GAS SAFETY FOR VESSELS UP TO 24 METRES IN LENGTH

Gas safety on our boats is a matter that all of us, as responsible boaters, take seriously. The principal regulations that help us maintain our safety, are:

• Statutory Instrument SI 1998 No 2451 "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998" (GSIUR) forms the backbone of legislation in the UK.

• For vessels built within the United Kingdom, PD 5482-3:2005, which supercedes BS 5482-3:1999 (now withdrawn). This is the code of practice for installations in boats, yachts and other vessels of lengths up to 24 metres.

• For vessels CE marked to the Recreational Craft Directive, which may be imported, the builder may have chosen to apply the standards within BS EN ISO 10239:2000.  

What do these regulations mean for boaters? In essence, the regulatory requirement is dependent on the usage of the boat. Here are four scenarios that most commonly occur on Inland Waters, which may satisfactorily explain how you should maintain gas safety on your boat.

Scenario 1.   If your privately owned boat is used by you for your leisure or sporting purposes, you are exempt from the requirements of GSIUR, in that there is no legal requirement for you to use a properly trained, qualified and Gas Safe registered operative to 'work' on the gas system of your boat. 

You are required, though, to ensure that the 'work' conforms to PD 5482-3:2005 or, where appropriate, BS EN ISO 10239: 2000. Further, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, you must take account of the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions.

If, for example, you fit a gas appliance to your boat, best practice recommends that you employ a Gas Safe registered operative, who is qualified to work with LPG on boats, to examine the gas system and appliance. If the requirements of PD 5482-3:2005 or BS EN ISO 10239:2000 are met, the Gas Safe operative will issue a Gas Safety Certificate. This examination and certification may well be a requirement of your marine insurer.

Scenario 2.   If you use your boat primarily for domestic or residential purposes, even though it is capable of cruising, then your installation should comply with PD 5482-3:2005 or, where appropriate, BS EN ISO 10239:2000.

By the provisions of GSIUR, you are obliged to use a Gas Safe registered operative, who is qualified to work with LPG on boats, to undertake any 'work' on the gas system. The guidance provided in GSIUR includes "... boats used for cruising but in which the owner/user lives for most of the time."   

Scenario 3.   If the boat is hired out in the course of a business, or, made available to members of the public in the course of a business carried out from the boat, the installation should comply with PD 5482-3:2005 or, where appropriate, BS EN ISO 10239:2000.

In addition, any 'work' on the installation or gas system must be undertaken by a Gas Safe registered operative, who is qualified to work with LPG on boats. This applies to any vessel not requiring a national or international load line certificate i.e. not a sea-going ship.

Scenario 4.   If you rent a houseboat to live on, your landlord must employ a Gas Safe registered operative,  who is qualified to work with LPG on boats, to provide an annual gas safety inspection and to issue a Landlord's Certificate, a copy of which should be made available to you.

N.B.    Both PD 5840-3:2005 and BS EN ISO 10239:2000 are taken into account by the Boat Safety Scheme in the Examination Checking Procedures used by your Boat Safety Examiner. Click on the link to go directly to Chapter 7 of The Essential Guide: LPG Systems. 

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