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Marine Extinguishers


These charts show the United States Coast Guard minimum equipment requirements for fire extinguishers on boats. Please note that these figures are the absolute minimum. (Consider additional units for extra safety precaution). Boats carrying passengers for hire may have additional equipment requirements. Obtain a copy of "Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats" for more information on how many and what types of equipment you must carry on your boat.

Coast Guard Approved extinguishers are hand-portable, either B-I or B-II classification and have a specific marine type mounting bracket. It is recommended the extinguishers be mounted in a readily accessible position.


All “marine type” extinguishers must have the Coast Guard classification system marking and approval number on the 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). A Marine Bracket must be used when mounting a fire extinguisher for marine use.

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). Coast Guard regulations do not allow the use of hand portable stainless steel fire extinguishers; therefore Stored Pressure Water, AFFF and FFFP Foam are not approved. Halon 1211 fire extinguishers exceeding 20 lb. capacity are not approved.