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Fire Extinguisher Experts

Complete Firefighting Industry Index

Length of Boat?	What Fire extinguishers are required by the United States Coast Gaurd (USCG) Per size of boat?
Boats Less than 16 feet in Length	Required at least one B-1, (United State Coast Gaurd) USCG approved fire extinguisher for all power boats with enclosed engine compartments, inboard engines, living space, permanent fuel tanks, closed storage compartments, or double bottoms not sealed or filled with floatation.
Boats 16' To Less Than 26' in Length	Required at least one B-1, USCG United State Coast Gaurd approved fire extinguisher for all power boats with enclosed engine compartments, inboard engines, living space, permanent fuel tanks, closed storage compartments, or double bottoms not sealed or filled with floatation.
Boats 26' To Less Than 40' in Length	Required at least two B-I, USCG approved fire extinguishers OR at least one B-II USCG approved fire extinguisher.
Boats 40' To Less Than 65' in Length	Required at least three B-I, USCG approved fire extinguishers OR at least one B-I plus B-II USCG approved fire extinguishers.

A Brief history of the development of the United States Coast Gaurd Approvals for Fire Extingishers.

The Department of Transportation 1982 and the United States Coast Guard declared itself out of the fire extinguisher testing and approval business. Quite simply it stated that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) , in their listing and rating process, had been subjecting extinguishers to testing sufficient to qualify them for “Marine” approval. Since that time others have been recognized by the Coast Guard as “independent laboratories” for testing and listing portable fire extinguishers. No matter which laboratory is involved, identification is simplified because all “marine type” extinguishers must have the Coast Guard classification system marking and approval number on the nameplate (label) [i.e. “Marine Type USCG Type ----, Size----, Approval No. 162.028].

Minimums of a 5 B:C U/L rating and 2lbs. of dry chemical, 2 1/2 lbs. of Halon or 5 lbs. of CO2 are necessary to meet the requirements for a Coast Guard B classification.

All extinguishers must be “restrained” in mounting brackets of the marine or motor vehicle type which have been subjected to the same rigid salt spray and vibration tests as the extinguishers (wall type brackets are not acceptable.)

U/L requires that the model or part number of the bracket in which the extinguisher was tested for its marine listing be noted on the extinguisher nameplate (label).

What Fire Extingusher do the United States Coast Gaurd Reccomends

EXTINGUISHER REQUIREMENTS AND DISTRIBUTION: All “Motor Boats” (vessels less than 65 ft. in length propelled by machinery) shall carry the quantity of Type B:C, Size I extinguishers noted in the table below. Note that the quantity changes when there is a fixed fire extinguishing system installed in the machinery (engine) space. Note: One B-II extinguisher may be substituted for two B-I extinguishers. Type A, Size II extinguishers will be specified on “Motor Vessels” (Any vessel more than 65 ft. in length not propelled by steam). They are required only for accomodation and service areas on inspected vessels carrying fare paying passengers. Type B:C, Size III and Type B:C, Size V extinguishers will be specified for certain areas of “Motor Vessels”. These areas include oil fired boilers, internal combustion or gas turbine propelling machinery and fuel storage spaces (high Class B & C hazards).

Who is the United States Coast Gaurd (USCG)?

The United States Coast Guard is a military, multimission, maritime service and one of the nation’s five Armed Services. Its mission is to protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests – in the nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security. The USCG web site is http://www.uscg.mil/USCG.shtm.

Who Classifies Portable Fire Entingishers and Wheeled Fire Extingishers ?

NFPA Classification of Hazards for Portable Fire Extinguishers

Extra (High) Hazard. Extra hazard occupancies are locations where the total amount of Class A combustibles and Class B flammables present, in storage, production, use, finished product, or combination thereof, is over and above those expected in occupancies classed as ordinary (moderate) hazard. These occupancies could consist of woodworking, vehicle repair, aircraft and boat servicing, cooking areas, individual product display showrooms, product convention center displays, and storage and manufacturing processes such as painting, dipping, and coating, including flammable liquid handling. Also included is warehousing of or in-process storage of other than Class I and Class II commodities as defined by NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. Light (Low) Hazard. Light hazard occupancies are locations where the total amount of Class A combustible materials, including furnishings, decorations, and contents, is of minor quantity. This can include some buildings or rooms occupied as offices, classrooms, churches, assembly halls, guest room areas of hotels/motels, and so forth.

