The Gard P&I Club has published an article referring to the failures associated with the use of composite deck gratings that are not certified to survive hydrocarbon fires. The Club highlights that the use of non-combustible construction materials is a basic regulatory requirement in both the maritime and offshore industries and any use of materials that do not meet these requirements must be justified, and documented, from a safety point of view.
Composite gratings are generally not permitted used in areas where their failure could hinder the escape from or firefighting access to a fire. It is also a general requirement, and part of a MOU’s basic safety strategy for control of ignition sources, that equipment and materials used in areas with potentially explosive atmospheres must be of a type that is approved/certified for use in that particular hazardous area.
The Club advises operators the following recommendations prior to installation of any composite deck gratings:
- establish the performance requirements in each location where the grating is to be installed, both for fire resistance and the control of ignition sources (static electricity), e.g. consult the applicable fire risk analysis to determine relevant fire loads, that is, the temperature and duration of potential fires, and the drawings of the hazardous areas to identify areas with potentially explosive atmospheres;
- contact the manufacturer to ensure that the selected composite material meets the performance requirements, e.g. obtain relevant documentation of its vulnerability to both hydrocarbon and cellulosic fires and its static electricity characteristics; and
- where relevant, ensure that approval for the planned change of materials has been obtained from the authorities, e.g. petroleum safety authorities, flag States and classification societies.
Care should also be taken during installation of composite gratings to avoid deficient and defective installation of the grids lead to personal injury incidents at a later date.
Source: The Gard P&I Club
