[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR179.240]

[Page 246-247]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 179_SUBDIVISION, DAMAGE STABILITY, AND WATERTIGHT INTEGRITY--Table 
of Contents
 
         Subpart B_Subdivision and Damage Stability Requirements
 
Sec. 179.240  Foam flotation material.

    (a) Foam may only be installed as flotation material on a vessel 
when approved by the cognizant OCMI.
    (b) If foam is installed as flotation material on a vessel, the 
owner shall ensure that the following tests are conducted and 
requirements are met, to the satisfaction of the cognizant OCMI:
    (1) All foam must comply with MIL-P-21929C. The fire resistance test 
is not required.
    (2) Foam may be installed only in void spaces that are free of 
ignition sources, unless the foam complies with the requirements of 33 
CFR 183.114;
    (3) Foam may be installed adjacent to fuel tanks only if the 
boundary between the tank and the space has double continuous fillet 
welds;
    (4) The structure enclosing the foam must be strong enough to 
accommodate the buoyancy of the foam;
    (5) Piping and cables must not pass through foamed spaces unless 
they are within piping and cable ways accessible from both ends;
    (6) Blocked foam must:
    (i) Be used in each area that may be exposed to water; and
    (ii) Have a protective cover, approved by the cognizant OCMI, to 
protect it from damage;
    (7) A water submergence test must be conducted on the foam for a 
period of at least 7 days to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the 
cognizant OCMI that the foam has adequate strength to withstand a 
hydrostatic head equivalent to that which would be imposed if the vessel 
were submerged to its bulkhead deck;

[[Page 247]]

    (8) The effective buoyancy of the foam must be determined at the end 
of the submergence test required by paragraph (b)(7) of this section. 
The effective buoyancy or 881 kilograms per cubic meter (55 pounds per 
cubic foot), whichever is less, must be used in determining the location 
of watertight bulkheads for subdivision required by Sec. 179.212; and
    (9) The owner or operator must obtain sample foam specimens during 
installation of the foam and determine the density of the installed 
foam.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 971, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 51357, Sept. 
30, 1997]