46 CFR 25.30-80: Fire extinguishers on vessels contracted before August 22, 2016
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section covers fire extinguishers on vessels contracted for prior to August 22, 2016. Older, smaller extinguishers may stay in service if kept in good condition. All new equipment and installations must meet the subpart's requirements for new vessels.
Applies toVessels contracted for prior to August 22, 2016.
What it says
Vessels contracted for prior to August 22, 2016 must meet the requirements in this section.
“Vessels contracted for prior to August 22, 2016 must meet the following requirements:”
Previously installed extinguishers with extinguishing capacities smaller than required in tables 25.30-20(a)(1) and 25.30-20(b)(1) of this subpart need not be replaced.
46 CFR 25.30-80(a)“Previously installed extinguishers with extinguishing capacities smaller than what is required in tables 25.30-20(a)(1) and 25.30-20(b)(1) of this subpart need not be replaced”
Those smaller extinguishers may stay in service as long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
46 CFR 25.30-80(a)“may be continued in service so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection”
All new equipment and installations must meet the applicable requirements in this subpart for new vessels.
46 CFR 25.30-80(b)“All new equipment and installations must meet the applicable requirements in this subpart for new vessels.”
Common questions
Do I have to replace smaller extinguishers on a vessel contracted for before August 22, 2016?
No. Previously installed extinguishers with smaller capacities than the tables require need not be replaced. They may stay in service if maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
“need not be replaced and may be continued in service so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.”
What rules apply to new extinguisher installations on older vessels?
All new equipment and installations must meet the applicable requirements in this subpart for new vessels.
“All new equipment and installations must meet the applicable requirements in this subpart for new vessels.”
The text of 46 CFR 25.30-80
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Location and number of fire extinguishers required for vessels constructed prior to August 22, 2016
Vessels contracted for prior to August 22, 2016 must meet the following requirements:
(a) Previously installed extinguishers with extinguishing capacities smaller than what is required in tables 25.30-20(a)(1) and 25.30-20(b)(1) of this subpart need not be replaced and may be continued in service so long as they are maintained in good condition to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
(b) All new equipment and installations must meet the applicable requirements in this subpart for new vessels.
Guides that cite this section
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.