FIREMAIN SYSTEMS

Purpose :

The firemain system receives water pumped from the sea. It distributes this water to fireplugs, sprinkling systems, flushing
systems, machinery cooling-water systems, washdown systems, and other systems as required. The firemain system is used
primarily to supply the fireplug and the sprinkling systems; the other uses of the system are secondary.

TYPES OF FIREMAIN SYSTEMS

Navy ships have three basic types of firemain systems. They are as follows:
1. The single-main system
2. The horizontal loop system
3. The vertical offset loop system
The type of firemain system in any particular ship depends upon the characteristics and functions of the ship. Small ships
generally have a straight-line, single-main system. Large ships usually have one of the loop systems or a composite system,
which is some combination or variation of the three basic types. The design of the three basic types of firemain systems is as
follows:

1. The single-main firemain system shown in figure 6-1 consists of a single piping run that extends fore and aft. This type of
firemain is generally installed near the centerline of the ship, extending forward and aft as far as necessary.
2. The horizontal loop firemain system shown in figure 6-2 consists of two single fore-and-aft, cross-connected piping runs.
The two individual lengths of piping are installed in the same horizontal plane (on the same deck) but are separated
athwartships as far as practical.

3. The vertical offset loop firemain system shown in figure 6-3 consists of two single piping runs, installed fore-and-aft in an
oblique (that is, angled) plane, separated both vertically and athwartship, connected at the ends to form a loop. The lower
section of the firemain is located as low in the ship as practical on one side, and the upper section is located on the damage
control deck on the opposite side of the ship. Athwartship cross-connects are usually provided at each pump riser.
A commonly used variation is a composite firemain system that consists of two piping runs installed on the damage control
deck and separated athwartships. A bypass section of piping is installed at the lower level near the centerline. Cross-
connections are installed alternately between one service piping run and the bypass piping.

MAGAZINE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Sprinkler systems are used for emergency cooling of, and fire fighting in, magazines, ready-service rooms, ammunition, and
missile handling areas. A magazine sprinkler system consists of a network of pipes. These pipes are secured to the overhead
and connected by a sprinkler system control valve to the ship’s firemain system. The pipes are fitted with spray heads or
sprinkler-head valves. They are arranged so the water forced through them showers all parts of the magazine or ammunition
and missile-handling areas. A modern sprinkler system can wet down all exposed bulkheads at the rate of 2 gallons per minute
per square foot. It can sprinkle the deck area at the rate of 4 gallons per minute per square foot.

Magazine sprinkler systems can completely flood their designated spaces within an hour. To prevent unnecessary flooding of
adjacent areas, all compartments equipped with sprinkler systems are watertight. Upper deck handling and ready-service rooms
are equipped with drains that limit the water level to a few inches.

The valves that control the operation of the magazine sprinkler system are as follows:
1. The manual control valve. This valve permits hydraulic operation of the sprinkler valve.
2. The hydraulically operated remote control valve. This diaphragm operated globe type valve is opened by operating pressure
acting against the underside of the disk and closed by operating pressure acting on top of the diaphragm. This valve permits the
sprinkler valve to be secured from other stations, whether or not it was manually or automatically actuated.
3. The spring-loaded lift check valve. This spring-loaded, diaphragm operated, lift check valve closes tightly against the reverse
flowand opens wide to permit flow in the normal direction. Spring-loaded lift check valves permit the control system to be
operated from more than one control station by preventing backflow through the other stations.
4. The hydraulically operated check valve. This valve permits the operating pressure to be vented from the diaphragm chamber
of the magazine-sprinkling valve, thereby permitting that valve to close rapidly and completely.
5. Power operated check valve. This piston operated poppet type valve is opened by pressure from the “close” loop of the
actuating pressure acting against the piston.

INSTALLED AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING FOAM (AFFF) SYSTEM

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is one of the most widely used fire-fighting agents. AFFF is primarily used aboard ship to
fight class BRAVO fires, often in conjunction with Purple-K-Powder (PKP). AFFF is delivered through both portable and
installed equipment. Two types of installed AFFF systems are shown in figures 6-4 and 6-5.
Damage control personnel must have a basic understanding of the operation of AFFF systems and the function of each of the
components of the system.
Different ships use different AFFF setups. However, once you understand the basic operation of system components, you
should be ready to use the AFFF systems aboard any Navy ship.

