to?
The regulation does not specify type of the vessel. All ships with firefighting teams on board need to comply.
What is Intrinsically Safe Equipment?
Intrinsically Safe (IS) is a term used to describe products designed for use in hazardous (explosive) locations.
These are areas where flammable liquids, vapours, gases or combustible dusts are likely to occur in quantities sufficient to cause a fire or explosion.
In normal use, electrical equipment can create tiny internal sparks and heat. Both of these can become a source of
ignition in a flammable atmosphere.
Intrinsically Safe (IS) radios will not create the sparks and/or heat sufficient to ignite an
explosive atmosphere.
IS products are tested by independent accredited labs under specific standards to qualify as an IS product. For
example, the standard applicable in Europe is called ATEX. Your supplier should be able to provide you an
approval certificate showing the brand and model number of the radio. Yesway can do this.
There are different types of IS approvals, and the required type depends on individual Flag of the vessel. For example, it is mandatory for European companies
and European-flag vessels to use ATEX certified equipment.
ATEX is an EU directive dealing with electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres.
It categorizes the hazardous environment into three Gas Groups: IIA, IIB, and IIC (II is a Roman numeral).
Group IIC is the most severe group, i.e. gases/vapours in this group can be ignited very easily.
Flammable materials are also categorized according to their ignition temperatures which are called temperature
classes.
Yesway are Entel dealers. Entel radios have a temperature class of T4 or 135oC, i.e. the temperature of an Entel radio will not rise beyond 135oC in event of an electronic failure.
The UK designed Entel range of IS radios conform to three standards:
- ATEX Approved IIC – The HT900 range of ATEX certified firefighters communications portables meet IIC T4 – the most stringent ATEX ratings as per EU directive 94/9/EC.
- ATEX Approval IIA – The HT800 range of ATEX certified portables meet IIA T4 with 4 watts RF power; for those users not restricted to the IIC 1 watt regulatory classification.
- IECEx Approval – The HT500 range of IS certified portables are suitable for those users who do not need to comply with the European ATEX standard.
Yesway Communications are delighted to help your marine business comply with the regulations, by providing the proven high quality Entel range of Intrinsically Safe (IS) firefighters communications radios.
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