Rounder
Boat Alabama Certification Manual website Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
          Marine Police logo

It's the Law: Required Equipment

Fire Extinguishers

  • All vessels are required to have a Type B U.S. Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher(s) on board if one or more of the following conditions exist:
    • Inboard or inboard/outboard engines
    • Closed compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored
    • Permanently installed fuel tanks
    • Closed or semi-closed living spaces
    • Devices on board that consume petroleum products (e.g., stoves, lanterns)
  • Approved types of fire extinguishers are identified by the following marking on the label—“Marine Type USCG Approved”—followed by the type and size symbols and the approval number.
  • Extinguishers should be placed in an accessible area—not near the engine or in a compartment, but where they can be reached immediately. Be sure you know how to operate them, and inspect extinguishers regularly to ensure they are in working condition and fully charged.

Use this chart to determine the type and quantity required for your vessel:

Fire Extinguisher Requirements
Classification
(type & size)
Foam
(minimum gallons)
Carbon Dioxide (minimum pounds) Dry Chemical
(minimum pounds)
B-I 1 ¼ 4 2
B-II 2 ½ 15 10
Length Class Without a Fixed System With a Fixed System*
Less than 26 ft. one B-I None
26 ft. to less than 40 ft. two B-I or one B-II one B-I
40 ft. to less than 65 ft. three B-I or one B-II and one B-I two B-I or one B-II
* Refers to a permanently installed fire extinguisher system

Fire Extinguisher Charge Indicators

Check the charge level of your fire extinguishers regularly. Replace them immediately if they are not fully charged.

To check this style of extinguisher, depress the green button. If it is fully charged, the green button should pop back out immediately.

Fire extinguisher charge indicator: Button style

On this style of fired extinguisher, the needle indicator should be in the "full" range.

Fire extinguisher charge indicator: Needle style
Separator
Alabama
Marine Police
Get Started!
Boating Basics
It's the Law!
Equipment Checklist
Alabama Info

Boat Alabama Certification Manual
Printable PDF Version
of Handbook

< Back to Previous Page Table of Contents Go to Next Page >
 
Online boating safety handbook last modified: April 29, 2010
Email with questions or comments about this web site.
  Copyright © 1998-2010 Boat Ed. All rights reserved.
Review Boat Ed's privacy policy.
 
Rounder