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Boat Safety Scheme Examinations
When a boat has completed a Boat Safety Scheme examination as well as the Certificate the Examiner issues an inventory of the Appliances and the Fire Extinguishers.
When taking over a Boat it is good practice to check and investigate any differences between whats fitted and what was examined. Remember that the BSS Examination looks for items that may cause fire, spread of fire, explosion and polution only.
There is an updated version2 of the Essential Guide to the BSS requirements available from the BSS Office. This can also be downloaded from the BSS Web site along with other useful information.
The use of open flued gas fridges is still allowed on diesel boats but they should be replaced with room sealed flue models when they come to the end of their useful life. Dometic have ceased production of thier Gas Fridge so currently there is no "sealed" fridge available.
It is the Boat Owners responsibility to ensure and be able to demonstrate that all equipment fitted is acceptable to the BSS - so keep all receipts and ensure suppliers back up thier claims that equipment complies.
Check that the Fire Extinguishers are in date and that the needles on the guages are in the green.
Gas Installation and Appliances
LPG Installations completed after 1 Jan 2000 are recomended to be to New British Standard.
There is a Europeane Standard but this includes a UK Enclosure which states that the BS can be used.
Existing Installations will be OK provided they are serviceable and pass the relavent tests.
Water Heaters require water and gas for the test and will be run for a few minutes to heat
the flue and prove efficiency in clearing the fumes.
The British Standard will also stop the installation of all new appliances, except cookers and water heaters (See above), which are not room-sealed. New cookers will have to have Flame Management Systems and replacement gas fridges room sealed.
The use of Needle Type Valves on gas systems is not allowed under the BSS, if the isolation valve needs several turns to switch on or off the gas supply then it is probably a needle valve and must be changed to one that takes a quarter turn. Either a taper or ball valve.
Appliances must be connected to the Gas System with fixed pipe, of the correct size, except for the cooker and fridge which can still have a flexible section.This will be checked during the examination so make sure the whole flexible section can be seen or loosen the Hob. There are also changes to the Gas Compartment this must be serviceable, some surface rust is acceptablebut it is good practice to clean it out and give it a coat of paint .
Bow Thrusters
Some boats originally fitted or later modified to include bow thrusters have an inspection
hatch in the bottom of the bow gas locker. This does not comply with the BSS which says the gas
locker should be gas tight to the top of the bottle except for the drain overboard.
Either the gas locker must be moved or a gas tight box provided to take the gas bottles.
Excemptions ending in 2000
Several of the exemptions allowed in the Boat Safety Scheme Examination ended in
June 2000 and will be checked this time, they are:
Flexible Fuel Lines
The Standard for Fuel Lines has been up-dated (ISO10088) and to comply and keep in step with the
RCD requirements the BSS has reveiwed its relavant sections.
See also Spill Rails
Spill Rails
The existing BSS Standard for Spill Rails on Diesel Engines is that they
must be crimp fitted to the Injectors. If you are getting a New Engine ensure that
the Spill Rail is to BSS requirements. For engines with the pintle type injectors (Ford & Merc)
the return pipe can be split and returned to the tank through ISO7480 or solid pipe retaining the
car type hose loops on the engine. For further details contact an Examiner or the BSS Office.
Always use ISO7840 hose.
Relavent Dates
It is now important to keep a record of major improvements to your Boat. The key dates are:
June 1998 defines new Boats.
Jan 2001 LPG Installations after this date must comply with BS5482, have full flame failure.
Association of Boat Safety Examiners
An Association of currently trading Boat Safety Scheme Examiners set up to keep
each other informed of Boating Practices and to liase with Boat Safety
on various Technical and Organisation Committees.
When choosing a Boat Safety Scheme Examiner, look for Association Membership to ensure that he/she is aware of current Codes of Practice.