The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a bulletin to inform operators that it has observed a quality issue with fire doors manufactured by COSMO Co. Ltd.
UK MCA refers to a notice letter issued by the manufacturer, which urges for attention 0f doors rated A-60, A-0 and B-15. Following an internal investigation, it was found that various delivered products had some insulation partly missing from inside the door. Due to this partly missing insulation, the doors do not comply with their type approval certification.
The COSMO Fire doors of A60, A0 and B15 standard have been type approved and are certified to MED Modules B and D by DNV GL, produced between November 2013 and July 2017, might be affected by this issue.
In particular, it has come to light that the insulation in these doors is missing from the upper part, sides and bottom. This is likely to have occurred during a change of work process, when new equipment was introduced in November 2013.
Recommendations
How to check if your COSMO Fire doors are affected:
- Remove a rivet or hinge bolt from the side of the door.
- Insert a metal pin through this rivet/bolt hole, and check for missing insulation.
- If a door is found to be missing insulation, please inform COSMO.
As informed, COSMO, with support from DNV GL, is now working towards a solution to the problem that will be informed to affected parties. If evidence of these faulty doors is discovered, then contact should be made to the relevant Flag state and Classification Society.
Owners and operators of affected UK vessels should take temporary mitigating measures in the form of regular fire watch/ fire patrols, added precautions in case of hot work, attention to good housekeeping and to arrange fire hoses to be ready near the affected doors in the interim period considering the small increase in risk to the safety of the vessel.
