Introducing the proposals
A background to, and overview of the proposals to introduce manadatory smoke alarms on boats with accommodation spaces.
Having considered evidence and recommendations from the BSS, the navigation authorities’ Boat Safety Standards Setting Forum (BS SSF) has started a public consultation to introduce a new mandatory Boat Safety Standard with related BSS Requirements for suitable smoke alarms in good condition and in suitable locations on all classes of boat with accommodation spaces.
The Forum decision has the support of its wider members comprising including the marine industry body - British Marine, boat users and Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Examiners. It also has the support of the BSS Advisory and BSS Technical forums and the BSS Board of Directors.
The 12-week open consultation is being hosted by the Forum’s secretariat provideded by the Boat Safety Scheme. Navigation authorities will be able to promote links to the consultation to their stakeholders.
The background
The proposals are to introduce a requirement for working smoke alarms meeting an easily achievable quality and condition threshold. The specifications are for commonplace smoke alarms that are currently third-party accredited as meeting the universal BS EN 14604:2005 standard. These alarms are ones typically used in domestic buildings and are readily available from high street shops, in retail park stores and online retailers.
The changes are proposed for all types of BSS examination, private boats, boats used for hire and other nonprivate boat classes.
The purpose of the proposals is to help reduce the risk of fire spreading from a boat by providing vital seconds and minutes that can potentially allow early mitigating actions.
A boat fire in North Wales saw the evacuation of the crews of other boats in the marina.
The blaze started in an unoccupied boat at 2 am and the heat and flames affected four more boats.
N Wales Live
August 2022
The early alert, when compared with not having an alarm, is predicted to allow some of the following measures (based on circumstances):
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- occupants to control a fire while it is very small – only if it safe to do so.
- occupants to turn off emergency valves and switches
- occupants to call emergency services earlier
- people near the boat, to call the emergency services earlier
- people to pull away adjacent boats and move any nearby objects at risk
- warn occupants of neighbouring boats to exit and keep clear
- greater time for crews to escape (additional first-party risk benefit)
- reduce injuries and save lives (additional first-party risk benefit on private boats)
The BS SSF proposals are presented as both necessary and proportionate risk controls and your comments upon them are welcomed.
The proposed scope would not include open boats, nor boats with accommodation spaces and that are powered solely by a portable outboard motor (including petrol, petroil, diesel, LPG or electric power) and having no installed fuel system, and no installed electrical system(s), having no stowed spare fuel and having no fuel-burning appliances.
Hire boats with sleeping accommodation are already required to suitable working smoke alarms, the proposals will extend the regulations to day hire boats with cabins and at least installed powered or fuelled system and/or appliance.
Currently private boats in private use have no smoke alarm requirement as with commercial and community craft not hired out in the course of their operations, for example trip boats, floating cafes, galleries and retail craft etc.
Records gathered by the BSS indicate that 1 in 18 boat fires spread from one boat to another. When this happens, it is more common that two or more additional craft are affected. Here are three recent examples from inland waterways managed by authorities that are members of AINA.
- Oct 2024 - A phone on charge caused a fire on a boat at a marina suffered a fire from a in the early hours.
- Aug 2024 – A fire that started within a boat’s engine compartment, engulfed the vessel and spread to two other craft.
- Mar 2024 – A fire spread as a boat drift down a line of moorings. In total eight boats were damaged or destroyed.
Further research from the BSS indicates that of the boat fires it has on record where smoke alarms were present, in two-thirds of the smoke alarms activated, which points to strong potential for the proposed requirements to have an effect.
Incident data collected and collated by the BSS has also recorded at least 10 examples of passers-by, or people outside of the boat, have heard an alarm and reacted to its activation to seek help or take positive actions. This is the summary of one of the examples:
'Drying clothing falling onto a woodburner caused a fire in a narrowboat moored in a marina. A neighbouring berthholder heard the smoke alarm and saw smoke. They called 999. The fire service attended and the fire damage was minimal.'
The BSS predicted reasonable expectation for the lifespan of a smoke alarm on a boat is seven years. Based on that expectation on the current mid-price point for suitable smoke alarms (circa £15), the cost per boat is just over £2 per year, which can be viewed as modest outlay for the protection it can provide.
The proposals also have the support National Fire Chiefs Council. It's evidence includes statements from the Fire Industries Association and the UK Government's Fire Safety Unit supporting the concept of smoke alarms as critical safety devices.