The US Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it will issue an interim final rule to apply changes made by the 2016 final rule, Harmonization of Standards for Fire Protection, Detection, and Extinguishing Equipment, to inspected towing vessels.
This interim final rule is effective from March 28, 2018.
Under existing regulations, towing vessels must carry US Coast Guard-approved fire extinguishers. The labels on all Coast Guard-approved fire extinguishers displayed two ratings:
- A performance rating determined by testing to the industry consensus standard UL 711;
- A USCG Type/Size rating based on type of fire and the quantity of extinguishing agent;
In its Fire Protection rule, the us Coast Guard eliminated the USCG Type/Size rating requirement from 46 CFR part 162 in favor of the UL standard, but the fire protection regulations in 46 CFR subchapter M are still framed in terms of USCG Type/Size rating. This rule will change those provisions in part 142 of subchapter M to reflect the UL standard instead, matching the changes made by the Fire Protection rule.
This rule does not change the number of extinguishers required, and an extinguisher that displays the USCG Type/Size rating may still be used if it meets all other requirements. This rule adds a grandfathering clause in section 142.231(a), identical to one that appears in 46 CFR 25.30-80 as a result of the Fire Protection rule, in order to avoid any new obligation on uninspected vessels that become inspected and subject to Subchapter M.
This rule also revises maintenance requirements for fire extinguishers. Subchapter M had required extinguisher maintenance in accordance with the industry consensus standard NFPA 10, which requires certified personnel to conduct annual fire extinguishing equipment maintenance. NFPA 10 also requires monthly visual inspections and documentation by certified personnel.
Moreover, section 142.240 allows the acceptance of state and local licenses for inspections, allows an owner, operator, or qualified crewmember to complete monthly inspections, and reduces the requirements of the annual inspection for non-rechargeable extinguishers. Section 142.240(a) also provides a provision from the Fire Protection rule requiring that if the marine inspector or third-party organization finds that equipment or records are not properly maintained, then a qualified servicing facility must perform the required activities.
Finally, this rule makes non-substantive changes such as replacing the term “hand-portable” with “portable.” It also updates the edition of NFPA 10 from 2007 to the 2010 edition used in the Fire Protection rule.
