BSS consultation on smoke alarms

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) has announced the extension of their public consultation on proposals to introduce a new mandatory Boat Safety Standard on smoke alarms.

The proposed Standard and related BSS Requirements would be for the provision of suitable smoke alarms in good condition and in appropriate locations on all classes of boat with accommodation spaces. The Forum has announced the extension of the current public consultation, which will give more people the opportunity to contribute their views on the proposal.

Suitable smoke alarms are the readily available products that are currently third-party accredited as meeting BS EN 14604:2005. These are makes and models that are typically used in domestic buildings and are stocked by high street shops, retail park stores and online retailers.

The changes are proposed for all types of BSS Examination - private boats, boats used for hire and other non-private boat classes.

The Forum believes that mandatory smoke alarms will help reduce the risk of fire spreading by giving an early alert to a fire starting and so allowing people to take harm-mitigating actions as soon as possible.

The proposals are presented as both necessary and proportionate risk controls and your comments upon them are welcomed.

The proposals have the support of forum members comprising of representatives of navigation and harbour authorities, the marine industry body - British Marine, boat users and Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Examiners. It also has the support of the BSS Advisory and BSS Technical Forums and the BSS Board of Directors.

The consultation is being hosted and administered by the Boat Safety Scheme. It is open now and will close on 30 April 2026.

To take part please visit the BSS website here: www.boatsafetyscheme.org/about-us/consultations-reviews/smoke-alarm-consultation-bs-ssf/