Fire Fighting Equipment for Vessels (Boats)

For the purpose of this article the term "fire equipment" includes the selection, installation and maintenance of either a portable fire extinguisher or a fire blanket for recreational vessels.

Fire extinguishers are to be readily accessible in suitable and different parts of the boat. They should not be stored in close proximity to fuel or electrics.

For boats with electric start, electric engines, battery, gas installation or fuel stoves in enclosed waters (including alpine waters) or open waters, ONE portable fire extinguisher. Note: Larger boats may need additional fire extinguishers.

All Queensland regulated ships and boats over 5m in length must carry firefighting equipment that can extinguish a fire quickly and effectively, irrespective if the condition of the water is smooth, partially smooth or beyond partially smooth waters.

There is no specific requirement for the quantity, type or capacity of a portable fire extinguisher in Queensland.

Applicable to all vessels in Protected Waters, Semi-Protected Waters or Unprotected Waters the following selection criteria apply;

Notes:

1. must comply with AS 1841 in respect of the type of fuel or fuels carried by the vessel;
2. is maintained in accordance with AS 1851;
3. must be not less than the minimum approved size for the amount of flammable liquid carried;
4. having multiple small extinguishers does not satisfy the size requirement - ie if you are required to carry a 2.0 kg extinguisher, you must carry 1 x 2.0 kg fire extinguisher, not 2 x 1.0 kg fire extinguishers. However, if you are carrying the required size fire extinguisher, you may also carry additional smaller fire extinguishers.

The minimum number and capacity of fire extinguishers are to be provided in accordance with the following table;

1. Boats with galleys should carry a fire blanket which should be kept in close proximity, but not behind burners or hot plates.
2. Only extinguishers marked as complying with AS1841.5 (1992) or AS1846 for dry chemical type are acceptable.

Depending on the type of vessel and equipment on board, fire protection equipment may include one or more of the following:

If your vessel is fitted with an inboard engine (personal water craft are exempt) or with cooking, heating or cooling systems that use flames, you must carry at least ONE approved fire extinguisher.2

You make your own choice of extinguisher (provided it is made to Australian Standards) from foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide or vaporising liquid.

Although the regulations call for only one extinguisher to be carried, your boat might be of a size or complexity to suggest carrying more than one fire extinguisher, perhaps of different types. You may also decide to buy larger than the minimum size.

Bailers are used for vessels under 7 metres in length. Depending on the size of the vessel, a strong bucket with 2 metres of rope attached makes an excellent addition to your gear list. As a safety item, it is useful both for bailing water out and fighting fires.3

In most circumstances a Dry Chemical Powder Fire Extinguisher is the correct extinguisher for a vessel to comply with the various legislation in Australia.

To make things easier we have prepared the following guide that may be used across Australia for the selection of a portable fire extinguisher for a recreational vessels in the following table;