Safety Alert Technical 41
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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS prohibited under MED
| FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, type MFZ/ABC6 and MPZ9L prohibited under Article 13 of the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) |
The French Maritime Administration has informed the European Commission and EU Member States that they have prohibited Fire extinguishers type MFZ/ABC6 and MPZ9L from being placed on board French Flagged vessels.
These products are manufactured by DONGTAI CITY XINGHAI MARINE EQUIPMENT, 888 New Kok Road Xinjie Town, Dongtai, City Jiansu Province, China.
It was discovered during an on board inspection that the striking pin did not activate the CO2 bottle.
The Manufacturer and approving Notified Body - Korean Register Hellas Ltd (Id 2198) were contacted and requested to provide clarification. During the investigation it was also discovered the manufacturer had attached the MED “wheelmark” before the conformity assessment (Module D) certificate was issued.
As a result of the above, the French Administration implemented the safeguard clause procedure (Article 13 of the Council Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment) prohibiting fire extinguishers type MFZ/ABC6 and MPZ9L, bearing the MED “wheelmark” 2198/10 and 2198/11, from being placed on board French flag vessels until the manufacturer guarantees that extinguishers with this defect problem, and ones placed on the European Market before the conformity assessment was finalised, have been recalled.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency would recommend that in the interest of safety, fire extinguishers type MFZ/ABC6 and MPZ9L are checked to see if they bear the MED “wheelmark” 2198/10 and 2198/11, manufactured by DONGTAI CITY XINGHAI MARINE EQUIPMENT, 888 New Kok Road Xinjie Town, Dongtai, City Jiansu Province, China and replaced accordingly.
For further information please contact Vessel Policy Branch, Maritime & Coastguard Agency Tel: +44 (0) 2380 839 100
Issued: February 2012