46 CFR 76.50-10: Location of portable and semi-portable extinguishers
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section says approved portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be installed in accordance with table 1 to 76.50-10(b), with locations satisfactory to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. It also sets rules for visibility, enclosures, numbering and protection from freezing.
What it says
Approved portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be installed in accordance with table 1 to 76.50-10(b).
46 CFR 76.50-10(a)“Approved portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be installed in accordance with table 1 to 76.50-10(b).”
The location of the equipment must be to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.
46 CFR 76.50-10(a)“The location of the equipment must be to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.”
The paragraph does not limit the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, from requiring additional equipment he or she deems necessary for the proper protection of the vessel.
46 CFR 76.50-10(a)“Nothing in this paragraph should be construed as limiting the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, from requiring such additional equipment as he or she deems necessary for the proper protection of the vessel.”
Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used if they meet the requirements of the table.
46 CFR 76.50-10(b)“Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used if the extinguishers meet the requirements of the table.”
Semi-portable fire extinguishing systems must be located in the open so they are readily seen.
46 CFR 76.50-10(c)“Semi-portable fire extinguishing systems must be located in the open so as to be readily seen.”
Portable fire extinguishers not located in the open or behind glass so they may be readily seen may be placed in enclosures together with the firehose, if the enclosures are marked as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.
46 CFR 76.50-10(d)“they may be placed in enclosures together with the firehose, provided such enclosures are marked as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.”
Portable fire extinguishers and their stations must be numbered in accordance with § 78.47-30 of this subchapter.
46 CFR 76.50-10(e)“Portable fire extinguishers and their stations must be numbered in accordance with § 78.47-30 of this subchapter.”
Extinguishers whose nameplates require protection from freezing must not be located where freezing temperatures may be expected.
46 CFR 76.50-10(f)“must not be located where freezing temperatures may be expected.”
Common questions
Who decides where fire extinguishers are located on the vessel?
The location of the equipment must be to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. That officer may also require additional equipment deemed necessary for proper protection of the vessel.
“The location of the equipment must be to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.”
Can I use a larger-rated extinguisher than the table requires?
Yes. Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used if they meet the requirements of the table.
“Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used if the extinguishers meet the requirements of the table.”
Where can portable extinguishers be kept if they are not in the open or behind glass?
They may be placed in enclosures together with the firehose. The enclosures must be marked as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.
“they may be placed in enclosures together with the firehose, provided such enclosures are marked as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.”
The text of 46 CFR 76.50-10
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Location
(a) Approved portable and semi-portable extinguishers must be installed in accordance with table 1 to 76.50-10(b). The location of the equipment must be to the satisfaction of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. Nothing in this paragraph should be construed as limiting the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, from requiring such additional equipment as he or she deems necessary for the proper protection of the vessel.
(b) Table 1 to 76.50-10(b) indicates the minimum required number and type of extinguisher for each space listed. Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used if the extinguishers meet the requirements of the table.
Table 1 to 76.50-10(b)—Carriage of Portable and Semi-Portable Fire Extinguishers Space Fire extinguishing Minimum required rating Quantity and location Safety Area 1 Wheelhouse or fire control room 2-A, 20-B:C 1 of each rating required for vessels over 1,000 GT.
Only 1 extinguisher is required if it carries both 2-A and 20-B:C ratings.
Stairway and elevator enclosures None required.
Communicating corridors 2-A 1 in each main corridor in each main vertical zone.
(May be located in stairway enclosures.) Lifeboat embarkation and lowering stations None required.
Radio room 20-B:C 3 2 in the vicinity of the exit.2 Accommodations 1 Staterooms, toilet spaces, isolated pantries, etc None required.
Offices, lockers, and isolated storerooms None required.
Public spaces 2-A 1 for each 2,500 sq ft or fraction thereof located in vicinity of the exits, except that none are required for spaces under 500 sq ft.
Open decks or enclosed promenades None required.
Service Spaces Galleys 40-B:C 1 for each 2,500 sq ft or fraction thereof suitable for hazards involved.
Main pantries 2-A 1 for each 2,500 sq ft or fraction thereof located in the vicinity of the exits.
Motion picture booths and film lockers 10-B:C 3 1 outside in the vicinity of the exit.
Paint and lamp rooms 40-B 1 outside space in the vicinity of the exit.
Inaccessible baggage, mail, and specie rooms, and storerooms None required.
Accessible baggage, mail, and specie rooms, and storerooms 2-A 1 for each 2,500 sq ft or fraction thereof located in the vicinity of the exits, either inside or outside the spaces.
Refrigerated storerooms 2-A 1 for each 2,500 sq ft or fraction thereof located in the vicinity of the exits, outside the spaces.
Carpenter, valet, photographic, printing shops sales rooms, etc. 2-A 1 outside the space in the vicinity of the exit.
Machinery Spaces Coal-fired boilers: Bunker and boiler space None required.
Oil-fired boilers: Spaces, containing oil fired boilers, either main or auxiliary, or their fuel oil units 40-B 160-B 2 required.3 1 required.4 Internal combustion or gas turbine propelling machinery spaces 40-B 1 for each 1,000 brake horsepower, but not less than 2 or more than 6. 120-B 1 required.5 Electric propulsive motors or generators of open type 40-B:C 1 for each propulsion motor or generator unit.
Enclosed ventilating systems for motors and generators of electric propelling machinery None required.
Auxiliary spaces, internal combustion or gas turbine 40-B 1 outside the space in the vicinity of the exit.6 Auxiliary spaces, electric emergency motors or generators 40-B:C 1 outside the space in the vicinity of the exit.6 Auxiliary spaces, steam None required.
Trunks to machinery spaces None required.
Fuel tanks None required.
Cargo Spaces Inaccessible during voyage, including trunks (excluding tanks) None required.
Accessible during voyage 2-A 1 for each 1,200 sq ft or fraction thereof.
Vehicular spaces (covered by a sprinkler system) 40-B 1, plus 1 for each 6,000 sq ft or fraction thereof.
Vehicular spaces (not covered by a sprinkler system) 40-B 1, plus 1 for each 1,500 sq ft or fraction thereof.7 Cargo oil tanks None required.
Spare Units 2-A 10 percent of the required number for public spaces rounded up. 40-B 10 percent of the required number for cargo spaces rounded up. 40-B:C 1. 1 In any case, on vessels of 150 feet (45.72 meters) in length and over, there must be at least two 2-A units on each passenger deck. 2 For vessels on an international voyage, substitute 1 20-B:C in the vicinity of the exit. 3 Vessels of less than 1,000 GT and not on an international voyage require 1. 4 Vessels of less than 1,000 GT and not on an international voyage may substitute one 120-B for one 160-B. 5 If an oil-burning donkey boiler is fitted in the space, the 160-B previously required for the protection of the boiler room may be substituted.
Not required on vessels of less than 300 GT if the fuel has a flashpoint of 110 °F or lower except those on an international voyage. 6 Not required on vessels of less than 300 GT if the fuel has a flashpoint higher than 110 °F. 7 Two 10-B units may be substituted for one 40-B unit.
(c) Semi-portable fire extinguishing systems must be located in the open so as to be readily seen.
(d) If portable fire extinguishers are not located in the open or behind glass so that they may be readily seen, they may be placed in enclosures together with the firehose, provided such enclosures are marked as required by § 78.47-20 of this subchapter.
(e) Portable fire extinguishers and their stations must be numbered in accordance with § 78.47-30 of this subchapter.
(f) Portable or semi-portable extinguishers, which are required on their nameplates to be protected from freezing, must not be located where freezing temperatures may be expected.
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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.