COMPONENTS
The primary components and associated equipment of a shipboard AFFF system include the following:
 AFFF Generating Equipment
 AFFF Single-Speed Injection Pump
  AFFF Two-Speed Injection Pump
 AFFF Transfer Pumps
 AFFF Tanks
 AFFF Valves
 AFFF Sprinkler System
 AFFF Transfer System
 AFFF Testing Equipment

AFFF Generating Equipment

 Usually located in main machinery spaces, JP-5 pump rooms and on flight decks.
 The reason for this is that research has revealed that these are the places where class Bravo fires most often occur.
 There are two types of pumps used with the installed AFFF system. They are the AFFF single-speed injection pump
and the AFFF two-speed injection pump.

AFFF Single-Speed Injection Pump

 It’s a permanently mounted, positive displacement, electrically driven, sliding-vane type of pump.
 These pumps are provided in capacities of 12, 27, and 60 gallons per minute (gpm).
 The pump unit consists of a pump, a motor, and a reduction gear (except 12 gpm that is direct drive), coupled together
with flexible couplings and mounted on a steel base.
 The pump is fitted with an internal relief valve, which opens to prevent damage to the pump.

AFFF Two-Speed Injection Pump

 It consists of a positive displacement pump rated at 175 psi, a motor, and a reducer, coupled together with flexible
couplings and mounted on a steel base.
 It’s designed to inject AFFF concentrate into the seawater supply at a constant flow rate.
 The motor on the two-speed pump receives power from a motor controller supplied by a power panel
 The power panel is equipped with an automatic bus transfer (ABT) to ensure a constant supply of electrical power to
the two-speed pump.

AFFF Transfer Pumps

 It’s a permanently mounted, single-speed, centrifugal type, electrically driven pump.

 These pumps are provided in 360-gpm capacity.
 It moves AFFF concentrate through the AFFF fill-and-transfer subsystem to all station service tanks on a selective
basis.

AFFF Tanks

 AFFF is stored in service tanks of 50- to 2,000-gallon capacity and storage/transfer tanks of up to 3,500-gallon
capacity.
 The tanks are rectangular or cylindrical in shape and are fabricated out of 90/10 copper-nickel or corrosion-resistant
steel.
 It’s fitted with a gooseneck vent, drain connection, fill connection, liquid level indicator, recirculating line, and an
access manhole for tank maintenance.
 Gooseneck vent prevents excess buildup of pressure within the tank during storage and prevents a vacuum when the
system is in operation.

AFFF Valves

These valves include the following:

 Powertrol valve
 Powercheck valve
 Powertrol valve with test connection
 Hytrol valve
 Hycheck valve
  Solenoid-operated pilot valve
 Balancing valve
 Balanced pressure proportioner (Type II)
 Balanced pressure proportioner (Type III)

AFFF SPRINKLER SYSTEM

 It consists of a large header pipe with smaller branch connections and attached sprinkler heads.
 A sprinkler group control valve (powertrol or hytrol) will control the discharge flow to the sprinkler heads.

AFFF TRANSFER SYSTEM

 AFFF generating stations use large volumes of AFFF concentrate during fire fighting.
 The service tank alone may not contain enough concentrate to combat a conflagration-type fire. Transfer capabilities
are available to replenish the AFFF concentrate service tanks.
 It consists of a reserve transfer pump (positive displacement, sliding vane, or centrifugal), reserve storage tanks, and
associated piping and valves.
 The transfer system can deliver AFFF concentrate to on-station service tanks via a transfer main. The transfer main
consists of a large pipe with smaller branch connections interconnecting the AFFF service and storage tanks.

