Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 3-01. Guide to EstablishEquivalency to Fire Safety Regulations for Small Passenger Vessels (46 CFR Subchapter K)

摘要

This Circular explains the Coast Guard accepted equivalency process forevaluation of small passenger vessel designs under Subchapter K, Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (46 CFR) 114.540 and 116.340. These guidelines are intended for application of fire safety engineering design as a means to provide technical justification for alternative design and arrangement equivalencies to Subchapter K without compromising the minimum level of safety. The guidelines serve to outline a methodology for the engineering analysis and thereby establish a consistent process for submitting and evaluating proposed equivalencies. This approach provides designers and regulators with a formal method for incorporating novel designs which provide a level of safety that is equivalent to 46 CFR Subchapter K. This approach shall not be used to justify the use of material or equipment, where material or equipment Coast Guard type approvals exist, from a manufacturer that has not undergone the type approval processes.This Circular explains the Coast Guard accepted equivalency process for evaluation of small passenger vessel designs under Subchapter K, Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (46 CFR) 114.540 and 116.340. These guidelines are intended for application of fire safety engineering design as a means to provide technical justification for alternative design and arrangement equivalencies to Subchapter K without compromising the minimum level of safety. The guidelines serve to outline a methodology for the engineering analysis and thereby establish a consistent process for submitting and evaluating proposed equivalencies. This approach provides designers and regulators with a formal method for incorporating novel designs which provide a level of safety that is equivalent to 46 CFR Subchapter K. This approach shall not be used to justify the use of material or equipment, where material or equipment Coast Guard type approvals exist, from a manufacturer that has not undergone the type approval processes.