All boats need well-designed systems to fight fires when they occur. Fibreglass boats are prone to burning ‘to the waterline’ very quickly if fire breaks out. If the fire isn’t put out fast, you may need to abandon the boat to save your life.
We follow several procedures to ensure a fire never occurs. These include the following:
- Checking and maintaining any apparatus that carries or contains fuel, including gas or diesel systems, propane canisters, lines, stoves, and BBQs.
- Carrying built-in fire suppression systems (see the lead photo and the photo below for examples of built-in fire suppression systems) and fire-fighting equipment.
- Being familiar with methods of safely fighting fires in a manner that keeps the fire from growing and prevents you from being poisoned by the chemicals used to fight the fire.
Fire Extinguishers: Type and Location
When surveyors inspect a boat, one of the first items we check are the fire extinguishers. Transport Canada (TC) recommends having a fire extinguisher near the companionway stairs and galley, both common sources of fire. If you have cooking facilities on board, an additional extinguisher should be mounted in a location that is accessible if the stove is on fire.
TC requires that all vessels carry a marine-rated fire extinguisher rather than a home version purchased at your local big box store. Some home-type extinguishers use CO2 to starve the fire of oxygen which, in the relatively confined area of a boat, can starve you of oxygen instead and potentially lead to death. In addition, some home-type extinguishers use chemicals that can be corrosive to metals like aluminum.
True marine-rated fire extinguishers are labelled “marine listed” or “USCG approved”. Small boats (under 20 feet) can get away with one or two 1A-5 B:C size extinguishers, but if your boat is over 20 feet you need to get 2A-10B:C marine extinguishers to comply with TC regulations. Each extinguisher must be mounted in well-secured brackets with proper restraints that can be easily opened.
While simply meeting the minimum requirements will enable you to pass an inspection, we recommend going beyond what the government mandates and purchasing extinguishers according to your boat’s layout. We recommend having at least one in the cockpit, one in each stateroom, and one in the galley area. Statistically speaking, onboard fires double in size every seven seconds, so having a fire extinguisher readily available may make the difference between inconvenience and catastrophe.
The engine compartment must have a labelled fire fighting port. This allows the fire to be fought without opening the door or hatch and prevents the ingress of oxygen which the fire needs in order to grow.
Left: Portable and built-in fire fighting system; Right: a fire port.
A smoke detector and rate-of-rise heat detector with a noise alarm to indicate a fire in the engine room are required for small commercial passenger boats, but are also a good idea for pleasure boats.
Using and Maintaining Fire Extinguishers
All extinguishers should be shaken regularly to loosen the powder inside but should not be banged against something solid as this will pack the powder tightly and prevent the spray from working properly when the handle is squeezed. When you discharge the extinguisher, it needs to be held vertically not horizontally, otherwise it won’t deliver all the powder before the pressure runs out.
Fire extinguishers only last 12 years. If they are marine-rated, a date will be stamped on the bottom of the extinguisher. If they’re over 12 years old, they must be replaced.
Marine fire extinguishers will have a date of manufacturing stamped at the bottom.
Extinguishers should also be replaced if:
- The gauge needle is out of the green area
- The lock pin is missing
- The discharge nozzle is blocked
- The extinguishers show visible signs of significant corrosion or damage
Fire Extinguishing Agents
Important Note: If you have a halon fire suppression system, you will need to remove it. This older system poses a safety risk as halon removes oxygen, which can potentially lead to death by suffocation in the confines of a boat. In addition, your insurance company will not allow it.
There are many alternative systems available:
- Water: Good for Class A fires. Extinguishers are heavy and difficult to store. They are not suitable for use on flammable liquids or electrical fires. It leaves no residue and is easy to use. However, it is useful only in confined interior spaces.
- HFC-227: While still available (as of May 2022), HFC-227 will shortly be phased out in favour of extinguishers that use 3M’s Novec™ 1230 extinguishing agent. This change is being made to meet new environmental regulations enacted by the United States Congress in 2020.
- Novec™ 1230: This 3M agent is an environmentally sustainable replacement for HFC-227 or FM200. It does not damage the ozone layer or contribute to global warming. It is effective on all fire classes and leaves no residue after use.
- Halotron 1: EPA-approved. It is safe for computers, electronics, and even cleanrooms, and leaves no residue after use.
- Dry Chemical: Low toxicity; inexpensive. It is effective on Class B and Class C fires but not effective on Class A fires. Difficult to clean up.
- Tri-Class Dry Chemical: Low toxicity; inexpensive. Effective on Class B and Class C fires and moderately effective on Class A fires. Difficult to clean up; corrosive. Not a good choice for the helm or navigation station.
- Aqueous Foam: This relatively new technology is extremely easy to use effectively on Class A, B, and C fires. Excessive skin or eye contact should be avoided.