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Boat Fire Extinguisher - What Do I Need?

Posted by Suzie Cramer on Mon, Jan 30, 2012
  
  
  
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Boat fire extinguishers are many in number....How do you know which toboat fire extinguisher pick?  Several of our tenants at All Seasons Storage have been asking our managers if they knew the regulations in regards to the fire extinguishers for boats.  Since we did not, we have done some research and this is what we have found:

  • Who Must Carry a Fire Extinguisher?  All motorboats are required to with the exceptions of outboard motorboats less than 26' in length, who do not carry passengers for hire, without permanently installed fuel tanks and which do not have spaces where explosive or flammable fumes can collect.
  • What size extinguisher do I need?  The size and number of fire extinguishers required for motorboats depends on the size of the boat and whether or not there is a fixed extinguishing system installed aboard the boat.  Extinguishers are classified as a B-1 or B-11 (Coast Guard classification system) or 5-B-C and higher (Underwriters Laboratiories classification).  A B-11 is equivalent to a 10-B-C extinguisher.
  •  
    Boat length Without fixed extinguisher With fixed system
    Less than 26' One B-1extinguisher None
    26' - 40' Two B-1 or One B-11 
    2 B-1 or 1 B-11
  •  Which extinguishers are approved for marine use?  An extinguisherboat fire extinguisher is suitable for marine use when, in addition to any other markings, the extinguisher bears either:
              1. A label identifying the extinguisher as listed with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and of a type of either Dry Chemical,
    Carbon Dioxide or Halon.  UL listed extinguishers for marine use must bear a UL rating of 5-B:C or higher....or
              2. A label of recognized testing laboratory that indicates the extinguisher is Coast Guard approved or specifies "Marine Type United States Coast Guard"

For a great website for find out further information on marine fire extinguishers click here.     If you are a fireman or a member of the Coast Guard, please comment on the type which you feel is best!  Thanks! 

Photos by:
iboats.com
ARMORFIREPRO.COM


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Comments

These are the Coast Guard requirements which are inadequate. The NFPA and the ABYC requirements are more appropriate and should be followed.
Posted @ Wednesday, February 01, 2012 9:43 AM by John McDevitt
Thank you for your comment...I wrote this from the federal guidelines since I didn't know the requirements. Our tenants appreciated your input.
Posted @ Thursday, February 02, 2012 12:34 AM by Suzie
Thank you. A B-I has about 8 to 10 seconds fire fighting capacity. A B-II less than 20 seconds. That is not enough when your boat is on fire.
Posted @ Monday, February 06, 2012 9:50 PM by John McDevitt
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