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Fire safety courses

Portable extinguishers, breathing apparatus and fixed CO2, foam and water-mist systems: how they work, how they are inspected and what surveyors look for.

  • 2 courses, 15 lessons
  • About 3 h 46 min in all
  • Free certificate
Start with “Portable fire-fighting equipment” See all courses

Lesson 1 takes 14 min. It is open to everyone, no account needed.

Try a lesson, no account needed Fixed fire systems on board: what is required where Lesson 1 of Fixed fire-fighting systems · 15 min

Courses in this topic

In the order we suggest

What you will be able to do

After the courses in this topic.

  • Choose the right extinguisher for each fire class found on board
  • Inspect, service and pressure test extinguishers, SCBA and EEBDs on the right schedule
  • Explain how a CO2 system is released safely and how its bottles are weighed
  • Read a fire safety maintenance plan from the weekly checks to the ten-yearly tests
  • Check fire detection, fire doors and dampers the way a port state inspector would

Questions people ask

Is MSC.1/Circ.1432 mandatory?

Not by itself: it is a set of guidelines. SOLAS regulation II-2/14.2.2 requires maintenance based on IMO guidelines, and many flags (for example Liberia and the Marshall Islands) make the circular’s checks part of the statutory survey. On board, treat it as the minimum.

Does MSC.1/Circ.1432 cover portable extinguishers?

No. Section 1 sends you to resolution A.951(23) for portable extinguishers and to MSC.1/Circ.1318 for fixed CO2 (now replaced by MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1). It does cover wheeled (mobile) extinguishers, breathing apparatus, EEBDs, hoses, hydrants, the shore connection and fire-fighter’s outfits.

Who may service the ship's extinguishers?

A.951(23) says service and inspection should be done by, or under the supervision of, a person with demonstrable competence. Flags set the detail. Liberia, for example, accepts crew with advanced fire-fighting training who meet its conditions, while hydraulic testing must go to a certified facility. Check your flag notice and your class.

What changed in 2026?

SOLAS regulation II-2/10.11 came into force on 1 January 2026 and bans extinguishing media containing PFOS. Existing ships must comply by their first survey on or after that date. Ask your foam supplier for a declaration on any foam extinguisher charges and applicator concentrate.

Can we replace all our foam extinguishers with powder to simplify spare charges?

Possibly in some spaces, but check the space rules first. Category A machinery spaces call for foam or equivalent (SOLAS regulation II-2/10.5). The FSS Code leaves equivalents to the Administration, so ask your flag or recognised organisation. A.951(23) supports fewer types, but every hazard must still be covered.

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