ALCOAST 091/19 - MAR 2019 FIRE EXTINGUISHER RATING UPDATE PAGES FOR BOJAK

R 260740 MAR 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5R//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N16247//
ALCOAST 091/19
COMDTNOTE 16247
SUBJ: FIRE EXTINGUISHER RATING UPDATE PAGES FOR BOJAK
A. U.S. Coast Guard Boarding Officer Job Aid Kit (BOJAK) Edition E, August 2014.
B. 46 CFR 25.30.
C. 46 CFR 28.160.
1. The target audience for this message is all boarding officers, MISLE case reviewers, and
their supervisors.
2. On August 22, 2016, the Coast Guard issued a final rule for certain design and approval
standards for fire protection, detection, extinguishing equipment, and materials on inspected
and uninspected vessels. These updates bring the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) in line with
national and international industry consensus standards, and incorporate other advances in fire
protection technologies and standards. This regulatory action updates Coast Guard regulations
to incorporate advances in fire protection technology for specific types of fire protection,
detection, extinguishing equipment, and materials, replacing the Coast Guard's weight-based
rating system for fire extinguishers with the UL performance-based rating system. Adopting the
national industry standard rating system streamlines the selection, inspection, and approval
processes for marine fire extinguishers.
3. This rule does not require existing vessels to replace serviceable portable and semi-portable
fire extinguishers as long as the equipment is serviceable and properly maintained. When
equipment is replaced, replacement fire extinguishers will have to meet the requirements of
this rule. New vessels, constructed after August 22, 2016, are required to be equipped with
extinguishers that conform to the new requirements. Whenever they become unserviceable, all
portable and small semi-portable fire extinguishers will require replacement with UL-rated
extinguishers.
4. Until REF (A) is updated to reflect these changes, an update PDF is available on the COMDT
(CG-MLE-2) CGPortal site: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cgmle/cgmle2/SitePages/LE%20Policy%20
Messages%20and%20Documents.aspx. This two-page document is ready for printing and insertion into
the current edition of REF (A), and reflects the new fire extinguisher designations and
requirements. Law enforcement units shall print the update and include it in REF (A).
5. The POC for this change is LCDR Molly Waters: Molly.K.Waters@uscg.mil, 202-372-2166.
6. RDML A. J. Vogt Jr., Assistant Commandant for Response Policy, sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.