FIRESAFE II: Open-Deck Detection Lessons
The FIRESAFE II joint research programme tested multiple detection technologies on open ro-ro decks. The results map cleanly onto what works at sea.
FIRESAFE II — the EMSA-commissioned follow-up research programme on ro-ro fire safety — tested multiple detection technologies on open ro-ro and weather-deck environments. The headline findings are not surprising, but the granular data on where each technology fails is worth reading carefully.
What the programme tested
- Conventional point smoke detectors.
- Aspirating smoke detection (ASD).
- Linear heat detection (LHD), including fiber-optic.
- Flame detectors (IR, UV).
- Thermal imaging cameras.
Where each technology broke down
- Point smoke detectors: defeated by airflow on open decks, false trips from diesel exhaust.
- ASD: better than point on open decks, still defeated by high ventilation rates.
- LHD (fiber-optic): consistent winner on open decks — coverage continuous, immune to airflow effects.
- Flame detectors: late by definition (only see Stage 3+), nuisance from welding and sunlight.
- Thermal cameras: line-of-sight constrained, lens contamination in service.
What it implied for detection-layer design
For open decks, the FIRESAFE II findings support fiber-optic LHD as a primary with point sensors as a complement. For enclosed decks (where FIRESAFE II is less directly relevant), the same logic — distributed sensing as primary, point sensors as backup — applies, but the distribution mechanism is per-vehicle thermal cells rather than fiber.
Questions, answered
What was the FIRESAFE II programme?+
The EMSA-commissioned follow-up research programme on ro-ro fire safety, which tested multiple detection technologies on open ro-ro and weather-deck environments: conventional point smoke detectors, aspirating smoke detection, linear heat detection including fibre-optic, IR/UV flame detectors, and thermal imaging cameras. It is the closest thing the industry has to a neutral comparison.
Which detection technology performed best on open decks in FIRESAFE II?+
Fibre-optic linear heat detection was the consistent winner on open decks — coverage continuous, immune to airflow effects. Point smoke detectors were defeated by airflow and diesel exhaust, ASD was still defeated by high ventilation, flame detectors were late by definition, and thermal cameras were line-of-sight constrained with lens contamination.
How do the FIRESAFE II findings translate to enclosed decks?+
The same logic applies — distributed sensing as primary, point sensors as backup — but the distribution mechanism changes. On open decks that is fibre-optic LHD; on enclosed decks, where FIRESAFE II is less directly relevant, it becomes per-vehicle thermal cells rather than fibre.
Continue the thread
Fiber-Optic Linear Heat Detection on RoRo
Distributed fiber-optic sensing (DAS/DTS) turns a deck-length cable into one continuous temperature sensor — solving cameras' line-of-sight problem.
Weather Deck vs Enclosed Deck Detection
SOLAS II-2/20 covers weather-deck suppression. Detection on the same deck differs materially from a deck below — wind, solar and visibility all matter.