46 CFR 76.27-5: General fire detection and alarm requirements
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets general requirements for a vessel's fire detection and alarm system. Equipment must be of approved types, and the system must be ready to operate at all times the vessel is in service. It must also register a fire visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station.
What it says
Detectors, manual alarm stations, control panels, cabinets, alarms, and other notifying devices must be of approved types.
46 CFR 76.27-5(a)“Detectors, manual alarm stations, control panels, cabinets, alarms, and other notifying devices must be of approved types.”
The fire detection and alarm system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.
46 CFR 76.27-5(b)“The fire detection and alarm system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.”
The system must control and monitor input signals for all connected detectors and manual pull stations or call points.
46 CFR 76.27-5(c)“The fire detection and alarm system must control and monitor input signals for all connected detectors and manual pull stations or call points.”
The system must provide fire or fault output signals to the pilothouse or fire control station.
46 CFR 76.27-5(d)“The fire detection and alarm system must provide fire or fault output signals to the pilothouse or fire control station.”
The system must notify crew and passengers of a fire when appropriate.
46 CFR 76.27-5(e)“The fire detection and alarm system must notify crew and passengers of a fire when appropriate.”
The system must be arranged and installed so that a fire in any protected space is automatically registered visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station.
46 CFR 76.27-5(f)“will be automatically registered visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station.”
The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated.
46 CFR 76.27-5(f)“The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated.”
On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room.
46 CFR 76.27-5(f)“On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room.”
Common questions
When must a vessel's fire detection and alarm system be ready to operate?
The system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.
“The fire detection and alarm system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.”
Where must a fire alarm be registered on a vessel?
A fire in any protected space must be automatically registered visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station. The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated.
“The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated.”
Is an engine room fire alarm required?
On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room. The text does not address engine room alarms for other vessels.
“On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room.”
The text of 46 CFR 76.27-5
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
General
(a) Detectors, manual alarm stations, control panels, cabinets, alarms, and other notifying devices must be of approved types.
(b) The fire detection and alarm system must be capable of immediate operation at all times that the vessel is in service.
(c) The fire detection and alarm system must control and monitor input signals for all connected detectors and manual pull stations or call points.
(d) The fire detection and alarm system must provide fire or fault output signals to the pilothouse or fire control station.
(e) The fire detection and alarm system must notify crew and passengers of a fire when appropriate.
(f) The fire detection and alarm system must be so arranged and installed that the presence of a fire in any of the protected spaces will be automatically registered visibly and audibly in the pilothouse or fire control station. The visible notice must indicate the zone in which the alarm originated. On vessels of more than 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length, there must also be an audible alarm in the engine room.
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.