T&T: "Marine" vs. regular fire extinguishers

[Keith]

Got this one off list... seems it is the mount, probably also as long as it 
says "marine / USCG approved" somewhere on it.
_____________________________________________
Keith,
The difference between regular and USCG approved fire extinguishers are the 
mounting brackets. The USCG approved extinguisher will have a mounting 
bracket, required.. It does not have to be mounted, but is a good idea as 
the fire extinguisher can roll around and can't be found when needed. This 
could include rolling under a sofa, chair or other items. Permanent mounting 
means they are always in the same location when you need them. The USCG 
approved model will have a certification number just like your USCG approved 
PFD's. I would thing Scott's Canadian fire extinguishers were orange which 
is a dead giveaway as US extinguishers are either red or white. I bet the 
coasties eyes lit up when they saw them.

A USCG documented vessel or US state registered must have USCG certified 
PFD's, visual distress equipment (flares), fire extinguishers etc... If the 
vessel is documented or registered in Canada it will have to have Canadian 
CG certified equipment. Each foreign country honors the requirements of the 
documented or registered vessels home country.

Scott mentioned the throwable ring was certified. I would bet it was orange 
with a heaving line attached. This is required in Canada by the Canadian CG, 
but not USCG. They knew it was a Canadian throwable and not USCG certified.

Hope this answers the question on required equipment on US vessels.

Oh, yes I am USPS Vessel Safety Examiner in the Northwest and examine 50 
plus boats a year.

Robert F. Anderson
M/V Messin'Around
__________________________________________________________


Keith
_____
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of 
it." - Mark Twain
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "C. Marin Faure" <cmfaure@earthlink.net>
<snip>
>
> I was told by an acquaintance in the USCG that the difference has
> mainly to do with the mount.  For marine use, an extinguisher needs a
> mount that securely holds the extinguisher no matter how much the
> boat rolls, pitches, and yaws.  I assume there's a formal description
> of a marine extinguisher's mount requirements written down
> somewhere.  I don't know that color comes into it at all--- we have
> red extinguishers on our boat and white ones, and they're all "USCG
> Approved."
>
> In addition to the six "approved" extinguishers on our boat we have
> two "unapproved" foam extinguishers.   The mounts that came in their
> boxes were little more than hooks to hang them on a wall.  I modified
> a pair of "approved" mounts to hold them and mounted them just inside
> the main cabin door.  We've been boarded twice by the USCG for
> inspection and there was no comment made about our unapproved foam
> extinguishers.  I wasn't concerned since we have considerably more
> approved extinguishers on board than we are required to have anyway.
> But the USCG included the two foam extinguishers on their count of
> the total on the boat, so perhaps all they look at are the mounts.
>
>
> ____________________
> C. Marin Faure
> GB36-403 "La Perouse"
> Bellingham, Washington