46 CFR 144.830: Protection against hot piping
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section requires protection against burns and injury from hot piping. Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine that is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded. On a new vessel, pipes within reach of personnel that contain vapor, gas, or liquid above 150 °F (65.5 °C) must be insulated where necessary or otherwise guarded.
Applies toExhaust pipes from internal combustion engines within reach of personnel, and on a new vessel, pipes within reach of personnel that contain vapor, gas, or liquid exceeding 150 °F (65.5 °C).
What it says
Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine that is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns.
“Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine which is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns.”
On a new vessel, each pipe that contains vapor, gas, or liquid with a temperature exceeding 150 °F (65.5 °C) and is within reach of personnel must be insulated where necessary or otherwise guarded to prevent injury.
“On a new vessel, each pipe that contains vapor, gas, or liquid that has a temperature exceeding 150 °F (65.5 °C) which is within reach of personnel must be insulated where necessary or otherwise guarded to prevent injury.”
Common questions
Do engine exhaust pipes have to be insulated or guarded?
Yes, if the pipe is within reach of personnel. It must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns.
“Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine which is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns.”
At what temperature must hot pipes be insulated or guarded on a new vessel?
On a new vessel, a pipe within reach of personnel must be insulated where necessary or otherwise guarded if its contents have a temperature exceeding 150 °F (65.5 °C).
“On a new vessel, each pipe that contains vapor, gas, or liquid that has a temperature exceeding 150 °F (65.5 °C) which is within reach of personnel must be insulated where necessary or otherwise guarded to prevent injury.”
The text of 46 CFR 144.830
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Protection against hot piping
Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine which is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns. On a new vessel, each pipe that contains vapor, gas, or liquid that has a temperature exceeding 150 °F (65.5 °C) which is within reach of personnel must be insulated where necessary or otherwise guarded to prevent injury.
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.