GEARHEAD
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Fire is a topic that should grab
every boat owner’s attention. Few
onboard emergencies compare with
this one, and with good reason. Boats
typically are a collection of highly
flammable materials, from fuel
and fiberglass resin to joinerwork,
insulation, and upholstery. To make
matters worse, boats have relatively
poor ventilation, so the smoke and
fumes emitted by onboard fires are
especially noxious.
The rapidity with which a
shipboard fire can spread is alarming
indeed. Some studies suggest that
fires double in size every minute,
particularly in the presence of highly
flammable materials. Therefore, the
best defense is prevention. Avoiding
the most likely causes of onboard
fires makes good sense—topping
the list are non-ABYC-compliant
shorepower and DC electrical
systems, galley/stove mishaps, and
engine exhaust system malfunctions
or design flaws.
Classifications for portable fire
extinguishers can be confusing; these
extinguishers typically are divided
into two categories. USCG marine
fire extinguisher classifications include
B-I and B-II. The suffixes “I” and “II”
refer to the size of the extinguisher,
which is dependent on the type of
agent used. A Type B-I extinguisher,
for instance, holds 2 lb. of dry
chemical agent and 5 lb. of carbon
dioxide. (The dry chemical agent may
be ammonium phosphate, a yellow
powder often referred to as “tri-class”
or “ABC” that is corrosive and
harmful to electronics and other gear;
or it may be sodium bicarbonate, a
white powder that is not corrosive
but is less than ideal for contact with
sensitive electronics and running
engines.) UL/ANSI ratings simply
indicate the class of fire that an
extinguisher is designed to fight. “A”
indicates wood, cloth, paper, and
Steve D’Antonio
fixed fire-fighting systems
(ABYC guidelines make
no such distinction). If no
fixed system is installed, the
USCG calls for three Type
B-I extinguishers or one B-II
and one B-I for a vessel in
the 40- to 65-foot range. If
a USCG-approved fixed
fire extinguishing system is
installed, a vessel of this size
may have two Type B-I
extinguishers or one B-II.
That’s right; it’s possible
for a 40- to 65-foot vessel to
meet USCG requirements
with a single portable
fire extinguisher—if it is
equipped with a fixed
engine room system.
Portable fire extinguishers are available in a variety
of configurations, each with its own intended use.
For small electrical or electronics fires, a unit like the
one shown here—a 5BC that contains 5. 5 lb. of
FM-200 clean agent—is ideal.
fiberglass/plastics; “B” is fuel, oil,
thinners, paints, etc.; and “C” is
energized electrical equipment. Once
electrical equipment has been de-energized, a “class C” fire becomes
a “class A” fire. Any fire extinguisher
you purchase for your vessel should
carry a USCG approval and rating.
The requirements established by
the USCG and ABYC for portable
fire extinguishers used aboard
recreational vessels should be
considered nothing more than the
minimum. Of the two, the ABYC’s
requirements are more stringent,
calling for four portable extinguishers
for vessels between 40 and 65 feet.
The USCG regulations are a bit more
complex, as they make allowances for
