Section 39 in The Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Rules, 1969
39. Fire extinguishers.
(1)Non-portable foam and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers provided in compliance with these rules shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Second and Third Schedules respectively.(2)(a)Portable fire extinguishers (other than carbon dioxide fire extinguishers) provided in compliance with these rules shall, if they are of a type discharging fluid, have a capacity of not more than 13.5 litres and not less than 9 litres.(b)Portable carbon dioxide fire extinguishers provided in compliance with these rules shall have a capacity of not less than 4.5 kg. of carbon dioxide.(c)Portable dry powder fire extinguishers provided in compliance with these rules shall have a capacity of not less then 4.5 kg. of dry powder.(d)Portable fire extinguishers of other types provided in compliance with these rules shall be of not less than the fire extinguishing equivalent of 9 litres fluid fire extinguisher.(e)Portable fire extinguishers provided in compliance with these rules shall not exceed 25.5 kg. in weight in the fully charged condition and shall be as portable as a 13.5 litres fluid fire extinguisher.(3)Potable fire extinguishers provided in compliance with these rules for use in accommodation or service spaces of any ship shall so far as practicable have a uniform method of operation.(4)Portable fire extinguishers provided in compliance with these rules shall, subject to sub-rules (2) and (3) be designed and constructed to the satisfaction of the Central Government.(5)(a)Fire extinguishers in which the substance used for extinguishing fires is stored under pressure shall not be provided for use in accommodation spaces.(b)Notwithstanding the requirement of Cl. (a), portable dry powder fire extinguishers wherein the substance to extinguish fire is stored under pressure may be provided in compliance with these rules in either the accommodation or service spaces or in the machinery spaces, subject to their number not exceeding one half of the total number of extinguishers required to be provided in either of these spaces.(6)Fire extinguishers provided for use in any ship to which these rules apply shall not contain an extinguishing medium which either itself or when in use gives off gases harmful to persons.(7)For the purposes of these rules,--(a)the capacity of any fire extinguisher other than a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher shall be taken to be the greatest volume or weight of extinguishing medium which it can contain when sufficient space is left to ensure the proper operation of the extinguisher.(b)the capacity of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher shall be taken to be the greatest weight of carbon dioxide which it can safely contain in a tropical climate.(8)Every fire extinguisher provided in compliance with these rules shall be kept fully charged at all times.(9)A spare charge shall be provided for every portable fire extinguisher provided in compliance with these rules, except that for each such fire extinguisher which is of a type that cannot readily be recharged while the ship is at sea, an additional portable fire extinguisher of the same type, or its equivalent, shall be provided in lieu of a spare charge.
