There is some confusion as to which standards are applicable to the electrical installations of vessels used as dwellings or for recreation. This article looks at the standards for installations of houseboats and recreational craft.
Houseboats
There can be many different permutations of vessel but, essentially, a houseboat is a permanently moored vessel used as a dwelling which will not move from its berth other than for long-term relocation. There are no other stated definitions for sizes of houseboats but, under these circumstances, the electrical installation of a houseboat in the United Kingdom will need to comply with BS 7671.
The following is extracted from the scope of Section 709, Marinas and similar locations, Regulation 709.1 of BS 7671:2008:
NOTE 3: The electrical installations of houseboats shall comply with the general requirements of these (BS 7671:2008) Regulations together with the relevant particular
requirements of Part 7.
Although houseboats are dwellingsthey do not fall within the scope of Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales nor are they subject to the requirements of the Building Regulations (Scotland), whether stationary, moving or landed. The Building Regulations apply only to what the regulations define as buildings and it was decided some 15 years ago that houseboats would not be regarded as buildings. The same criteria applies to caravans and mobile homes, whether stationary or moving.
The main reason is practicality. Houseboats and mobile homes are generally manufactured offsite, often abroad and, hence, it would be impossible in most cases for building control officers to carry out building control functions to ensure that the houseboats were manufactured to the standards in the Building Regulations. There are, of course, still dangers associated with the installation and use of gas and electricity.
Electrical supplies
As with electrical installations of buildings, electrical supplies to vessels can be derived from many different sources, e.g. the public distribution network, privately owned transformer, local generation including SSEG, etc. In the case of electrical supplies obtained from an on-shore origin, the method of connection will need to meet the requirements of Section 709, Marinas and similar locations, of BS 7671. Supplies to houseboats from the public network will need to comply with the ESQCR and are outside the scope of BS 7671. Such supplies are uncommon because of increased electric shock risks associated with a harsh, wet environment. The requirements of Section 709 of BS 7671:2008 were looked at in issue No. 23 of Wiring Matters, Summer 2007. The article can be downloaded from this url: www2.theiet.org/Publish/WireRegs/WiringMatters/
Read the full Wiring Matters article, which includes looking at the type of vessel and the relevant standards that apply, by clicking on the attachment below.