1

Introduction

The Boat Safety Scheme Essential Guide

Welcome to the second edition of the Boat Safety Scheme

Essential Guide, a valuable handbook for any boater who
takes safety seriously and understands the importance of
properly installed and maintained boat systems.

This Guide takes you step-by-step through the Boat Safety

Scheme, identifying hazards, approaches to risk-reduction
techniques, the legal requirements of the navigation authorities
and the best practice standards to keep you and your crew
safe when aboard, or close to the boat.
We have also included information about routine safety checks
that you can easily carry out yourself, booking and preparing
for a BSS examination, and the national and international
standards for marine installations and appliances.
BSS Essential Guide

1.1 What is the Boat Safety Scheme?

Boating is a relaxing, enjoyable and even addictive leisure and
lifestyle pursuit. For hundreds of thousands of people each year it is
a tranquil and safe activity. To help it to continue to be that, all your
boat's systems need to be installed, maintained and used with
safety in mind.

The Boat Safety Scheme, or BSS, works on behalf of the UK's

navigation and harbour authorities to help sustain safety and promote
pollution avoidance on the inland waterways in respect of boats, their
installations and components. The BSS does this through advice,
identification of hazards, promoting techniques to avoid risks and
information gathering and research.
The navigation authorities are committed to help prevent boat fires,
explosions, or pollution harming other people and property.
The Scheme reduces the risk of such incidents by using the BSS
examination to verify that systems and appliances on any given boat
at least meet the minimum safety requirements.

1.2 History
On inland waterways, safety requirements, some dating back to the
very earliest part of the twentieth century, have been stipulated for
boats following fires, explosions and other types of incident. In 1997
its current owners, the Environment Agency and British Waterways,
established the BSS to set a common and specific list of safety
standards for boats, their systems, installations and appliances.

Following an independent review of the Scheme in 2001, the full set

of BSS Standards was split into essential safety/environmental
requirements and best safety-practice recommendations.
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg3

1.3 The current Scheme

Today, the BSS is much more than an examination. Education,
persuasion and promotion of safety is equally important, perhaps
even more so as there are hazards and risks linked to the use of fuels
and appliances even when the boat itself is in safe condition. Now the
navigation authorities have asked the BSS to promote advice to help
maintain and improve the quality of the water of inland navigations.

1.4 The navigation authorities’ legal requirements

There are 31 legal requirements listed below for privately-owned and
privately-managed boats. These requirements, known as the BSS
General Requirements, are expressed in goal-setting terms. They
are supported by expected means of compliance that are set out
in Chapters 2 to 9 of this Guide.

Permanently installed fuel systems and fixed engines

1 All permanently installed fuel systems and fixed engines must be

designed, installed and maintained in a way that minimises the
risks of explosion, or of fire starting or spreading.

2 Fuel filling arrangements must prevent any overflow from entering

the interior of the vessel.

3 All fuel filling points must clearly identify the fuel in use.

4 Marking must be provided to identify the location of fuel system

emergency shut-off devices, or their means of operation, which are
not in open view.

5 All permanently installed fuel systems must be designed, installed

and maintained to ensure fuel-tight integrity.

6 All permanently installed fuel tanks and fuel system connections

must be accessible for inspection.

