Fire on dive boat Conception in CA

[Maxwell Smart]

Did you ever see the movie Backdraft?

A smoldering fire generates a tremendous amount of very hot flammable gas, completing 2 legs of the fire tetrahedron. Add air and it acts like an incendiary event, and the whole area flashes to fire, including the solids.

Yes. Thank you.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I forgot to quote the post that mentioned freezing as being problematic for sprinkler systems - not in CA it isn't. If the temp is below 32 f/0f, something is going horribly wrong and I honestly doubt people would be diving

Freezing of systems is a none issue anywhere (reasonalbe) Boats not in use already winterise their engines (residual cooling water) and normal water systems (washing drinking etc) when not in use.

I believe the requirement is two exits, if so it may meet requirements without requiring a third, in this case, emergency exit.

I'm sure in hindsight, the powers that be will acknowledge that while it may have met the letter of the regs (2 exits) no one sane, would say it met the spirit of the regs, with both exits leading to the same space, because common sense shows that if one exit to the space it unusable, its highly likely that using another means to that same space isn't' the greatest

 

[Maxwell Smart]

Wikipedia to the rescue: Flashover

EDIT:

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Wow...thank you for being so thorough

 

[Diving Dubai]

Why not just have a standing rule that NOTHING get’s plugged in at night period. Put a locked cover on every outlet with a padlock so the entitled prince or princess can’t get up at night and sneak a charge in on their ever so important device.
The 24 hr watch should keep an eye on this anyway.

Why are you over complicating it - Timer breakers are standard off the shelf items, the only way to get past them is to have access to the Dist board. If you require someone to go around padlocking each outlet etc, it'll be a PITA and will eventually not happen

What’s the difference between cheap wood and expensive wood?
How about textured aluminum for interior panelling?

What I meant was, wood that is suitable. For instance Touring theatre sets must use timber that is pressure treated with a fire retardant not a simple spray on treatment (same for use in shipping containers bound for the US. )

You can use what you like as long as it meets the regs for fire resistance

Leather seat coverings, but what about the cushion foam? You also make no mention of where all the synthetic boat coats should be hung. How about a vented closet? That’s a huge gurl source, all open and airy just waiting to go up in flames.

Again google is your friend. I know that in UK there are BS/EN standards that govern fire resistance of materials. Not just the outer covering but internals, like seat cushions, pillows mattresses etc, There are different levelss for different applications. I presume the US has similar standards

Boat coats, don't care - a suitable hanging location.

So the vinyl cushions on chairs, carpets, bed spreads, wooden furniture in modern hotel rooms do not burn then?

They will eventually, but they're required to have a level of fire resistance - say from a cigarette or a small electrical fire

What is the difference between “substandard materials” and “standard” materials as far as fire safety? Or is it just a looks and premium product hype thing?
Is there a hard precedent set on what is cheap and substandard and what is acceptable materials for interiors of boats? How does an overseeing agency check for that?

Easy, Material which meet the regulations and appropriate standards and can be tested and then are issued with a compliance notice. You have the UL system right? There you go.

Again refer to appropriate standards for Offshore or Care homes. Everything (systems and standards) is there already it just needs to be applied, or made applicable and incorporated in the relevant regulations covering this class of vessel.

 

[Bob DBF]

I'm sure in hindsight, the powers that be will acknowledge that while it may have met the letter of the regs (2 exits) no one sane, would say it met the spirit of the regs, with both exits leading to the same space, because common sense shows that if one exit to the space it unusable, its highly likely that using another means to that same space isn't' the greatest

Well the letter of the law is what inspections are made to check. The larger issue is that with a twenty something foot long compartment, with watertight bulkheads at each end, means every exit will be into the compartment above. The trade off is between more and better exits, or USCG insistence on watertight integrity.


Bob

 

[Akimbo]

Well the letter of the law is what inspections are made to check. The larger issue is that with a twenty something foot long compartment, with watertight bulkheads at each end, means every exit will be into the compartment above. The trade off is between more and better exits, or USCG insistence on watertight integrity.


Bob

Exactly. Just brainstorming an alternative here: On boats like this it may not be difficult to make the emergency exit to the weather deck on the port or starboard side or even the aft deck. I'm imagining a cabinet-like structure (or even a closet) that is similar to the one was on the Conception located against an outer bulkhead. A simple non-watertight door could keep the weather out. There are other boats out there like the Conception.

 

[Wookie]

Exactly. Just brainstorming an alternative here: On boats like this it may not be difficult to make the emergency exit to the weather deck on the port or starboard side or even the aft deck. I'm imagining a cabinet-like structure (or even a closet) that is similar to the one was on the Conception located against an outer bulkhead. A simple non-watertight door could keep the weather out. There are other boats out there like the Conception.

If we’re spitballing, how about an escape trunk that exits to the weather deck rather than in the salon? I mean a real escape trunk, self closing door on the berthing deck, up a ladder, to a watertight door to the weatherdeck.

Made of 2 hour fire wall.

 

[PDX Diver]

Please pardon me if this has already been suggested. I web-searched "camera based fire detection" and a plethora of existing offerings came up. These systems are designed to monitor entire rooms and provide earlier warnings than other systems. An IR system could detect a failing battery or charger before it otherwise became visible.

 

[letterboy]

From a design side, adding these fire exits means less space for other stuff.

What are you cutting to make space for this fire proof exit?

I don't think I've ever been on a vessel that just happened to have an empty cavity midship....

But there are many more experienced folks here maybe they've seen commercial vessels with lots of spare space....

 

[Akimbo]

If we’re spitballing, how about an escape trunk that exits to the weather deck rather than in the salon? I mean a real escape trunk, self closing door on the berthing deck, up a ladder, to a watertight door to the weatherdeck.

Made of 2 hour fire wall.

Avoiding exiting into the same compartment as the main ladder (stair) was my thinking. Are you suggesting a trunk up the the deck above the main deck in on boats similar to the Conception? That would also work by might test claustrofobia tolerance on some passengers, which they would soon overcome with 20 people behind them. Either way it would eat up about the same deck space in the solon as the cabinet exit that was on the Conception.