Portable Foam Applicator Sign

Portable Foam Applicator Sign – FS0013

This IMO fire control sign identifies the location of a portable foam applicator unit, shown in the pictogram as a canister with an inductor branch pipe directing foam onto a flame. The portable foam applicator sign marks equipment used to apply foam concentrate to flammable liquid fires, an essential capability wherever fuel oil, lubricating oil, or other Class B liquids present a fire risk.

Where this portable foam applicator sign is used

Portable foam applicator units are stationed in engine rooms, boiler fronts, fuel oil purifier rooms, and other machinery spaces where a flammable liquid fire is the primary risk, since water alone is ineffective and can spread burning oil rather than extinguish it. This portable foam applicator sign is fixed directly above or beside the unit’s mounting bracket, so crew can locate the correct fire-fighting response for an oil fire without delay.

Because the foam applicator must be connected to a water supply and foam concentrate before use, its mounting position needs to be near a suitable hydrant or hose connection, and this portable foam applicator sign helps confirm the unit has not been moved away from that connection point. The unit and its signage must remain clearly visible and unobstructed by machinery, tools, or stores placed nearby during routine engine room work.

During weekly and monthly fire equipment inspections, crew confirm that the foam applicator canister is correctly charged, that its inductor and branch pipe are free of damage, and that this sign remains legible at the mounting point. Any unit found relocated, discharged, or missing its foam concentrate charge should be corrected immediately, since flammable liquid fires in machinery spaces can escalate faster than crew can improvise an alternative response.

This sign is checked during SOLAS fire safety surveys, where the surveyor confirms that foam-producing equipment is provided in the machinery spaces required by the vessel’s fire safety plan, correctly signed, and that crew can demonstrate connecting and operating the applicator under drill conditions. A vessel with clearly signed and properly maintained foam equipment shows that its response to flammable liquid fires is genuinely ready, not just present on a checklist.

New crew and engine cadets are shown this sign and the foam applicator itself during machinery space safety inductions, since recognising the correct equipment for an oil fire, rather than reaching for a water-based extinguisher, is a critical safety distinction every engine room worker needs to know. This sign is commonly ordered alongside other machinery space fire safety signs, such as the foam extinguisher sign used for portable foam extinguishers in the same spaces.

Because foam applicator stations are sometimes relocated during machinery upgrades, it is worth confirming this signage after any layout change, so the mounting bracket and its water or foam concentrate connection always match where the sign says they should be.

Technical specifications:
SKU: FS0013
IMPA: 33.6036
ISSA: 47.560.36
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 at the foam applicator’s mounting bracket. Available in the standard sizes shown above to suit different compartment layouts.

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.