Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code 7 MACHINERY 7.1 General 7.1.1 Machinery, fuel tanks and associated piping systems and fittings should be fit for purpose and be of a design and construction adequate for the service for which they are intended. Moving parts, hot surfaces and other hazards should be installed and protected so as to minimise danger to persons during normal movement about the vessel. Materials should be fire resistant or otherwise protected from fire. Plastic fittings at the Hull are not recommended. 7.1.2 A vessel should be provided with a fuel tank of sufficient capacity for the main engines, and its area of operation. All fuel tanks vents should be fitted with a flame gauze as required by BS/EN/ISO 10088, and carried to at or above tank filling plate level and where there should be no danger from escaping fuel or vapour. 7.1.3 Where the machinery is in its own dedicated compartment and remote from the operator, means should be provided to isolate a source of fuel, which may feed a fire. A valve or cock, which can be shut from a position outside the engine space should be fitted in the fuel-feed pipe, as close to the fuel tank as possible. Where the machinery is situated directly below the operator, and within easy reach for control and isolation in event of emergency, these conditions need not apply. Petrol tanks for outboards motors should have quick connection shut off devices. 7.1.4 Measures should be taken to prevent spillage and build up of flammable vapours in any part of the vessel, including bilges during fueling. 7.1.5 Vessels should have an efficient and reliable starting mechanism. Where the means of starting is by battery, charging facilities for the battery should be available. 7.1.6 In CATEGORY C and D WATERS: where the sole means of starting is by battery, there should be a duplicate battery connected to the starter motor by a “change over switch” so that either battery or other means of obtaining power can be used to start the engine. 7.1.7 All inflatable boats, boats fitted with buoyant collar, and open boats that achieve planing speed, when fitted with remote throttle controls, should be fitted with a kill cord, to be used at all times during navigation. 7.3 Petrol engines 7.3.1 Petrol engines should be a suitable outboard type. The engine, its fuel systems and tanks should comply with BS/EN/ISO10088 Permanently installed fuel systems and fixed fuel tanks, and the following: 1. Fuel tank filling pipes should be arranged so as to ensure that any overflowing fuel will not be discharged into the vessel, including the bilges. Filling pipes should be adequately supported and connected to the fuel tank with leakproof joints. Flexible filling pipes should be suitable for use with petrol and meet the fire resistance test of BS/EN/ISO 7840Small Craft Fire resistant fuel hoses (as amended), or equivalent. 2. Fuel tanks should be properly secured and be installed as low as is practicable. They should be constructed of a non-corrosive material suitable for use with petrol. Fuel tanks should have a fire resistance of 30 minutes in accordance with BS 476- 20 Fire tests on building material and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction (General Principles) and have sustained a pressure test of 0.25 kgf/sq cm. 3. All fuel tank joints and seams should be efficiently welded, brazed or close riveted. 4. No fixed petrol fuel tank of more than 2.5.litres should be installed within 1 metre of any engine or heating appliance, unless insulated and protected by an efficient baffle of fire resistant material. 5. Glass or plastic fuel sight gauges should not be used. Fuel level indicators, if fitted, should be of a type which do not allow fuel to escape in the event of damage. Fuel tank dipsticks, when fitted, should only be used via gas-tight fittings. 6. All fuel tank connections should be readily accessible for inspection. 7. Fuel tanks should be effectively bonded by a low resistance metallic conductor to their deck filling plate, and also be effectively bonded to an earth point in direct contact with the water surrounding the hull. 8. The fuel supply should be drawn through the top of the fuel tank, or as near the top of the tank as possible. Only in the case of a gravity feed system should there be a connection from a cock or valve screwed directly in near the bottom of the tank, so that damage to the valve or fuel line cannot dump petrol into the machinery space. 9. Fuel tank balance pipes should not be used in petrol or paraffin engine installations. 10. All fixed fuel feed pipes should be of a metallic material suitable for use with petrol and/ or paraffin. 11. Flexible fuel pipes should be of a material suitable for use with petrol and/or paraffin and meet the fire resistance requirements of BS/EN/ISO 7840 Small Craft fire resistant fuel hoses, or equivalent. 12. All fuel pipes should be adequately supported to minimise vibration and strain, and fixed clear of exhaust systems and heating apparatus. 13. All fuel pipe connections should be made with efficient screwed, compression, cone, brazed or flanged joints. Soft solder joints should not be used. 14. All fuel filters should be suitable for marine use, and be of fire resistant quality. 15. Carburettors (other than down-draught type) should be fitted so as to allow any overflowing fuel to drain into a spirit tight metal drip tray – the top of which should be covered with a flame-arresting copper or brass gauze which is mesh-soldered all around the tray. The tray should be removable, or fitted with a cock for emptying. 16. A flame trap or air filter should be fitted to the air intake of any engine. 7.3.2 A vessel may be fitted with a small auxiliary engine (usually not more than 5 horse power) manufactured with an integral fuel tank, provided a safety warning sign is displayed with details of the appropriate precautions to be taken when filling the fuel tank. 7.3.3 Vessels should supply fuel to the engine from either: 1. (other than inflatable boats) a permanently installed fuel tank constructed to an appropriate standard and, in the case of vessels fitted with a weather-tight deck, should have arrangements such that spillage during fuel handling will drain directly overboard; or 2. a portable tank of 27 litres or less in capacity complying with an appropriate standard. 7.3.4 A suitable hydrocarbon gas detector should be fitted in any enclosed location where an accumulation of hydrocarbon vapours is likely to occur – e.g. under or adjacent to the fixed tank. The detector components in the vapour area should not be capable of causing ignition. 7.3.5 Spare portable petrol containers should not be carried onboard unless it is judged to be essential to assure the safe completion of a voyage or excursion. Should this be the case, the containers should be fit for purpose and soundly constructed. They should be clearly marked as containing petrol, and should normally be stowed either: 1. on the deck where they can be readily jettisoned, and where spillage will drain directly overboard; or 2. in a fire-resistant deck locker with overside drainage. 7.3.6 When spare petrol is carried on-board in portable containers, for any purpose, the quantity should be kept to a minimum, the containers should be clearly marked and should normally be stowed on the weather deck where they can readily be jettisoned and where spillage will drain directly overboard. 7.3.7 In small vessels where Section 7.3.6 is not practicable, a 5-litre container of petrol may be stowed in a deck locker which meets the requirements of Section 7.3.8 7.3.8 Alternatively it may be stowed in a deck locker or protective enclosure which meets the following requirements:- 1. vapour tight to the vessel’s
interior; 7.3.9 When storing petrol fuels in portable tanks or containers, consideration should also be given to the following: 1. a secure and robust storage unit ,cupboard, bin, cabinet etc. should be provided, which is metal and fitted with a means to contain leaks/spills from containers and with direct overside drainage of any spillage; 2. the storage unit should be located on deck away from direct sources of heat, and should be fire-resistant; 3. containers should be stored upright and secured, such that they are not likely to shift or fall over with movement of the vessel; 4. the unit should be suitably labelled according to contents (eg materials stored, hazards signs, no smoking/ignition sources etc); 5. storage should be suitably distanced from potential sources, or situations where build up of vapours may occur. (Note: petrol vapour is heavier than air); 6. petrol type fuels should be stored separately from LPG; 7. storage locations should not restrict or impede normal movement of people about the vessel or be on escape routes; 8. the storage unit should house both full and empty spare fuel containers (empty containers will contain liquid dregs and vapours). N.B. Paragraph numbering may not be consecutive, as this page only
shows |