Boat Safety Scheme - part 3 - electrical installations
part 3 - electrical installations
The BSS Guide
Introduction
Inboard engines
Electritcal installations
Electrically propelled vessels
Outboard and portable engines
Fire prevention and extinguishers
LPG installations
Appliances, flueing and ventilation
Pollution
Hire boats and safety features
Appendices

Faulty electrics, or poorly installed electrical systems, can be a real hazard and could place you and others at risk.

This part of the Standards aims to minimise the risks from short circuits and overheating cables, both of which are a common cause of boat fires. It also addresses the potential risks of hydrogen, a highly flammable gas that is a by-product of charging your batteries.

You can reduce these risks by making sure that batteries are stowed in a ventilated area, that batteries and cables can't move around, that your fuses and circuit-breakers are correctly rated for the circuits they protect and that wear and tear hasn't left your system vulnerable to failure.

Good electrical practices can also reduce the risk of personal injury caused by electric shocks.