7 The pressure systems of steam-powered installations must

have a current inspection certificate issued by a recognised
competent person.
1.
1.4 The navigation authorities’ legal
cont. requirements (continued)
Electrical systems
8 All electrical systems must be designed, installed and maintained
in a way that minimises the risks of explosion or of fire starting
and spreading.
9 All electrical systems must be capable of being safely and quickly
disconnected from their power source(s) in an emergency.
10 Control and emergency devices, or their means of operation,
must be marked when not in clear view, or when their function is
not clear.
11 All battery compartments containing unsealed or open-vented
batteries must be adequately ventilated to prevent a build-up of
a flammable mix of gases.
Electrical propulsion systems
12 All motors, controller equipment and charging equipment
relating to electrical propulsion must be adequately ventilated.
Outboard and portable combustion engines and portable fuel systems
13 All portable and outboard engines and portable fuel systems must
be designed, installed and maintained in a way that minimises the
risks of explosion, or of fire starting and spreading.
14 All spare petrol must be stored in a way that minimises the risk
of fire and explosion.
15 All portable and outboard engines with integral petrol or LPG
tanks, and all portable petrol tanks, must be stored in a way that
minimises the risks of fire, or explosion when not in use.
Fire extinguishing and escape
16 All vessels must carry specified fire-fighting equipment.
17 All fire-fighting equipment must be in good condition and kept
readily accessible for safe use in an emergency.
LPG systems
18 All LPG systems must be designed, installed and maintained in
a way that minimises the risks of explosion, or of fire starting
and spreading.
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg5

19 All LPG containers and high-pressure components must be

secured in a position where escaping gas does not enter the
interior of the vessel.
20 All LPG systems must be designed, installed and maintained to
ensure gas-tight integrity.
21 All LPG system connections and flexible hoses must be
accessible for inspection.
22 All LPG control and shut-off devices, or the means to operate
them must be readily accessible.
23 LPG shut-off valves, or their means of operation, must be marked
when not in clear view, or when their function is not clear.
24 All LPG systems must have a suitable means to test that the
system is gas-tight.
Appliances and flues
25 All appliances must be designed, installed and maintained in a
way that minimises the risks of explosion, or of fire starting
and spreading.
26 All liquid-fuelled appliances must have an emergency shut-off
valve located at a safe distance from the appliance.
27 a) LPG and liquid-fuel burning appliances installed from 3 Jan
2000 All burners and pilot lights shall be fitted with a device that
automatically shuts off the fuel supply if the burner flame fails.
b) LPG and liquid-fuel burning appliances installed before 3 Jan
2000 Burners on catalytic appliances, appliances with
continuously-burning flames and pilot light burners shall be
fitted with a device that automatically shuts off the fuel supply if
the burner flame fails.
28 All appliance flues must be designed, installed and maintained in
a way that minimises the risk of fire.
29 All fuel and power supply systems for appliances must meet
these navigation authority requirements where relevant.
Pollution prevention
30 Any leakage of oil from engine equipment must be contained and
prevented from being avoidably discharged overboard.
31 Bilge pumping and toilet systems must be designed, installed and
maintained in a way that minimises the risk of avoidable pollution.
1.5 The BSS Essential Guide and why it’s
essential reading
Carrying out routine maintenance is highly recommended, as is using
this Guide to check that the boat still complies with the BSS General
Requirements, especially when making alterations or additions.
Making time to read the Guide will pay dividends, both before booking
your BSS examination and when preparing your boat for examination. The
information in this Guide about the compliance options is exactly the same
information as authorised examiners use to carry out a BSS examination.
For these reasons, it has been designed as a companion publication for
you to keep on board for quick and easy reference.

1.6 Fitting out or making changes

It is important to remember that this Guide is not a DIY instruction
manual on boat construction, repairs or maintenance. You should
always refer to a manufacturer or supplier for such information. We
also recommend having a competent person replace, modify or repair
any part of your boat's installations, components and appliances.
Before making changes to your boat, check the latest editions of relevant
British and International Standards as well as marine or other relevant
industry codes of practice. There are references to some relevant ones in
each chapter and useful sources of information in the contact list.

