Emergency and life-saving equipment on ships
Servicing and testing emergency equipment
Life-saving appliance testing
Some life-saving equipment must be serviced regularly at an approved service station, like:
- inflatable liferafts
- inflatable boats
- rescue boats
- fast rescue boats
- inflatable lifejackets
- Hydrostatic Release Units (HRUs)
You can find details of independent lifeboat servicing and testing organisations on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) database.
Emergency electrical systems
Download information on testing emergency electrical systems.
Fire equipment testing
All fire protection systems and equipment should be regularly tested and maintained so that they’re ready for immediate use when needed.
You must carry out monthly fire equipment testing and inspection to make sure that:
- all fireman’s outfits, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, hoses and nozzles are in place and in good condition
- all escape routes are free of obstructions and properly maintained
- the public address system and ship’s alarms are working properly
- all fixed fire-fighting installation valves are set in the correct operating position
- dry pipe sprinkler systems are pressurised, where needed, and their gauges are working properly
- the sprinkler system pressure tank water levels are correct
- all sprinkler system pumps operate automatically on pressure loss in the systems
- all fire pumps are working properly
- all fixed gas fire extinguishing installations are free from leaks
Fixed bulk dry powder fire extinguishing systems
Download information on maintaining and testing fixed dry bulk power systems.
Seamless steel pressurised gas cylinders
Download information on testing seamless steel pressurised gas cylinders used for fire-fighting.
Portable fire extinguishers
Download information on how to carry out testing and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers.