Boat Safety Scheme Certificate BSSC/BSC requirements changes

[Pete Morrison]

Coming up for my CaRT licence renewal and I realised that my boat safety scheme is expired. I've booked an inspection for next week and I've been through the PDF (https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/299451/bss-complete-ecps-private-boat-public-version-2023.pdf and I think I'm mostly ready.

 

My boat sailed through last time and I'm just wondering if there have been any changes in the last 4 years that I should know about?

 

My fire extinguishers don't have a check date. Do I need to get these serviced?

 

I don't have mushroom vents and this didnt fail me last time, I see "8.9.1 Is the vessel provided with adequate fixed ventilation? is an Advice check for privately owned and managed vessels, but is a mandatory Requirement for hire boats."

 

Also, I'm not sure if my gas system has a test point, at least it definitely doesn't have a bubble tester. Is this a new requirement or if it passed 4 years ago is it likely to pass now?
           
All LPG systems must be fitted with one of the following means to determine gas-tightness:
 • a readily accessible proprietary test point fitted in the pipework; or,
• a readily accessible proprietary test point on an appliance; or,
• a bubble leak detector installed in a cylinder locker or cylinder housing.

 

Any advice would be appreciated!

[jonesthenuke]

Fire extinguishers are valid if there are no visible defects and the pressure gauge is in the green. No need for servicing.

 

[sigsegv]

1 hour ago, Pete Morrison said:

Also, I'm not sure if my gas system has a test point, at least it definitely doesn't have a bubble tester. Is this a new requirement or if it passed 4 years ago is it likely to pass now?

Mine would have failed on that, as my BSS tester could not locate one - it looked like in the intervening four years since the last exam, someone replaced the gas hob and presumably removed the bubble tester valve. Thankfully he had one in his toolbox, and his (gas safe registered) son came over to fit it, then they passed me. So it's definitely something they check for.

[Ray T]

Any use?

 

Boat examination & certification | Boat Safety Scheme | Go Boating - Stay Safe

 

Private Boat Requirements | Boat Safety Scheme | Go Boating - Stay Safe

[Momac]

Check the orange gas hose has not perished.

Check the CO detectors are working.

Check the extinguisher gauges are in the green.

Check the fuel hoses are not perished.

 

Otherwise if it passed last time and no relevant changes have been made to the boat then it should be fine. 

 

I always make it easy for the surveyor by presenting a clean and unclutterd boat. I have never been present for a BSS survey and never had any issues. 

 

 

[Hudds Lad]

Just had ours and passed no probs. Beforehand we cleared all our junk (stool, coats, basket with chains and windlasses in etc.) away from the engine boards so he had easy access, tested the smoke & CO alarms, and just generally made sure that nothing would be in the way.

Our extinguishers i think are out of date, but gauges all in the green. We give them a good shake now and then.

 

We just had a new manual changeover valve & tails fitted last month by a gas safe chap, the new valve has a test point on it so not bothered with a bubble tester, maybe look at yours and see if it's the same?

[Arthur Marshall]

If you've got an instant water heater there's usually a test point on that. Certainly is on the Rinnai.

[Pete Morrison]

I only have a gas cooker with a copper pipe going under the gunwale into the bow locker. I have two bottles in the bow locker. i cant remember when I had the work to replace the old manual changeover and pigtails with a regulator which screws directly into the bottle valve and a low pressure hose to the pipework. So now I am wondering if maybe i had the test point removed. What does it look like?

 

1 hour ago, Ray T said:

Any use?

 

Boat examination & certification | Boat Safety Scheme | Go Boating - Stay Safe

 

Private Boat Requirements | Boat Safety Scheme | Go Boating - Stay Safe

thanks yes I have already been through this but just had those few questions that I wasnt' sure of

 

45 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

tested the smoke & CO alarms

interestingly i didn't see anything in the BSS requirements about smoke alarms (i do have 2 though).

[matty40s]

Smoke alarms are becoming part of the regulations soon, but not as yet.

If you liveboard you should have a bubble tester fitted, or use a gas safe BSS examiner(who IS allowed to test using the test point).

Make sure any flexible hoses, both fuel and gas are fully visible at their joins/ends.

[Pete Morrison]

Thanks @matty40s. Would a combination smoke / CO detector satisfy the regs?

 

Is it worth fitting a bubble tester in any case? Is it expensive?

[matty40s]

If you dont liveaboard, there is absolutely no need to waste your money. 

CO detectors must be in date,.or have an installation date shown which is within 5 years. That's why it is impossible to change batteries on them nowadays, as the sensing equip becomes defunct.

 

[ditchcrawler]

7 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Smoke alarms are becoming part of the regulations soon, but not as yet.

 

Is that so they alarm before our smoke gets into another boat for the third party safety

3 minutes ago, matty40s said:

If you dont liveaboard, there is absolutely no need to waste your money. 

CO detectors must be in date,.or have an installation date shown which is within 5 years. That's why it is impossible to change batteries on them nowadays, as the sensing equip becomes defunct.

 

The new ones I fitted last week run on 2 AA dry cell batteries and I think but would need to check have a 10 year life 

[sigsegv]

7 minutes ago, Pete Morrison said:

Is it worth fitting a bubble tester in any case? Is it expensive?