1.7 Meeting the requirements

The compliance checks in the Guide were devised with the help of
the BSS committees. They form our expectations of how a boat will
meet the General Requirements.
Checking that your boat meets these expectations will probably mean
that at the time of examination, a certificate can be issued without delay.
If however, an installation on your boat does not match the expectations
set out in the Guide, then you have four options:
a) Seek guidance from the BSS Office that you are interpreting the
published check and guidance in the way the Scheme originally
envisaged, or;
b) make alterations to the installation, system or appliance so that it
meets the expectation(s), or;
c) contact the BSS Office directly with documentary evidence that it still
complies with the relevant BSS General Requirement(s). An
assessment and judgement will be made within a very short time of
having all the evidence for appreciation, or;
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg7

d) if at this stage, the BSS Office is still of a view that the navigation
authorities' requirements are not complied with, you will be
allowed to present the evidence to a formal appeals process.
Please note this important point: your examiner must not offer a judgement
of compliance outside of the actions and notes of the checks published in
this Guide, unless he or she has had specific guidance from the BSS
Office. Please do not ask the examiner to act on a discretionary basis and
please report to the BSS Office any examiner you believe may be doing so.

1.8 Advice checks – safer than the minimum

requirements
During the BSS examination, the examiner will also check a number of
items not linked to the enforceable navigation authorities' requirements.
These advice checks are just that: good advice that will help you keep
the people onboard your boat safe! Although privately-owned boats do
not have to comply with any of these to be issued a certificate, each
advice check represents best-safety practice. We recommend that your
boat meets all of these points. You can then be confident that as an
owner, you have achieved a higher standard of safety.

1.9 How to use the guide

Beyond the introduction, this Guide is divided into eight chapters
describing the compliance expectations in detail. The introduction to
each chapter explains in general terms what risks are associated with
that particular area of your boat and then lists again the related BSS
General Requirements.
A short note on the nature of the fuel for instance, or of the risk subject of
the chapter may follow. These notes offer the background information to
understand better the reasons behind the Requirements and how they are
supported by the compliance checks. The compliance checks are next.
These are grouped into sections. There is a short introduction to the key
points covered in the section followed by the details of checks and
options. Most checks are also preceded by a short description of the
hazard or risk being addressed. In setting out the Guide in this way, our
aim is to highlight specific risks and the means to minimise them, along
with practical illustrations of how to comply with the requirements. The
requirements to protect others from fire, explosion and pollution are clearly
distinguished from advice checks and the recommendations for the
additional safety of you and your crew.
Here is an example of the information within the Guide:
section reference and title
2.6 Fuel gauges
An inappropriately installed gauge on your tank could introduce a
serious weakness generic risk description

Glass or plastic fuel sight-tube gauges can easily be damaged by knocks

or the heat from a fire leading to a catastrophic leak of the tank contents.
With diesel or paraffin tanks, limiting any potential fuel escape is key to
maintaining protection.
specific risk description
2.6.1/R REQUIREMENT
Are any glass or plastic tube or strip-type fuel gauges fitted to
diesel tanks only? The number is the
reference R (red) shows
Check each petrol tank for glass or plastic tube or strip-type fuel gauges.An
it is a requirement.
A (grey) would show
Petrol tanks must not be fitted with glass or plastic tube or strip-type
it is an advice check.
fuel gauges. The question forms the
compliance check (red
When carrying out your own routine or grey box).
examination, answering 'yes' to each It is followed by the
appropriate compliance check will give you description of the
confidence that your boat meets the checking action i.e.
expectations. Where they exist, the notes when the check applies;
will help you make an accurate assessment. when it does not; what it
See the example below associated with applies to; how it applies
3.1.3/R Are battery terminals correctly (blue box).
insulated or protected? This is supported by the
details of the check
Notes - deck boards, locker lids, etc, made criteria and specific
from or lined with insulating material may only requirements when
be considered as battery covers where they will appropriate. These clarify
not be removed for any purpose other than whether the checked
item complies or not
gaining access to the batteries. (yellow box).

Occasionally a compliance check, with or without notes, is followed by

another box that may contain advice on industry best practice, installation
advice, etc. It is our recommendation for greater safety to supplement that
section's expectations. Often this is where the requirement is for
historically lower standards than what the industry codes currently stipulate
or where we have previously published best practice which continues to
be valuable, for example, from the gas section Chapters 7 and 8.
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg9

Best practice b
Regulators have a finite life and we recommend that, in
general, they are replaced at least every 10 years.

