[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 77 (Friday, April 23, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 21650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08510]



[[Page 21650]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 76 and 161

[Docket No. USCG-2021-0048]


Enforcement Discretion Regarding Carriage of Approved Fire 
Detection Systems

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of enforcement discretion.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that it will exercise its authority 
to suspend and grant exemptions from certain equipment carriage 
regulations during a period when compliance appears to be impossible. 
Specifically, the Coast Guard believes that between July 22, 2021, and 
July 22, 2022, there may be no approved fire detection systems 
available for purchase for certain vessels that need to install or 
replace those systems. For enforcement purposes, existing approved fire 
detection systems that were approved on July 21, 2021, will be treated 
as approved until July 22, 2022.

DATES: The enforcement discretion described will be exercised between 
July 22, 2021, and July 22, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
email Ms. Brandi Baldwin at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    Due to a change in the standards for smoke detectors the Coast 
Guard is extending, by one year, the validity of fire detection systems 
approved before July 22, 2017, to comply with new requirements under 46 
CFR 161.002-4(b) and (c), as well as the application date for vessel 
owners to comply with new requirements according to 46 CFR 76.27-1.
    In July 2016, the Coast Guard issued new regulations for fire 
detection systems. Title 46 CFR 76.27-5(a) requires that detectors and 
other notifying devices must be of approved types. In addition, 
regulations at 46 CFR 161.002-4 require all fire detection systems to 
meet the applicable standards incorporated by reference in Sec.  
161.002-1 and in 46 CFR subchapter J (Electrical Engineering) of 
chapter I in order to be approved. That same section states that 
detection system approvals issued before July 22, 2017, will remain 
valid until July 22, 2021.
    When the Coast Guard put in place the 2021 end date for approvals, 
we believed manufacturers would seek approval under new regulations 
issued in July 2016. However, we no longer expect that to occur by July 
2021 because of a new industry consensus standard that will be 
effective industry-wide in June 2021. Smoke detectors must be listed by 
an OSHA National Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to ANSI/UL 268, 
Standard for Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, and then meet the 
environmental standards in IEC 60092-504. The new, 8th edition of UL 
268 for listing smoke detectors was scheduled to become effective May 
29, 2020. However, because industry is struggling to develop smoke 
detectors complying with the new standard, the effective date was moved 
to June 30, 2021. This is only 22 days before our deadline of July 22, 
2021, in CFR 161.002-4(b).
    Further complicating the availability of approved detectors is the 
fact that it is not practical for a manufacturer to test a new design 
to the environmental standards in IEC 60092-504 prior to meeting UL 268 
as UL 268 controls the design.
    As of March 2021, we do not have any type approvals for fire 
detection equipment that will not expire on July 22, 2021. Moreover, it 
is unreasonable to expect that there will be any new type approved fire 
detection equipment before that date because the time for manufacturers 
to obtain type approval after listing by an NRTL is estimated to be 
nine months. This is based on four to six months for testing to IEC 
60092-54, assuming a device passes the first time, and then an 
estimated ninety days to submit and receive type approval. Thus, a one-
year extension provides a three-month buffer until we can reasonably 
expect new, type approved fire detection equipment to be available.
    Under 46 U.S.C. 3306(e) the Secretary has the authority to suspend 
or grant exemptions from the requirements of a regulation prescribed 
under that section related to lifesaving and firefighting equipment, 
when the Secretary finds it in the public interest to do so. The 
Secretary has delegated that authority to the Commandant, and both 46 
CFR 161.002-4 and 46 CFR 76.27-5 were promulgated under 46 U.S.C. 3306. 
The Coast Guard finds it is in the public interest to avoid placing 
vessel operators in an impossible position. Therefore, it is the Coast 
Guard's position that suspending enforcement of the requirement on the 
public gives manufacturers more time to produce fire detection systems 
that meet approval standards so that when enforcement resumes on July 
22, 2022, there is a product on the market that meets the regulatory 
requirement that the public can purchase.
    The carriage requirements in 46 CFR 76.27-5 are for passenger 
vessels. However, regulatory provisions for other vessels reference 
part 76 for their own fire detection system carriage requirements or 
refer directly to 161.002. Therefore, the suspension and exemption 
described in this document applies to vessels regulated under 46 CFR 
Chapter I, Subchapters C, H, I, I-A, K, L, M, T, and U. These include 
all passenger vessels, commercial fishing vessels, offshore supply 
vessels, mobile offshoring drilling units, towing vessels, 
oceanographic research vessels, cargo vessels and other miscellaneous 
vessels.
    This notice is a statement of agency policy, not subject to the 
notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
(APA). 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A). Even if this policy were subject to the 
public participation provisions of the APA, prior notice and comment is 
impracticable because of the short time available for public input 
prior to approvals expiring in July 2021. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 
(d)(3). The Coast Guard therefore finds good cause, under the APA, to 
issue this statement of policy without prior public comment and without 
a delayed effective date.
    If the situation changes and approved systems become available 
while this enforcement discretion is in place, the Coast Guard may 
discontinue its policy. In that situation, the Coast Guard would issue 
another notice in the Federal Register, at least 30 days before 
enforcement would resume.
    This notice is issued under authority of 46 U.S.C. 3306, 4305, and 
5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: April 19, 2021.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2021-08510 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P