In the 21st century, we are surrounded by pro-active fire protection measures and increased fire safety regulations. Yet, according to maritime-executive.com fire protection remains an “ungoverned space” within the maritime industry, as they currently only reference and enforce Coast Guard requirements.

As of July 2016 the Coast Guard has issued design and approval standards for fire protection, detection, extinguishing equipment, and materials on vessels, deep-water ports, mobile offshore drilling units and other seaboard facilities.

A sample of the new regulations include:

• Consolidates and updates the fire detection and alarm system requirements in 46 CFR subchapter H (passenger vessels) as well as C, I, K, and T vessels where the regulations refer to subchapter H for fire detection and alarm system requirements.
• Updated Coast Guard regulations for the design and installation of fire detection and alarm systems to reflect advances in digital technology.
• Replacing the Coast Guard’s own weight-based rating system for portable fire extinguishers with the more widely used UL fire extinguisher rating system.
• The adoption of fire extinguisher maintenance and inspection procedures set forth in the consensus NFPA 10 “Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.” Vessel crewmembers can continue to perform monthly inspections; however, a certified person is required to conduct annual maintenance.

MIJA offers overs 1,100 UL listed pressure gauges commonly found on fire extinguishers and proudly serves many of the top companies within the fire protection industry.

For more information on the new standards: http://mariners.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2016/07/22/7222016-final-rule-harmonization-of-standards-for-fire-protection-detection-and-extinguishing-equipment/\

For more information on how MIJA Inc.’s pressure gauges or 2n1 technology for fire suppression systems, please contact us at 781-871-5750 or email us at sales@mija.com.