Information i
There are additional handy tips and further information from the
BSS Office and examiners shown in information boxes like this.

1.10 More information

You can find out more information by speaking with your local
examiner or contacting the Boat Safety Scheme Office (01923 201278).
Further advice if you are unsure about anything connected with the
navigation authorities' requirements or the safe use of fuels,
installations and appliances is available on www.boatsafetyscheme.com
and related links from the site.

1.11 Where do the requirements apply?

The Boat Safety Scheme has been endorsed by all the UK navigation
authorities, represented by the Association of Inland Navigation
Authorities (AINA) and it is a good idea to contact your local
navigation authority to see if the BSS applies and whether any other
regulations are in force. Some harbour authorities and private
marinas also use the BSS.
All licensing and registration queries should be directed to your
appropriate navigation or harbour authority. Contact details for some
authorities and other useful sources of information are listed at the end
of this Guide.

1.12 Documentation
There is also a clear plastic wallet included in the Guide where you
can keep your certificate and other useful paperwork connected with
the safety of your boat. Keeping such documents could be important,
for example, invoices for replacement parts or work you may have
had done to your boat could be used to help decide its compliance.
This type of documentation is also handy if you are thinking about selling
the boat as a prospective buyer will recognise the care you have taken
when it comes to ensuring safety.
1.13 Do the requirements apply to my craft? (scope)
n All vessels carrying fuel or fitted with domestic cooking, heating,
refrigerating or lighting appliances are required to undergo a BSS
examination except for those craft covered by an RCD Declaration
of Conformity (see 1.14).
n A vessel for which there is in force a valid Passenger Certificate
issued under the Merchant Shipping Regulations is considered by
some navigation authorities, as meeting their legal requirements.
n A BSS examination is not required in respect of any privately-
owned, open vessel (i.e. a vessel in which all the accommodation
is completely open to the elements) if it has no domestic cooking,
heating, refrigerating or lighting appliances installed and it is
propelled solely by an outboard engine. Please note, such boats
remain subject to all appropriate navigation authorities' legal
requirements.
n Some navigation authorities may allow vessels a short-term or
visitor status licence or registration without the need to undergo a
BSS examination on the basis that the owner makes a declaration
that his or her vessel meets the navigation authorities' legal
requirements outlined in this Guide and is willing to allow spot
checks by navigation authority officers or authorised agents for the
authority. Such boats remain subject to all appropriate navigation
authorities' legal requirements.

1.14 Notes on the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)

CE-marked craft conforming to the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)
are considered by some navigation authorities to have met their
requirements for the first four years from new. Owners can usually
make a licensing or registration application with a suitable
Declaration of Conformity (DoC) supplied by the boat's builder.
In the UK the RCD is transposed into UK law by way of the Recreational
Craft Regulations (RCR).
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg11

Technical equivalence with the RCD

The last thorough review of the BSS requirements included a comparison
with the RCD. The aim was to ensure either alignment with, or, that the
BSS requirements do not exceed the demands of the RCD.
To ensure this aim continues to be met, the BSS has available a Technical
Equivalence Panel of three independent experts who will offer their
guidance on the equivalence of systems or components on CE-marked
craft in the circumstances where the item or component fails a BSS
examination and an appeal is presented by the owner or supplier.

