Component 1

Protective equipment against ignition for inboard and outboard engines petrol fueled with stern control unit and for space occupied by stationary petrol tanks es

With regard to that component there is still much confusion about the “product type”, exchanged often and erroneously with fire systems and similar.

On the other hand, these are equipment  which must allow safe operation of electrical systems placed where explosive atmospheres may form due to the presence of flammable gases and vapours and therefore mandatory in inboard and outboard engine spaces with stern control unit, and in the spaces occupied by fixed tanks when the fuel appears to be petrol.

The harmonized standard, which must be complied with in order to be able to confirm-install this equipment on pleasure boats, is the  EN 28846/1993 modified with the updating A1/2000, transposed in Italy as UNI EN 28846/2002.

This provision provides for the possibility of installing and therefore CE marking three different kind three different types of devices as identified below:

• totally airtight devices, impermeable to the entry of flammable gases/vapours of any type (excluding only hydrogen which is not considered for such application)
• Non-hermetic devices, permeable to the inflow of flammable gases (excluding only hydrogen which is not considered for such application) but which in the event of ignition within the device do not permit the propagation of the flame outside the device.
• Non-hermetic devices with intrinsic safety permeable to the inflow of flammable gases (excluding only hydrogen which is not considered for such application) but which produce sparks with thermal energy so low that it cannot cause any ignition.

Devices authorised under this rule must bear indelible inscription” ISO 8846  MARINE”

This rule does not apply to explosion-proof equipment according to “ATEX”Directive, whereas they are nevertheless compatible for such use even if they do not conform to a harmonized standard for recreation; in case of doubt, contact the UDICER management.