46 CFR 142.225: Storage of flammable or combustible products

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section covers how a towing vessel must store paints, coatings and other flammable or combustible products when not in use. They must go in a designated storage room or cabinet. A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage.

Applies toTowing vessels storing paints, coatings, or other flammable or combustible products onboard.

What it says

  1. Paints, coatings, and other flammable or combustible products onboard a towing vessel must be kept in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use.

    46 CFR 142.225(a)“must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use”

  2. If a storage room is provided, it may be any room or compartment that is free of ignition sources.

    46 CFR 142.225(b)“If a storage room is provided, it may be any room or compartment that is free of ignition sources.”

  3. If a dedicated storage cabinet is provided, it must be secured to the vessel so that it does not move.

    46 CFR 142.225(c)“it must be secured to the vessel so that it does not move”

  4. A dedicated storage cabinet may be a flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies UL 1275, which is incorporated by reference in § 136.112 of this subchapter.

    46 CFR 142.225(c)(1)“A flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies UL 1275 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter); or”

  5. A dedicated storage cabinet may instead be a flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies FM Approvals Standard 6050, or another suitable steel container that provides an equivalent level of protection.

    46 CFR 142.225(c)(3)“Another suitable steel container that provides an equivalent level of protection.”

  6. A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet.

    46 CFR 142.225(d)“A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet.”

  7. This 40-B extinguisher is in addition to the portable fire extinguishers required by tables 142.230(a) and 142.230(b) of this part.

    46 CFR 142.225(d)“This is in addition to the portable fire extinguishers required by tables 142.230(a) and 142.230(b) of this part.”

Common questions

Where must paint be stored on a towing vessel?

Paints, coatings, and other flammable or combustible products must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use.

“must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use”

What kind of room can be used to store flammable products on a towing vessel?

If a storage room is provided, it may be any room or compartment that is free of ignition sources.

“If a storage room is provided, it may be any room or compartment that is free of ignition sources.”

What fire extinguisher is required near a flammable storage cabinet?

A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet. It is in addition to the extinguishers required by tables 142.230(a) and 142.230(b) of this part.

“A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet.”

Does a storage cabinet on a towing vessel have to be fastened down?

Yes. A dedicated storage cabinet must be secured to the vessel so that it does not move.

“it must be secured to the vessel so that it does not move”

The text of 46 CFR 142.225

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Storage of flammable or combustible products

(a) Paints, coatings, or other flammable or combustible products onboard a towing vessel must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use.

(b) If a storage room is provided, it may be any room or compartment that is free of ignition sources.

(c) If a dedicated storage cabinet is provided it must be secured to the vessel so that it does not move and must be either:

(1) A flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies UL 1275 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter); or

(2) A flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies FM Approvals Standard 6050 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter); or

(3) Another suitable steel container that provides an equivalent level of protection.

(d) A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet. This is in addition to the portable fire extinguishers required by tables 142.230(a) and 142.230(b) of this part.

Sections it refers to

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.