Standards Australia has released for public comment the latest draft of AS1799.1 for Small Craft. This is the principal technical standard for Australian boat manufacturers for compliance with the Australian Builders Plate.
The draft standard is an update to the 2021 edition, focusing the technical content on requirements for ABP compliance, with other topics, such as cockpit design, fire protection and electrical and gas systems, now moved to a new (in draft) AS1799.2. A number of definitions have been improved and a clearer statement about full conformity has been drafted to clarify that all required assessments/ tests must be completed in full.
Key technical changes in the document cover maximum persons and stability assessment/ testing for vessels over 6m in length, including an improved definition of cockpit and well deck boats and specification of watertight compartments; and enhanced requirements for open waters requirements, with particular reference to number of persons carried in open waters subject to wind heeling resistance capacity of the vessel. The wind heeling test itself has been improved, based on contemporary methodologies used in comparable ISO and ABYC standards.
Access to the draft standard and comments portal is available here.
Submissions are open until 3 December 2024.
Note: the draft standard may change before final publication and therefore should not yet be relied upon for use in demonstrating compliance with the ABP standard.
