# Portable CO2 on a clean oil barge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [September 25, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315 "2015-09-25T19:16:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![swamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@swamper](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/swamper)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/1 "2015-09-25T19:16:26Z")
Does the USCG allow portable CO2 extinguishers in the machinery spaces on a clean oil barge? I know portable CO2 extinguishers can generate static electricity and am wondering if that prohibits there use. I don’t have a copy of the CFRS in front of me to look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Steamer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steamer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/2 "2015-09-26T05:05:09Z")
[QUOTE=swamper;169432] I know portable CO2 extinguishers can generate static electricity …[/QUOTE] When would you use a portable CO2 extinguisher in a machinery space? When would you use one in a machinery space that is required to have a fixed system installed? Would a spark change the scenario? If you are silly enough to try and use a portable CO2 extinguisher for inerting then you may add to the statistics. ---
**Author:** ![swamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@swamper](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/swamper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/3 "2015-09-26T06:37:26Z")
In the past on fishing boats without a fixed CO2 system I have used a portable CO2 three times. #1 Cat 3512 sucked a valve punched hole in piston engine running on lube oil being being pushed up into manifold. CO2 shot into air intake shut down the engine. #2 short in 24 volt electrical system caused insulation on wire to ignite. A quick blast of CO2 after de energizing extinguished the small fire. #3 Alternator caught on fire. De energize system and a quick shot of CO2 to put out the flames. My concern with the portable CO2 on the barge would be a static discharge on deck where there may be explosive vapors. I do realize the risk of CO2 in a small area too. ---
**Author:** ![swamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@swamper](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/swamper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:54am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/4 "2015-09-26T06:54:55Z")
The current barge I work on has no CO2 at all. Just trying to figure out If a CFR is the reason why. ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:03am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/5 "2015-09-26T08:03:28Z")
[QUOTE=swamper;169432]…I don’t have a copy of the CFRS in front of me to look it up.[/QUOTE] [http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6a373c31f3caebc45d67354c8ae8b0b0&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title46/46tab\_02.tpl](http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6a373c31f3caebc45d67354c8ae8b0b0&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title46/46tab_02.tpl) ---
**Author:** ![swamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@swamper](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/swamper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/6 "2015-09-26T11:18:35Z")
[QUOTE=jdcavo;169442][http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6a373c31f3caebc45d67354c8ae8b0b0&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title46/46tab\_02.tpl[/QUOTE]](http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6a373c31f3caebc45d67354c8ae8b0b0&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title46/46tab_02.tpl%5B/QUOTE%5D) Thanks for the link. I found answers to some of my questions just going to spend some time and search around a little more to find the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Steamer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steamer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 12:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/7 "2015-09-27T12:09:12Z")
[QUOTE=swamper;169437] #1 Cat 3512 sucked a valve punched hole in piston engine running on lube oil being being pushed up into manifold. CO2 shot into air intake shut down the engine.[/quote] Would a spark change that scenario? If the atmosphere contained gases at or above LEL/LFL (the explosive or flammable limit), running on lube oil is probably going to be the least of that engine’s (and your) problems for the next few seconds. > #2 short in 24 volt electrical system caused insulation on wire to ignite. A quick blast of CO2 after de energizing extinguished the small fire. Would a spark have changed that scenario? If the atmosphere contained flammable or explosive gases at or above LEL/LFL that quick blast would not have come from your extinguisher. > #3 Alternator caught on fire. De energize system and a quick shot of CO2 to put out the flames. Would a spark have changed that scenario? Again, if the alternator caught fire in an atmosphere containing flammable or explosive gases at or above LEL/LFL you probably wouldn’t be using a portable CO2 extinguisher anyway. > My concern with the portable CO2 on the barge would be a static discharge on deck where there may be explosive vapors. I do realize the risk of CO2 in a small area too. See the above … If explosive vapors exist on deck and a fire has been burning long enough for you to pick up and use a CO2 extinguisher, do you think a spark from the nozzle to the flames is going to change the outcome? ---
**Author:** ![LI\_Domer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/li_domer/32/768_2.png) [@LI\_Domer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/LI_Domer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/8 "2015-09-27T13:37:10Z")
I’m guessing the answer to all those is “No” ---
**Author:** ![Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Steamer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steamer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/portable-co2-on-a-clean-oil-barge/15315/9 "2015-09-27T15:33:55Z")
[QUOTE=LI\_Domer;169494]I’m guessing the answer to all those is “No”[/QUOTE] I’ll play it safe and say “probably not.” 🙂