1.15 Part-built boats

If you have bought a shell or 'sailaway', or any other partly completed
boat as defined by the RCD, you should have received from the
builder an Annex IIIa Declaration. This is an important document and
by providing it the builder is meeting his obligation under the RCD and
declaring that the boat is for completion by others and at the stage of
completion at handover it complied with the applicable essential
requirements of the RCD.
A suitable builder's Annex IIIa Declaration is accepted in support of the
first licence or registration application by some navigation authorities.
Ordinarily owners of such craft will need to produce either a valid
certificate issued by a BSS examiner or a full RCD Annex XV Declaration
of Conformity for the completed boat in support of the next annual
licence application.
There is an information sheet for owners of recently purchased shells,
'sailaways' or other types of partly completed boat available on
www.boatsafetyscheme.com or from the BSS Office by post.
Further information about the RCD is available from the British Marine
Federation (BMF) (www.britishmarine.co.uk - click on 'publications' then
'technical') or the Royal Yachting Association (www.rya.org.uk - search
on 'Technical').
1.16 Buying a boat?
When a certificate is issued, it relates only to the observations
recorded at the time of the examination and does not guarantee that
a boat complies at any other time since maintenance could have been
lacking or new appliances installed below minimum standards.
Furthermore, there are important aspects of safe boating that are not
addressed in a BSS examination; for example, the BSS examination is
not a full survey and does not cover the condition of the hull or deck,
the integrity of through-hull fittings or the stability of the boat.
If you are thinking of buying a boat, we strongly advise you to commission
a full condition survey before committing yourself to buy it. Satisfy yourself
that the boat complies not just with the minimum safety requirements of
the navigation authorities, but in many or all respects that it meets the
standards of best practice to keep you and your crew safe.

1.17 Updates to this guide?

The Guide has been designed so that it can be updated quickly and
easily if the need arises. On each page there is the reference that will
allow you to insert an update and remove redundant pages without
disrupting the rest of the Guide. Look out for news from the navigation
or harbour authorities and articles in the waterways press and websites
such as www.waterscape.com or www.boatsafetyscheme.com for
news of updates.
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg13

Your boat’s BSS examination

1.18 Booking
You can book an examination up to two months before your old
certificate or RCD Declaration of Conformity 4-year deadline runs out. If
your boat passes first time, the examiner will post-date the new
certificate to start from the date when the old one or DoC expires. This
means you do not lose any of the full four-year validity of the certificate.
We recommend taking advantage of this facility, because if your boat fails
for any reason, you will still have some time to put things right.
For the same reason even if you have no old certificate or DoC it is a good
idea to contact an examiner well in advance of needing to get your boat
licensed, registered or take up a mooring.
Finding an examiner is usually quite easy, and there are a number of ways
you can do this. You can generate a list of examiners by accessing
www.boatsafetyscheme.com. The BSS Office and some local navigation
authority offices can also supply tailored lists. The main waterways'
magazines often publish details of examiners, or you might like to ask
fellow boaters for recommendations.
Be prepared to get two or three quotations, and always have a list of
questions to hand so that you can agree the details right at the outset.
These could include for example, does the price include the cost of a
certificate, are there extra charges if the examiner spends longer
inspecting your boat than he expected, and will there be an extra charge if
the examiner needs to make a return visit? The examiner might ask you a
range of questions about the systems installed on your boat to help him
give you an accurate quote. Sorting these details out can help you make
an informed choice when selecting an examiner.
Remember, each examiner is free to set his or her own charges, and
market forces, the complexity of the boat's installations, VAT applicability,
and travelling time will probably influence the prices given to you.
1.19 Preparing your boat
Regular maintenance to keep your boat safe and complying with the
legal obligations when it is on the water should ensure a first-time
pass. However, preparing your boat before its examination will pay off.
Apart from checking to see that installations, components and fittings
comply with the requirements before the examiner arrives, there are
several things you can do to make the whole process run smoothly.
All required items must be capable of being checked effectively and
accurately. If not, the examination will be considered to be incomplete.
An examiner cannot issue a certificate on an incomplete examination,
so here are a few points to keep in mind.
n Ensure that all the boat's installations and appliances are fully functional
so that a complete examination can take place. This includes having
a fully charged battery and sufficient gas and water, together with any
other documentation that shows compliance with the BSS
General Requirements.
n If the good condition or suitability of any item cannot be verified where
this is a requirement, no certificate will be issued. Ensure full access
to all gas joints and as much pipework as possible for a thorough
examination. Items such as gas lockers should be unlocked, and boards
and panels removed to give access where verification is necessary.
n Notify any relevant landowners who may have to give access to the
examiner so that he can get to your boat's mooring.
n Have the existing certificate to hand. This will help the examiner with
information about the boat that he or she must record, such as when
it was constructed, and with the confirmation of the expiry date of your
current certificate.

