T&T: ABYC: fuel filter fire rating

[Robin]

Any listees have first hand experience with their insurancwe company on this
issue???
>From the West Marine Advisor:

      ABYC Requirements for Diesel Fuel Filters

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      "Recently we learned a disturbing lesson from a very experienced local
marine surveyor. It seems that an obscure reference in the ABYC Standards
mandates that all fuel filters used on diesel engines withstand a heat
requirement if they are mounted in the engine compartment. We started to
become more concerned when one of our technical writers, who lives aboard his
Catalina 30 sailboat, got a package from his insurance company. It contained a
survey for him to fill out, asking among other things, about Dahl and Racor
filters with plastic bowls. The insurance company included a disposable
camera, and requested photos of the filter. After researching this situation
with the folks at the ABYC and at Racor we discovered the following:
      ABYC standards for inboard fuel filter installations for gasoline or
diesel engines require that filters installed within the engine space must be
able to pass a two and one-half minute heat test as defined by ANSI/UL 1105.
Unfortunately, Gasoline and diesel filters that meet this requirement are
generally equipped with a metal bowl. Filters with plastic sight bowls must be
equipped with a metal heat shield to pass the test. Boaters with diesel
engines who prefer a filter with a see-thru bowl should select one of the
Turbine Series by Racor, which includes the heat shield. "