Title 9 Part 449

The following terms when used in this Part, unless otherwise expressly stated, shall be deemed to mean and include:

Fixed fire extinguishing systems, hereinafter referred to as “fixed systems”, shall mean total flooding systems using carbon dioxide gas as the extinguishing agent and having components fixed in position. The operation of the fixed system may be either manual, automatic or a combination of manual and automatic and must be approved by the United States Coast Guard for marine use. Each system shall be of such capacity to provide one pound of CO₂ gas for each 14 cubic feet of protected area. The inspector shall specify the size of the fixed system re-required [sic], the location of cylinders and components and the type of control. Fixed systems shall be required equipment on inboard motor boats and on outboard motor boats which have installed tanks and enclosed spaces, when such boats are used for carrying passengers. In cases where the construction of a vessel or the location of engines and tanks are mainly exposed to the open atmosphere, thus making the installation of a fixed system impractical, the inspector may omit the fixed system requirement and add to the portable extinguisher requirement, if deemed necessary.

Ventilation shall mean the induction of a directed current of air by natural or mechanical means as opposed to venting which only provides openings for escape without provision for induction. Induction as used above means the intake of air from the outside which shall be directed to and through the length of the compartment and then released outside again. Any compartment or space in which an engine or fuel tank is located, particularly the lower portion of bilges, shall be provided with ventilation capable of preventing and effectively removing any accumulation of flammable or explosive vapor.

All life preservers used on public vessels shall be of jacket design, containing pads of buoyant materials consisting of balsa wood, cork, vinyl covered kapok, or vinyl covered fiberous glass inserted in a cloth covering which shall be fitted with straps or ties so that the life preserver can be securely held to the human body. All life preservers manufactured after 1949 shall be India orange in color, except that white colored life preservers which have been in continuous use are approved only if in good condition. Re-covering of life preservers is not permitted. In addition, all life preservers used on public vessels shall be of the commercial type approved by the United States Coast Guard for use on vessels carrying passengers for hire. Limited United States Coast Guard standards for life vests, buoyant cushions, etc. are not approved.

For the purposes of this Part, inboard motor boats shall mean all vessels with permanently installed engines and/or fuel tanks using gasoline or diesel oil as a fuel supply, or vessels having enclosed bilge, engine and/or fuel tank spaces using gasoline or diesel oil as a fuel supply.