Who is the NFPA? (National Fire Protection Association) is highly involved help in developing a set standards for firefighting in the United States other countries through out the world.

The National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, a private non-profit organization, is the leading authoritative source of technical background, data, and consumer advice on fire protection, problems and prevention. Their web site is http://www.nfpa.org/. Highly involved setting the standards for the protection of the firefighters and their training. The standards they develope are consider of the highest world wide.

The primary goal of NFPA is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

The NFPA really sets the bar or may be the best in fire industry that is involved in the development of the best set standards to protect the public and the firefighters best interest in wheeled and portable Fire Extinguishers.

What does UL (Underwriters Lavatories) do? UL is the trusted source across the globe for product compliance such as Portable Fire Extinguishers. Benefiting a range of customers - from manufacturers and retailers to consumers and regulating bodies - they have tested multitudes of products for public safety and consistency. Their web site is

UL can offer one of the conformity assessment industry’s broadest portfolios of capabilities and certification marks. Their unique mix of local expertise in global markets and deep industry knowledge helps bring safer consistent products to markets for the public. Web site is http://www.ul.com

Note: UL has offices in several countries world wide to help look at the demographics and compatibilities of each country.

What does FM Global (Factory Mutual Insurance Company) do? FM Approvals: Setting the Standard in Third-Party Certification of equipment. Customers demand quality, and a manufacture position in the marketplace depends on producing quality products. Ensure the quality of your products and protect your market share by obtaining third-party certification from FM Approvals. Industrial and commercial companies around the world rely on products and services that are FM Approved and specification tested to standards manufacture set and NFPA recommends. . The FM APPROVED mark, which is backed by scientific research and testing, tells customers your product conforms to the highest standards such as on a Portable Fire Extinguisher. Their Web site is http://www.fmglobal.com/

Back to Extinguisher Questions and Answers

What Federal regualtions for boaters and Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher are required on certain boats?

Fire extinguishers are classified by a number & letter & symbol. The letter indicates the type fire the unit is designed to extinguish (Type B for example are designed to extinguish flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease fires). The number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher (minimum extinguishing agent weight) and must be marked with USCG appoval and be with appoved mouning brackets.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved portable fire extinguishers, either B-I or B-II classification and have a specific approved marine type mounting bracket. It is recommended the extinguishers be mounted in a readily accessible position.

Things to think about when required to carry Fire Extinghishers. Does any one or more of the following conditions exists on a motor boat in United states waters?

Fire Extuingisher required if permanently installed fuel tanks. Fuel tanks secured so they cannot be moved in case of fire or other emergency are considered permanently installed. There are no gallon capacity limits to determine if a fuel tank is portable. If the weight of a fuel tank is such that persons on board cannot move it, the Coast Guard considers it permanently installed.
Fire Extuingisher required if enclosed motors or inboard engines.
Fire Extuingisher required if double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation materials.
Fire Extuingisher required if closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stored.
Fire Extuingisher required if double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation materials.
Fire Extuingisher required if closed compartments and compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored.

See below for the recommended size, type, and quanty for your boat.

This chart relates to USCG classifications approvals to types and sizes of extinguishers.
Type of Fire Extinguisher	A	B:C	B:C	B:C	B:C	B:C
Size of Fire Extinguisher	II	I	II	III	IV	V
If Dry Chemical (Pounds)	5 lbs	2 lbs	10 lbs	20 lbs	30 lbs	50 lbs
If Carbon Dioxide (Pounds)	-	5 lbs	15 lbs	35 lbs	50 lbs	100 lbs
If Halon, 1211, or 1301 *	-	2.5 lbs	10 lbs	-	-	-

Boat Fire Extinguisher requirments for United States Coast Gaurd

* 20 lb. Halon 1211 extinguishers are acceptable for fulfilling the requirements for Type B:C, Size II classifications, provided that you comply with the confined space limitations stated on the extinguisher label.