NFPA FI8-1998 Fire Investigation Summary Cruise Ship Fire.
The Ecstasy was equipped with automatic sprinkler protection. A series of wet pipe sprinkler systems were located in passenger accommodation areas (i.e., cabins and corridors), mechanical areas and service areas (i.e., kitchen and laundry), as well as common areas such as restaurants and clubs. The design criterion of the systems in the aforementioned areas is outlined in SOLAS Regulation 12. According to the SOLAS regulations, the sprinkler systems must be wet-pipe, except in exposed areas, where a dry-pipe-type installation has been determined to be a necessary precaution. The system must be maintained at an adequate pressure and shall have the provision of a continuous water supply. The system must be designed to operate at an average application rate of not less than 5 L/m 2 /min (0.125 gpm/ft 2 ) over the nominal area protected by the sprinklers. Sprinklers shall be grouped in sections, each of which shall contain no more than 200 sprinkler heads. A section of sprinklers shall serve no more than two decks and shall not be situated in more than one main vertical zone (MVZ). The sprinkler systems must be resistant to corrosion due to sea air and water. The system on board the Ecstasy was designed to provide 5 L/m 2 /min over a design area of 280 m 2 (0.125 gpm/ft 2 over 3014 ft 2 ). The sprinkler heads were 68 °C (155 °F) rated, 8mm orifice, glass bulb-type heads. Sprinkler heads adjacent to heat-producing equipment (i.e., laundry room) were rated at 93 °C (200 °F). The spacing per sprinkler varied with the area in which the heads were installed. The average sprinkler head spacing was 10 m 2 (107.6 ft 2 ). A manually operated deluge-type sprinkler protection system was located on the bridge area. This system was equipped with open sprinkler heads throughout the bridge area and is activated by a control valve located outside the bridge space in a corridor immediately adjacent to the bridge entrance.
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