Fire Fighting Systems & Equipment

Shipboard fire fighting systems and equipment servicing

Fire fighting systems and equipment servicing covers the periodic inspection, testing and maintenance of every fire protection system and appliance a ship relies on: fire mains and pumps, hydrants, hoses and nozzles, portable and wheeled extinguishers, fixed gas, foam, water-mist and sprinkler systems, fire detection and alarm, fire-fighter’s outfits and emergency escape breathing devices. Much of this work is split between the crew’s planned maintenance and specialist service engineers.

This page is the overview. Each system type has its own dedicated page with detailed intervals and scope, linked below. vslSafety coordinates a suitable local provider at the vessel’s port so that several systems can be covered in one attendance and the certificates are ready for the annual Safety Equipment survey or a port state control inspection.

Regulatory requirements and standards

SOLAS chapter II-2 sets the requirements for fire protection, detection and extinction. Regulation II-2/10 covers fire-fighting arrangements, regulation II-2/7 detection and alarm, and regulation II-2/14 requires every ship to carry an onboard maintenance plan and to keep fire protection systems in good order and ready for immediate use. The technical specifications for each system are in the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), for example chapter 3 for personnel protection, chapter 4 for fire extinguishers, chapter 5 for fixed gas systems, chapter 6 for fixed foam systems, chapter 7 for water spraying and water-mist systems and chapter 9 for fixed fire detection.

The key maintenance guidance is:

• MSC.1/Circ.1432 – Revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances, as amended by MSC.1/Circ.1516 (sprinkler testing)
• MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 – maintenance and inspection of fixed carbon dioxide systems
• Resolution A.951(23) – Improved guidelines for marine portable fire extinguishers
• MSC.1/Circ.1312 – performance, testing and surveys of foam concentrates

MSC.1/Circ.1432 states that some tasks may be done by competent crew members who have completed advanced fire-fighting training, while others should be done by persons specially trained in the maintenance of the system. The onboard maintenance plan should show which is which. Flags often require the shore facility to be approved. From 1 January 2026, amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 adopted by resolution MSC.532(107) prohibit fire-extinguishing media containing PFOS, with existing ships required to comply no later than the first survey on or after that date.

Inspection and servicing intervals

Item	Requirement	Interval	Reference
Fire pumps, hydrants, hoses	Operate pumps, check hoses and nozzles in place	Monthly	MSC.1/Circ.1432
Fire pumps	Flow test for pressure and capacity; test emergency fire pump with isolation valves closed	Annual	MSC.1/Circ.1432
Fire hoses	Pressure test a sample so all hoses are tested	Within 5 years	MSC.1/Circ.1432
International shore connection	Check serviceable	Quarterly	MSC.1/Circ.1432
Portable extinguishers	Service; hydrostatic test	Annual; 10 years	A.951(23)
Fixed gas systems	Weigh or verify contents; blow through piping	2 years	MSC.1/Circ.1432, MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1
Foam concentrate	Laboratory periodical control test	Annual (first test within 3 years for most types)	MSC.1/Circ.1312
Breathing apparatus	Check masks, demand valves, air quality; hydrostatic test steel cylinders	Annual; 5 years	MSC.1/Circ.1432

What the service includes

• Review of the onboard maintenance plan, fire control plan, previous service reports and certificate expiry dates
• Fire main, fire pump and emergency fire pump performance checks, including relief valves and strainers
• Hydrant valve operation, fire hose pressure testing and nozzle checks
• Annual servicing of portable and wheeled extinguishers, and hydrostatic testing when due
• Inspection and testing of fixed gas, foam, water-mist, sprinkler and local application systems
• Functional testing of fire detection and alarm systems, including those that release extinguishing systems
• Servicing of fire-fighter’s outfits, SCBA and EEBDs, and recharging of cylinders
• A consolidated defect list with recommended rectification before survey

Equipment and system types covered

Specialist pages give the detail for each system: fire extinguisher servicing, fixed fire suppression systems such as water mist, clean agent and galley systems, CO2 system servicing, foam fire fighting systems, fire detection and alarm systems and breathing apparatus (SCBA and EEBD). Providers work across common makes, for example Minimax, Kidde, Danfoss Semco, Marioff, Consilium, Autronica, Dräger and MSA, subject to maker authorisation where the flag or maker requires it.

Common defects and PSC deficiencies

Fire safety is consistently one of the most frequently recorded deficiency areas in port state control. The Paris and Tokyo MoUs ran concentrated inspection campaigns on fire safety systems in 2012 and on fire safety in 2023 (1 September to 30 November). In 2023 compliance was lowest on the maintenance of fire doors and on the conduct of fire drills. Typical findings include:

• Emergency fire pump failing to start or to deliver pressure at the highest hydrant
• Fire hoses perished, missing couplings or nozzles, or hydrant valves seized
• Extinguishers overdue for service or hydrostatic test, or not matching the fire control plan
• Fixed system release controls, alarms or fuel shut-offs not working
• Detection zones isolated or detector heads covered
• Breathing apparatus with low cylinder pressure or inoperative low-pressure warning
• Fire dampers and fire doors that do not close

Certificates and documents you receive

• Service report or certificate per system, listing items inspected, tests done and results
• Extinguisher inventory with serial numbers, service dates and hydrostatic test dates
• Cylinder weighing records and hydrostatic test certificates where applicable
• A defect list and confirmation of rectification

How to prepare the vessel

Send the fire control plan and last service reports in advance. Arrange for the chief engineer or safety officer to accompany the technicians, provide permits for work on fixed systems and machinery spaces, and confirm that fire pumps can be run while alongside. Where a system is out of service, alternative fire protection should be arranged.

Information needed for a quotation

• Vessel name, IMO number, type, flag and class
• Port, berth or anchorage, ETA and ETD
• List of systems to be serviced, with maker and model where known
• Number and type of extinguishers, SCBA sets, EEBDs and fire hoses
• Last service dates and any outstanding PSC or class findings
• Whether cylinders or extinguishers must be landed for testing

vslSafety coordinates a suitable provider at the vessel’s port and returns a single quotation for the combined scope.

Frequently asked questions

What is MSC.1/Circ.1432?

MSC.1/Circ.1432 is the IMO circular giving the minimum recommended maintenance and inspection for fire protection systems and appliances, arranged in weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, two-year, five-year and ten-year tasks. It is intended as the basis of the onboard maintenance plan required by SOLAS regulation II-2/14. It does not cover fixed CO2 systems or portable extinguishers, which have their own guidance in MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 and resolution A.951(23).

Can the crew carry out the annual fire equipment inspection?

Partly. The circular allows some tasks to be done by competent crew with advanced fire-fighting training, while others should be done by persons specially trained in that system. Flag administrations and makers often require an approved service company for tasks such as hydrostatic testing, cylinder weighing, fixed system release testing and extinguisher servicing. The onboard maintenance plan should state which tasks the crew perform and which need a service provider.

Does the PFOS ban affect my ship?

Yes, if any foam concentrate or foam extinguisher on board contains PFOS. The SOLAS amendments adopted by resolution MSC.532(107) entered into force on 1 January 2026. Ships built before that date must comply no later than the first survey on or after 1 January 2026. Owners should hold evidence, such as a maker declaration or laboratory report, that stored foam is PFOS-free.

Can all fire systems be serviced in one port call?

Often, yes, if the scope is known in advance. Extinguishers, hoses, SCBA and detection testing can usually run in parallel. CO2 cylinder hydrostatic testing, foam proportioner testing or large sprinkler systems may need more time or cylinders landed ashore, and replacement cylinders may be needed to keep the protected space covered.