International Standards
The International Standards Organisation (ISO)
publishes standards on a vast range of subjects, including small
craft (under 24m by ISO/TC188) and large yachts (over 24m by
ISO/TC8/SC12). We represent the industry at each of these standards
committees and the many working groups under the control of the
principal committees. For an explanation of the standardisation
process please see
How are ISO standards developed.
The Technical Committee dedicated to small craft standards,
ISO/TC188, was established over 25 years ago and develops
standards for all aspects of small craft design and build,
including equipment, systems, handling, stability and
construction.
Many of the standards are developed in support of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and when
published provide boatbuilders with a means of demonstrating
conformity with the RCD Essential Safety Requirements (ESR).
Standards are not the only means of demonstrating conformity –
codes of practice, empirical design, previous service history or
other suitable methods are acceptable equivalents. It is important
to discuss such options with a
Notified Body if relevant.
The Technical Committee for large yacht standards,
ISO/TC8/SC12, was established in 2007 as a new committee to
develop standards for boats over 24m length in support of current
national and international codes for large yachts (superyachts),
such as the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency Large Yacht
Code LY2. The work programme of this committee is developing
with industry assistance, provided in the UK by British Marine
Federation association Superyacht UK.
In the UK, standards work is carried out through the
British Standards Institute (BSI),
with shadow committees for each ISO Technical Committee. We provide
industry representation at committees covering, in addition to
small craft and large yachts, gas systems, lifejackets and marine
electrical systems. Members support the Technical team as necessary
on detailed topics such as steering systems, scantlings, fire
protection and stability.
The principal committee for small craft is GME/33 Small Craft,
constituting a broad cross-section of the marine industry,
including the British Marine Federation, navigation authorities
such as British
Waterways, the Environment
Agency, and the Broads
Authority, user representative organisations such as
Royal Yachting Association and the
National Association of Boat Owners,
classification societies such as American Bureau of Shipping and
Lloyds Register and
regulators such as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Harmonised Standards
Standards developed for
European Directives, such as the RCD, are mandated by the European standards
body, European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) and when published by CEN are known as
harmonised standards.
All CEN standards are published and implemented in each of the
EU member states as national standards. In the UK BSI publishes these standards as BS
EN xxxxx where xxxxx is the number of the standard given by CEN.
Essentially a harmonised standard is an agreement between all
participating members stating that the standard is acceptable for
use in all countries and meets the previous national requirements
of each country.
Standards for small craft are developed by
ISO/TC188 under an agreement whereby CEN adopts the published
ISO standards and publishes as EN standards. For small craft
standards, harmonised to the RCD, and published in the UK by BSI,
the reference is therefore BS EN ISO xxxxx. A full list of
RCD harmonised standards is available on the European Commission website
.