Foam Supplementary Sign – FS0027

Foam Supplementary Sign – FS0027

This IMO supplementary sign is a plain text plate reading “F”, used alongside a fixed fire-extinguishing pictogram sign to identify foam as the specific extinguishing medium protecting a space or system. The foam supplementary sign removes any ambiguity about which agent a fixed installation, bottle, or release station uses, which matters because foam, unlike a gas flooding agent, is generally safe to be near during discharge but calls for its own handling and clean-up precautions.

Where this foam supplementary sign is used

This sign is fitted beside or below the main pictogram sign at fixed fire-extinguishing installation panels and release stations protecting spaces where a flammable liquid fire risk exists, such as machinery spaces, pump rooms, and cargo areas carrying oil or other hydrocarbon products. Pairing this foam supplementary sign with the pictogram, such as the fixed fire-extinguishing installation sign, gives crew and visitors both the symbol and the plain-text confirmation of what agent will be released, which matters most for spaces where more than one type of fixed system might otherwise be assumed.

Because foam works by forming a smothering blanket over the surface of a flammable liquid rather than by displacing oxygen throughout a space, this supplementary sign helps crew understand they are dealing with a different hazard profile to a gas suppression system, most notably that the space may still be enterable during or shortly after discharge, subject to local procedures, though foam residue and reduced visibility remain real hazards of their own.

During weekly and monthly fire equipment inspections, crew confirm that this foam supplementary sign remains legible and correctly paired with its associated pictogram sign, and that it has not become separated from the installation it labels during repainting or maintenance work. A supplementary sign found missing or illegible should be replaced immediately, since misidentifying the extinguishing agent protecting a space can lead to the wrong response being applied during an emergency.

This sign is checked during SOLAS fire safety surveys, where the surveyor confirms that fixed foam extinguishing systems are correctly identified at every release point and protected space entrance, with the extinguishing agent clearly named alongside the standard pictogram. A vessel with consistently labelled foam installations demonstrates that its fire safety documentation and physical signage are properly aligned.

New crew are shown this sign during safety inductions as part of learning to recognise which compartments and systems are protected by fixed foam rather than gas or water-based systems, since foam concentrate handling, mixing ratios, and clean-up all differ meaningfully from other extinguishing media. This sign is commonly ordered alongside the fixed fire-extinguishing bottle sign used to mark the storage location of pressurised extinguishing agent containers more broadly.

Because fixed foam systems are particularly associated with machinery spaces and fuel-handling areas where a flammable liquid fire is the primary risk, this supplementary sign appears wherever such a system has been installed specifically to address that hazard, distinguishing it from the CO2 and other gas systems more commonly found protecting enclosed compartment volumes generally.

Fixed foam systems are periodically inspected and function-tested by qualified technicians, including checks of foam concentrate quality and proportioning equipment, and this supplementary sign should be checked at the same time to confirm it remains attached, legible, and correctly positioned alongside its pictogram sign. A worn or missing supplementary sign is one of the smaller but still reportable findings during external fire safety audits, since it directly affects how quickly crew can identify the correct extinguishing agent for a specific installation.

Technical specifications:
SKU: FS0027
Compliant: IMO Resolution A.1116(30)

• Fire-retardant marine-grade material
• Available in non-glow vinyl, general purpose glow, or DNV Wheelmark certified Class C / Class D photoluminescent film
• Waterproof and saltwater resistant
• Glossy wipe-clean finish
• Peel-and-stick installation, no tools or drilling

Supplied ready to apply directly to a clean, dry surface beside its associated pictogram sign. Available in the standard size shown above.

This sign is produced to IMO fire control symbol specifications for consistent recognition across international fleets. Need a different size? Contact us for a quote.