Boat Safety Scheme

British Waterways and the Environment Agency jointly own the Boat Safety Scheme. It's designed to minimise the risks of fires or explosions on boats cruising the UK's inland waterways network, by specifying a set of requirements that most boats must meet before they can be granted a navigation licence. The Scheme also recommends a number of 'safety best practice' measures which enhance the personal health and safety of those on board privately owned boats. Although the Boat Safety Scheme only applies to boats intended for use on inland waterways, it does represent sound guidance for ocean - going vessels as well.

As licensing bodies, British Waterways and the Environment Agency have a statutory duty to insist that all boats on the waterways they care for are as safe as possible. This helps to minimise the risks of fires and explosion, which can kill or seriously injure visitors to the waterways network. It's in everyone's interests to help ensure the waterways are as safe as possible.

The BSS Standards are a set of essential safety requirements and best safety practice advice. The Standards include safety criteria for boat systems such as electrical installations, inboard/outboard engines, appliances, ventilation and fuels.

Each Standard is broken down into individual check list items that are applied to the boat, its installations and its appliances during an examination. Section seven covers with LPG Installations and section eight covers appliances, flueing and ventilation.

The points listed in each section are not intended to be a comprehensive guide, but to give some technical background, as well as provide details of the standards themselves.

Part 7, which we mainly concentrate on in this site, is broken down into sections covering, gas storage, Main shut off valve, High pressure stage, gas inlet connection, Flexible hoses, portable appliances, installation pipework, joints, appliance isolation valves and gas soundness. Part 8 is broken down into sections covering suitable appliances and there installed location, fire protection, appliance isolation valves and appliance flueing and ventilation. The BSS faults are listed along with some background information regarding them.

Useful Documents

LPG Installations (pdf)
Appliances, flueing and Ventillation (pdf)