Disabled, Decommissioned, Disconnected and Incomplete Systems

1.0

Introduction

1.1

Guidance to BSS Examiners about making sure in advance of the examination that the owner presents the vessel with water, gas, and electrical systems in working order and with all required items capable of being checked effectively, is covered in the ‘pre-examination’ section.

1.2

The purpose of this particular note is to provide guidance covering those situations where, during an examination, systems, system components, appliances or items which are the subject of BSS Checks are not present, disabled or decommissioned or disconnected.

The aim of the note is to help ensure that full and complete BSS Examinations can be carried out.

1.3

The guidance is relevant to the following circumstances:

·      systems components, engines, appliances or other items subject to BSS Checks that appear to have been removed or are missing, but a fuel supply is in place;

·      systems, system components, engines, appliances or other items, subject to BSS Checks are being worked on or are disconnected, unfinished or in some other way non-functioning;

·      where the owner is seeking to retain a disconnected or permanently disabled or decommissioned engine or appliance.

2.0

Pre BSS Examination Guidance to Owners

2.1

Owners are responsible for preparing their vessels for a BSS Examination. It is in their interests to do this as diligently as possible so as to keep to a minimum the time necessary for an examination to be carried out.

2.2

It is essential that, as part of an Examiner’s ordinary procedures when making arrangements for BSS Examinations with an owner or their representative, owners are reminded that BSS Certificates cannot be issued unless a vessel is fitted with at least one complete system e.g. a propulsion engine and its fuel supply, and verified as being compliant in accordance with the BSS Examination Checking Procedures.

3.0

Accepted principles

3.1

Unless covered specifically in the detailed guidance in section 4 below the following accepted principles apply if the circumstances as described at 1.3 are encountered:

·      The BSS examination and BSS Certificate issue represents a ‘snapshot in time’ and it is accepted that boats may take a very long time to fully fit out, and will undergo refits and modifications throughout their lives.

·      BSS Certificates cannot be issued unless a vessel is fitted with at least one complete system e.g. a propulsion engine and its fuel supply, and this verified as being compliant in accordance with the BSS Examination Checking Procedures.

·      Boat owners are responsible for making the boat available in a condition that can be examined, including the vessel having water, gas, and electrical systems in working order, sufficient to ensure that all required items subject to examination are capable of being checked effectively. There is no evidence to suggest that part finished boats or boats undergoing refit present a heightened risk of fire or explosion.

·      Items that are not present to examine cannot be examined.

·      Boat owners are responsible to ensure that any changes they make in between examinations are to the BSS Requirements. This work is assessed at the next BSS examination.

·      Redundant pipework or wiring found on board but confirmed as not connected to a supply or appliance should be ignored for the purposes of the BSS

4.0

General approach

4.1

Unless covered specifically in the detailed guidance in Section 5 below, the following general approach applies if the circumstances as described at 1.3 are encountered:

Items such as engines, appliances or their component items or systems found not present, disconnected, disabled or decommissioned can be considered as ‘not present’ for the purposes of the BSS examination if:

a) the item is removed from the boat; or,

b) the item is in fact or is made ‘inactive’ and to make it active again will require re-connection, replacement or modification of such items using tools.

* defined as not functioning or operating; out of use.

4.2

Where the above general approach has been applied and for the purposes of recording examinations, the engine/appliance or system is to be recorded as ‘not present’ and a note of the circumstances must be retained with the examination record.

4.3

In the event the above guidance does not give full clarity, seek advice from the BSS Office.

5.0

Guidance specific to particular items or circumstances

5.1

5.1.1 Batteries (Part 3)

Boats which are provided with arrangements for the installation of engine start and/or domestic batteries must have their batteries installed at the time of any BSS Examination. Where the required batteries are found not to be fitted an Examination cannot be completed until batteries have been installed and the relevant Checks can be carried out, unless guidance has been taken from the BSS Office.

5.1.2 Electrical wiring (Part 3)

In the event electrical wiring is found not connected to electrical equipment but is confirmed as connected to the distribution/fuse box, any examination cannot be completed:

·      unless the electrical equipment has been properly connected to an appliance or terminal block or other proprietary connector; or,

·      unless the electrical wiring has been completely removed back to the distribution/fuse box. [Note removal of a fuse or circuit breaker does not constitute making the circuit inactive]

·      unless guidance has been taken from the BSS Office.

5.2

LPG Systems and Appliances

5.2.1 Gas appliances found but no cylinder or cylinder locker and/or no supply pipework.(Part 7)

Boats which have a gas appliance(s) but no cylinder or cylinder locker or obvious location for open cylinder stowage and possibly no supply pipework, must be treated cautiously because of the potential for cylinders to be subsequently located inside the accommodation space not in a locker.

In these circumstances a BSS Examination cannot be completed:

a)    until the LPG cylinders and supply pipework is in place or the gas appliance is removed; or,

b)    unless guidance has been taken from the BSS Office.

5.2.2 Non-compliant LPG fridges on petrol engine boats (Part 8)

Non room-sealed dual (electric/LPG) fuelled refrigerators installed in boats with petrol propulsion engines may not be provided with any LPG supply pipework unless the burner, combustion air and exhaust arrangements comply with the BSS Requirements.

In the event that a non-compliant LPG dual-fuel refrigerator is retained by the owner for use solely with electric or as storage, examinations may only be completed when any fridge LPG supply pipework and/or hose is removed at least to the branch ‘T’ joint with the supply line. The T-joint should ideally be replaced with an in-line or elbow joint or the pipe replaced with a continuous length. The use of a stop-end to a short length of supported spur pipe is acceptable