The Malaysian Government has notified the Society of periodical inspection and maintenance of fire- extinguishing system on board the Malaysian flag ships, which are produced as follows:
1. Periodical inspection and maintenance of fire-extinguishing system (General)
(1) All types of permanently installed fire-fighting systems, all types of portable fire extinguishers and breathing apparatus air cylinders must be subjected to periodical inspection and maintenance every year, by approved shore based service stations.
(2) The attending surveyor may require, based on the results of a periodical inspection, certain containers to be, also, tested hydrostatically.
(3) Hydrostatic testing is also required after repair.
(4) Where the loss of content exceeds 10% for CO2 and 5% for Halon, the container must be recharged.
2. Permanently installed fire-fighting systems
(1) Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems
(I) The quantity of medium in containers must be checked every 12 months.
(ii) Periodic hydrostatic testing of high pressure containers must be carried out for not less than 10% of the containers during each 10 years period.
(iii) The test pressure shall not be less than 25 N/mm2 for CO2 containers and 1.5 times the working pressure for Halon containers.
(2) Fixed foam fire-extinguishing systems in machinery spaces
(I) The first periodical control of foam concentrates stored on board shall be performed after a period of 3 years and, after that, every year.
3. Portable fire extinguishers
(1) Water and foam
(I) The charge must be replaced every 12 months. Containers which are permanently under pressure must be tested hydrostatically every 5 years.
(ii) Containers which are not kept under pressure must be tested every 10 years.
(iii) The test pressure shall not be less than 1.5 times the working pressure or 2 N/mm2 if the working pressure is unknown.

(2) CO2
(I) The charge must be checked every 12 months and replaced at 5-year intervals.
(ii) Containers must be hydrostatically tested every 5 years.
(iii) The test pressure shall not be less than 25 N/mm2.
(3) Halon and Powder with shell kept under pressure
(I) The charge must be replaced every 2 years.
(ii) Containers must be hydrostatically tested every 5 years.
(iii) The test pressure shall not be less 1.5 times the working pressure or 2 N/mm2 if the working pressure is unknown.
(4) Powder with shell not kept under pressure
(I) The charge must be checked every 12 months and replaced at 5-year intervals.
(ii) Containers must be hydrostatically tested every 10 years.
(iii) The test pressure shall not be less than 1.5 times the working pressure or 2 N/mm2 if the working pressure is unknown.
4. Air cylinders for breathing apparatus
(1) Servicing
(I) The cylinders must be hydrostatically tested every 5 years. The test pressure shall not be less than 1.5 times the working pressure.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Survey Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2027 / 2028
Fax: +81-3-5226-2029
E-mail: svd@classnk.or.jp