1.20 At the end of the examination

The examiner must issue you with a BSS Examination Report form
after the first examination is completed.
If your boat fails on any of the checks the examiner carries out, whether
they are related to the BSS General Requirements, or to advice checks,
the report will explain which were not compliant or unable to be verified
as compliant.
The examiner may supplement this information, typically using BSS Form
E or using his/her own headed business paper/forms.
 BSS Essential Guide 2nd Edition Aug 2005 Ch1/Pg15

Your boat will still be eligible for a certification if your boat only meets the
BSS General Requirements, although complying with the advice checks
may give you further peace of mind and help you to meet some of your
responsibilities to your crew or visitors.
You will get two copies of the certificate dated accordingly. It is the
confirmation that your boat has been examined by the examiner against
the BSS compliance checks and on the day of examination complied with
the navigation authorities' legal requirements. It is important to keep the
top copy with the hologram safe and pass it onto the new owner should
the boat change hands.
The second copy, which is blue, may be requested by your navigation or
harbour authority for checking or retention, as a part of your licence,
registration, or mooring application.
On issuing the certificate, the examiner will record some detail of the boat
including the appliances. Keep your copy of this safe too, preferably with
the new certificate as it could qualify some of the information on the
certificate.
Please remember, if your boat is found not to comply with the BSS
General Requirements and your boat is on a waterway where there is
a legal basis for them, you will either have to bring it up to standard or
present reliable documentary evidence supporting a claim of compliance
with them.

1.21 Warning notices and dangerous boat

notifications
Warning notices
In circumstances which are described in the notes section of some of the
compliance checks, your examiner may issue your boat with a warning
notice. These are issued for two purposes, firstly to alert the owner or
person responsible for the craft’s condition that a serious and immediately
hazardous defect has been found. Secondly, to alert anyone stepping
aboard that they could be at risk and should take precautions.
The examiner will have made a brief note about what the defect is.
For further information please contact the examiner.
What it means / what to do now?
You must now consider yourself duly alerted to the hazardous defects.
Where they relate to BSS General Requirements, your navigation authority
will insist that repairs are made as soon as possible.
Who has been told?
This note has been sent or handed to you and a copy has been
displayed on the boat in a prominent position. BSS examiners will keep
another copy in their records about this vessel.
Dangerous boat information
Where the defects relate to the following hazards further action may
be taken:
n Leaking gas
n Leaking fuel
n Gas refrigerators with naked flames on petrol-powered boats
n Significant quantities of fuel or other substances escaping into
the watercourse.
The examiner will ask you to make the boat safe immediately and not to
use the vessel/appliance until the defects have been properly fixed. The
examiner is also required to inform the owner of the moorings and the
BSS Office who will alert the appropriate navigation or harbour authority.
UK Law
It may be an offence under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use)
Regulations for a person to use or permit a gas installation/appliance to
be used that might constitute a danger to any person or property. In the
event of injury or damage to property, the existence of known defects
may be material to the boat owner's duties under the law of occupier’s
liability or to the boat owner’s insurance.

Finally
We trust you will find the following chapters a useful and
comprehensive reference to help maintain your boat in a safe and
legal condition. If anything is unclear or if you need any support
and advice about the examination or compliance options, please
contact the BSS Office using the following details:

BSS Office Phone: 01923 201278

Willow Grange Fax: 01923 201420
Church Road Email: bss.enquiries@boatsafetyscheme.com
Watford WD17 4QA Web: www.boatsafetyscheme.com