On May 13, 2019, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the
Federal Register, ‘‘Fire Protection for Recreational Vessels.’’ The NPRM proposed to
relieve recreational vessel owners from the inspection, maintenance, and recordkeeping requirements of NFPA 10 and to consolidate recreational boating safety requirements into 33 CFR chapter I, subchapter S. Instead of applying NFPA 10 and requiring monthly visual inspections, annual maintenance, and recordkeeping, the Coast Guard proposed that portable fire extinguishers on recreational vessels be maintained in ‘‘good and serviceable’’ condition. The NPRM solicited comments and provided a 60-day comment period that ended on July 12, 2019.
Based on those comments, the Coast Guard made changes and a Final Rule amending the fire extinguishing equipment regulations for recreational vessels propelled or controlled by propulsion machinery was published on Oct. 22, 2021. The Rule is effective as of April 20, 2022.
Shortly after publication of the Final Rule, a technical error was identified. On Oct. 27, 2021, a correction to the header in the second column of table 3 in § 175.320(a)(2) was made and published to the Federal Register.
Handy References:
2022 Fire Extinguisher Rule for Recreational Vessels
2022 Fire Extinguisher Rule for Recreational Vessels - Infographic