Condition of fire-fighting installation and equipment

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 31 August 2021
  • Generated on 3 April 2025
  • IMCA SF 24/21
  • 1 minute read

A member highlights two instances of fire-fighting equipment not being in an appropriate condition.

What happened?

Blocked sprinklers and nozzles

It was observed that the nozzles of the fire main piping system in the paint and chemical storage facilities were blocked by cans of paints and chemicals.  

There had been no adequate visual inspection of the paint locker with respect to the fire fighting sprinklers, and as a consequence, the nozzles and sprinklers were obstructed.

Members may wish to conduct a specific hazard-hunt or inspection of fire-fighting equipment inspection, particularly sprinklers and nozzles, and particularly in poorly lit or less-often visited spaces on the vessel.

Nozzles of the fire main piping system were blocked by cans of paints and chemicals

nozzles of the fire main piping system were blocked by cans of paints and chemicals

There had been no adequate visual inspection of the paint locker, nozzles and sprinklers were obstructed

There had been no adequate visual inspection of the paint locker

CO2 release station in poor condition

During an inspection it was observed that components of the CO2 release station were corroded, and the CO2 release station instructions were faded and not clearly legible.

Members may wish to check equipment such as this, that may be rarely or irregularly inspected, to ensure it is in workable and usable condition.

Some components of the CO2 release station were corroded

components of the CO2 release station were corroded

CO2 release station instructions were faded and not clearly legible

CO2 release station instructions were faded and not clearly legible

Latest Safety Flashes:

Incidents occurring during decommissioning

IMCA has put together a summary of incidents relating to decommissioning.

Read more
LTI: rope under tension moved and hit person’s hand

A member of the crew suffered a serious hand injury when struck by a rope under tension.

Read more
Injuries during lifting operations

A member reports two separate lifting activities involving failure of lifting equipment and resulting in minor injuries to nearby personnel.

Read more
Finger injury during manual handling

An IMCA’s members’ utilities supplier in the United States reports a serious finger injury during manual handling

Read more
Acetylene gas explosion

There was a small explosion and fire when crew were working on an oxy-acetylene system.

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.