X76 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
these spaces, satisfactory provision shall be made for the admission of
steam to the lower part of the boiler rooms.
A receptacle containing a suitable quantity of sand shall be placed
in each firing space where oil fuel is used, and suitable scoops for
distributing the sand shall also be provided.
In the case of steamships carrying deck cargoes, the fire service
pipes must be so arranged that the required number of hydrants are
always accessible.
Fire Hose.—The fire hoses may be made of leather, seamless hemp
or flax canvas of first-class quality, or other approved material. There
shall be provided 50 per cent, more than the minimum quantity necessary
to meet the requirements of the previous rules and the following clause.
The hoses shall be provided with suitable metal unions and conductors,
and with gooseneck connections where necessary, and shall be of such
length that when in position a jet of water may be projected to any
part of the space in which they are used.
The fire hoses, conductors, etc., shall be kept ready for use, in
conspicuous positions near the water service connections, and shall be
used only for the purpose of extinguishing fires, or for testing the
apparatus at fire drills and surveys.
Pipes to Holds, etc.—The pipes for conveying steam to holds or
other compartments shall be provided with controlling valves suitably
marked to indicate the compartments to which the pipes are respectively
led. Suitable provision shall be made for locking these valves, as a
precaution against the inadvertent admission of steam to any compart-
ment. If any pipe is led to a space to which passengers have access,
it shall be furnished with an additional stop valve, capable of being
locked, or some other device providing the requisite security from
danger shotdd be adopted.
Portable Chemical Fire Extinguishers.—The recommendations with
regard to chemical fire extinguishers apply only to apparatus of an
approved fluid type, the capacity of which shall not be, as a rule, less
than 2 gallons.
The extinguishers on any vessel shall not be of mofe than two kinds.
They shall be kept where likely to prove most serviceable in cases of
emergency, and shall bear on each apparatus printed instructions
regarding its use, and th,e maker's dated guarantee as to the sufficiency
of the extinguisher for the pressure generated when it is put into action.
Fire Drill.—Fire drill shall'be observed at least once a month in all
foreign-going cargo vessels. The great utility of woollen or asbestos