FIRE SAFETY ON BOATS

Smoke Alarms

• Optical sensor alarms with hush buttons and ‘sealed for life’ batteries are best for boats. Visit www.boatsafetyscheme.org/fire for advice and guidance.
• Fit alarms in places you will hear them clearly if they go off.
• Consider installing linked alarms that will go off at the same time.
• Test the alarm when you board and regularly when aboard. Never disconnect it or remove working batteries.

Gas leak indicators

• Fit a bubble type gas leak indicator in the LPG cylinder locker.
• Push the gas leak indicator test button routinely to check for leaks in the gas system.

Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

• Fit a CO alarm to alert you of any poisonous carbon monoxide.
• Check your CO alarm is suitable for marine use and meets the EN50291-2 standard.
• Look out for any one of the approval symbols below when buying smoke and CO alarms.

• Never leave cooking unattended. Turn things off until you come back.
• Take extra care when cooking with oil – it sets alight easily.
• Avoid cooking when tired. Remember, prescription drugs and alcohol can cause drowsiness.
• Keep the cooking area clean for safety – a build-up of grease could catch light.
• Spark devices are safer than matches or lighters to light gas cookers, because they don’t have a naked flame.
• Only use portable appliances onshore and don’t change gas canisters inside the cabin or covered areas.

• Barbecues shouldn’t be used on boats – hot charcoal gives off dangerous amounts of CO and blown embers could set your boat alight.
• Keep cabin ventilation clear to prevent a build-up of toxic CO.
• Try to keep fabrics away from cooking hobs to prevent them from catching fire.
• Damaged stoves and flues could burn too hot; check adjacent areas for heat damage. Have your chimney swept regularly.
• Dispose of embers carefully. If they’re still warm they could cause a fire or build-up of CO.
• Only use the fuel recommended by the heater manufacturer. Other types may burn too hot.
• Ensure all hob burners have a flame supervision device to shut-off the gas if the flame is blown out.

Cigarettes

• Keep cigarettes away from anything that could catch fire, such as curtains.
• Never smoke when refuelling or changing a gas cylinder.
• Use a proper ashtray that will stay stable on the boat.
• Take extra care if you smoke when you’re tired and never smoke in bed.
• Empty ashtrays regularly. A build-up of ash could catch fire.

Furnishings

• Try to choose furniture that carries the fire-resistant label.
• Keep fabrics and paper away from anything hot like hobs, light bulbs, stoves and their flue pipes.
• Watch out for domeddecklights, aka bullseyes, focussing light rays and causing heat damage or fires in strong sunlight.

Candles

• Candles have started fatal boat fires. Consider using LED alternatives for light or ambience.
• Pot-purri and oil-reed diffusers are far safer alternatives to scented candles.
• If you must use lit candles, ensure they’re in secure fireproof holders and never leave them unattended.

Engine Maintenance

• Don’t let oil or debris build-up in the bilges.
• Inspect the lagging of engine and heater exhausts for damage or deterioration; and check nearby items for heat damage or charring.
• Check exhaust systems of inboard engines for leaks.
• Check for loose fuel joints, damaged fuel tanks or deteriorating hoses.

Fuel Safety

• Prevent petrol vapour from entering the boat by closing the doors, windows or hatches and closing the awning.
• Refuel outboard engines and generators well away from the boat.
• Leaks, spills and vapour can ignite easily. Clean them up straight away and make sure filler caps are secure after refuelling.
• Only carry spare petrol if necessary and store it in a self-draining locker or on open deck.
• Petrol refuelling should only be supervised by someone familiar with both the boat and petrol vapour risks.

Gas Safety

• Ensure gas appliances are installed and maintained routinely by trained fitters.
• Never restrict airflow by blocking vents or air gaps.
• Make sure gas cylinders are secure after they’ve been changed. Test for leaks with detection fluid.
• Whenever possible, turn gas valves off before you go to bed or leave the boat.
• Replace gas hoses showing signs of cracking, brittleness or discolouration.
• Store gas cylinders outside, in a self-draining and fire resistant locker. Keep them upright and secured from moving.

Electrics

• Check for the British or European safety mark when buying electrical goods.
• Use a trained marine electrician to install and service electrics.
• Don’t overload adaptors. Keep to one plug per socket. Use the right fuse or circuit breaker to avoid overheating.
• Unplug appliances when they’re not in use or when you leave the boat.
• Take extra care when reinstalling the boat’s batteries. Check straps or restraints are secure afterwards.
• Damaged wires and connectors can overheat rapidly, so look out for scorch marks or burning smells. Don’t ignore sounds like buzzing, fizzing or crackling.

If there is any sign of a problem, turn the power off and don’t switch it on until it’s been checked out!

• Make sure people know how to close emergency valves and switches in case of fire.
• You are more at risk from a fire when asleep, so check your boat before you go to bed. Make sure cooking and heating appliances are off and candles and cigarettes are fully extinguished.
• Keep a torch easily available to help you escape at night. Make sure you have spares and test them regularly.
• Don’t go to sea without a VHF radio. Have a chargedup, handheld, waterproof one ready for use at any time.
• Don’t rely on a mobile phone. There could be no signal and it may not be waterproof.
• Have enough life jackets for everyone on board, and keep them in good condition.
• Keep exits clear and keys to hand. Don’t lock or bolt doors and hatches from the outside.
• Track your location so you can tell the emergency services where you are if needed.
• Consider having a ‘grab-bag’ for removing vital possessions in an emergency.

• Do not enter a smoke filled space.
• If you are already in a smoke filled space, keep low down where the air is clearer.
• If you need to break glass to escape, use a blanket to prevent injury.
• Starve the fire of air. Don’t open engine hatches or doors unless you have to.

Inland Fires

• If you are inland or moored near to land, move everybody off the boat and call 999 immediately.

Fires at Sea

• If you are off-shore move as far away from the fire as you can on deck. Get everybody into life jackets.
• Take a handheld VHF radio onto deck with you to call for help.
• Notify the Coastguard by radio, make a Mayday call and/or display a distress signal.