AFFF TESTING EQUIPMENT

It must be tested periodically to ensure that the fire party has an effective agent to combat class BRAVO fires.
The testing equipment includes the hand refractometer.
Refractometer

Use the refractometer to determine the percent of solids present in the aqueous solution samples. Once you have the readings,
you can determine the percent of AFFF concentrate that is being proportioned with water by using the following formula:

INSTALLED CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) SYSTEMS

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless gas that is naturally present in the atmosphere at an average concentration of 0.03
percent. It is used for extinguishing fires because it reduces the concentration of oxygen in the air to the point where
combustion stops. Typically, CO2 concentrations of 30 to 70 percent are required to extinguish fires.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers are installed in naval ships to provide a dependable and readily available means to flood (or
partially flood) certain areas that present unusual fire hazards. An installed CO2 extinguishing system has one or more 50-
pound cylinders. The cylinders may be installed singly or in batteries of two or more. Except for their size and releasing
mechanisms, the 50-pound portable cylinders are essentially the same as the 15-pound portable cylinders.

The two types of installed CO2 systems are the CO2 hose-and-reel installation and the CO2 flooding system. The CO2
flooding system is used for spaces that are not normally occupied by personnel.

CO2 HOSE-AND-REEL SYSTEM

 It consists of two cylinders, a length of special CO2 hose coiled on a reel, and a horn-shaped non-conducting nozzle
equipped with a second control valve.
 When the cylinders are more than 10 feet from the hose reel, manual pull boxes are provided at the hose reel for
discharging each cylinder individually.

To operate a CO2 hose-and-reel system,

you should adhere to the procedure that
include the steps as follows:

1. Ensure the horn valve is in the

CLOSED position.
2. Open the control valve on the cylinder
intended for use.
3. Unreel the hose and run the horn to the
point of attack on the fire.
4. Open the horn valve by turning the
lever or by depressing the squeeze grip.
5. Direct the CO2 discharge toward the
base of the fire.

CO2 FLOODING SYSTEM

It consists of one or more cylinders connected by piping from the valve outlets to a manifold.
Fixed piping leads from the manifold to various areas of the compartment to be flooded.
Cables run from the valve control mechanisms to pull boxes that are located outside the compartment containing the cylinders.
There are usually one or two valve control devices in a CO2 flooding system.

To release CO2, just break the glass in the front of the pull box and pull the handle
of the cable leading to the CO2 cylinders.
Before operating an installedCO2 system, ensure all
openings in the compartment are closed and the ventilation
system for the space is secured. These precautions are necessary
to prevent the loss of CO2.

HALON SYSTEMS
Halon is a halogenated hydrocarbon, which means that one or more of the hydrogen atoms in each hydrocarbon molecule have
been replaced by one or more atoms from the halogen series (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine). A Halon numbering
system has been developed to provide a description of the various halogenated hydrocarbons. The first digit in the number
represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule; the second digit, the number of fluorine atoms; the third digit, the
number of chlorine atoms; the fourth digit, the number of bromine atoms; and the fifth digit, the number of iodine atoms, if
any. In this system, terminal zero digits, if any, are not expressed.

The two types of Halon used aboard Naval ships are Halon 1301 and 1211. Halon 1301 is the most commonly used type
because it is installed and used in fixed flooding systems for extinguishing flammable liquid fires.

Halon systems use one or more cylinders containing Halon 1301 in a liquid form. The function of the system is to extinguish
fires that are beyond the capacity of portable fire extinguishing equipment, and where abandonment of the space is necessary.

WARNING

Personnel should not remain in a space where Halon 1301 has been released to extinguish a fire unless some type of breathing
apparatus is worn.
Most people can be exposed to a 5 to 7 percent concentration of Halon 1301 for a period up to 10 minutes without danger to
their health.
In flammable gas cylinder storerooms, 20 percent Halon 1301 is required to extinguish a fire.

COMPONENTS
The components of the Halon system include the following:

 Halon 1301 cylinders

 5-pound CO2 actuators
 Vent fittings
 1/4-inch copper nitrogen tubing connections
 with a 4-inch loop that are called actuation lines
 Flexible discharge hoses
 Check valve
 Time-delay device
 Time-delay device bypass valve
 CO2 actuation system piping
 Pressure switches
 Halon discharge piping
 Discharge nozzles
 In-line filter
 Electrically operated alarms and indicators