Ah my apologies, what was missing from ours wasn't a bubble tester (I guess they look different) but a test valve, which looks like the image below. It took Dave Freeman's son only a few minutes to fit, just by the flexible pipe going into the hob. Costs less than a fiver online apparently, and he never charged us for ours (or the work done).

 

[Pete Morrison]

9 minutes ago, matty40s said:

CO detectors must be in date,.or have an installation date shown which is within 5 years.

Oh mine are definitely older than that! Time to replace I suppose?

 

 

"Installation date shown" - what's to stop someone from simply writing on a label a date within 5 years...?

[Momac]

12 minutes ago, matty40s said:

If you dont liveaboard, there is absolutely no need to waste your money. 

CO detectors must be in date,.or have an installation date shown which is within 5 years. That's why it is impossible to change batteries on them nowadays, as the sensing equip becomes defunct.

 

Is didn't take long to find a CO detector with replaceable batteries

 

 

 

[Mike Todd]

4 hours ago, matty40s said:

If you dont liveaboard, there is absolutely no need to waste your money. 

CO detectors must be in date,.or have an installation date shown which is within 5 years. That's why it is impossible to change batteries on them nowadays, as the sensing equip becomes defunct.

 

And although they state 10  years on them they rarely last more than 5, in my experience and, I hear, that of others.

3 hours ago, Pete Morrison said:

Oh mine are definitely older than that! Time to replace I suppose?

 

 

"Installation date shown" - what's to stop someone from simply writing on a label a date within 5 years...?

?removing the manufacturer's date?

[LadyG]

5 hours ago, Pete Morrison said:

Thanks @matty40s. Would a combination smoke / CO detector satisfy the regs?

 

Is it worth fitting a bubble tester in any case? Is it expensive?

I would not have a bubble tester on my boat.

1) It requires a break in my gas piping. NOT recommended.

2) i would not check it timeously.

If my gas has a leak i will end up with no gas at the cooker, or i would smell it .

A gas leak in the gas locker is the most likely location, gas falls out of the gas locker exit vents.

Dont bother trying to buy combined detectors if you value your life.

Smoke rises

CO hovers.

I use a Gas Safe Boat endorsed Examiner as I prioritise my own safety before any CRT / BS (Scheme) Certificate.

Edited October 2 by LadyG

[bizzard]

10 minutes ago, LadyG said:

I would not have a bubble tester on my boat.

1) It requires a break in my gas piping. NOT recommended.

2) i would not check it timeously.

If my gas has a leak i will end up with no gas at the cooker, or i would smell it .

A gas leak in the gas locker is the most likely location, gas falls out of the gas locker exit vents.

Dont bother trying to buy combined detectors if you value your life.

Smoke rises

CO hovers.

I use a Gas Safe Boat endorsed Examiner as I prioritise my own safety before any CRT / BS (Scheme) Certificate.

Who nose. If you had no sense of smell you would need a Canary, and possibly a Davey lamp.

[LadyG]

I bought a new CO monitor for the last BSC exam, but kept the old one.

I bought two new smoke alarms but kept the old ones. 

One new fire extinguishers, but kept the old ones.

1 minute ago, bizzard said:

Who nose. If you had no sense of smell you would need a Canary, and possibly a Davey lamp.

My brother has no sense of smell, he would not have gas in a house or a boat.

[Lady M]

We have been advised not to retain old fire extinguishers to avoid any failed attempts to use them. 

[matty40s]

15 hours ago, Pete Morrison said:

Oh mine are definitely older than that! Time to replace I suppose?

 

 

"Installation date shown" - what's to stop someone from simply writing on a label a date within 5 years...?

Nothing...

[Gybe Ho]

19 hours ago, Pete Morrison said:

...

 

My boat sailed through last time and I'm just wondering if there have been any changes in the last 4 years that I should know about?

 

...

 

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

 

The latest BSS annual report includes data on the most common test failure reasons. I get the impression BSS HQ periodically decides to focus on different subjects, currently battery physical retention is in vogue. In addition to what has been mentioned here check for (1) rust in the gas locker leading to pin prick perforation and drainage into the hull (2) proof of a viable alternative emergency escape route.

 

The annual report also highlights that financially speaking the BSS is a shoestring operation and that examiners only bank a little over 60% of the typical market price test fee, if an examiner's sole income is from BSS testing I suspect restocking shelves on a night shift as ASDA would provide a better income. Best reduce your expectations of the testing experience.

 

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/media/299390/bss-annual-report-low-res-2022-23.pdf  

 

 

[Momac]

3 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

 Best reduce your expectations of the testing experience.

The examiners are not confined by price so they only have themselves to blame if they charge too little.

 

 

[LadyG]

4 hours ago, Lady M said:

We have been advised not to retain old fire extinguishers to avoid any failed attempts to use them. 

You may have to take them to a tip as I don't think its wise to put them in a standard dustcart. 

I've got some that look about 25 years old, but they are at the back of a locker, so I'd only use them in dire emergency , my own modern ones are are placed conveniently to hand.

Edited October 3 by LadyG

[Gybe Ho]

29 minutes ago, Momac said:

The examiners are not confined by price so they only have themselves to blame if they charge too little.

 

 

Market forces determine price.