---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 27.203"
title: "46"
number: "27.203"
heading: "What are the requirements for fire detection on towing vessels?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/27.203"
---

# §27.203. What are the requirements for fire detection on towing vessels?

- (a) You must have a fire detection system installed on your vessel to detect engine-room fires. Any owner of a vessel whose construction was contracted for before January 18, 2000, may use an existing engine-room-monitoring system (with fire detection capability) instead of a fire detection system, if the monitoring system is operable and complies with this section. You must ensure that—
  - (1) Each detector, each control panel, and each fire alarm are approved under [46 CFR subpart 161.002](/cfr/46/subpart161.002.md) or listed by an independent testing laboratory; except that, if you use an existing engine-room-monitoring system (with fire detection capability), each detector must be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL), as defined in [46 CFR 161.002-2](/cfr/46/161.002-2.md), for fire service;
  - (2) The system is installed, tested, and maintained in line with the manufacturer's design manual;
  - (3) The system is arranged and installed so a fire in the engine room automatically sets off alarms on a control panel at the operating station;
  - (4) **The control panel includes—**
    - (i) A power-available light;
    - (ii) Both an audible alarm to notify crew at the operating station of fire and visible alarms to identify the zone or zones of origin of the fire;
    - (iii) A means to silence the audible alarm while maintaining indication by the visible alarms;
    - (iv) A circuit-fault detector test-switch; and
    - (v) Labels for all switches and indicator lights, identifying their functions;
  - (5) The system draws power from two sources, switchover from the primary source to the secondary source being either manual or automatic;
  - (6) The system serves no other purpose, unless it is an engine-room-monitoring system (with fire detection capability) installed on a vessel whose construction was contracted for before January 18, 2000; and
  - (7) The system is certified by a registered professional engineer, or by a recognized classification society (under [46 CFR part 8](/cfr/46/part8.md)), to comply with [paragraphs (a)](#a) introductory text and (a)(1) through (a)(6) of this section.
- (b) In spaces other than the engine room, non-approved fire detection systems may be acceptable as excess equipment provided that—
  - (1) Components are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) as set forth in [29 CFR 1910.7](/cfr/29/1910.7.md), and is designed, installed, tested, and maintained in accordance with an appropriate industry standard and the manufacturer's specific guidance; and
  - (2) **The system and units remain functional as intended.**

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-2000-6931, 69 FR 34069, June 18, 2004, as amended by USCG-2012-0196, 81 FR 48246, July 22, 2016]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 3306, 4102 (as amended by Pub. L. 104-324, 110 Stat. 3901); Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

### Source

Source: USCG-2000-6931, 69 FR 34069, June 18, 2004, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-2000-6931, 69 FR 34069, June 18, 2004, as amended by USCG-2012-0196, 81 FR 48246, July 22, 2016]