Help shape fire safety standards for domestic commercial vessels.
Consultation now open
AMSA would like your feedback on the proposed changes to the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part C4 – Fire Safety.
These updates address safety concerns, including inconsistencies in current fire safety requirements and lithium battery risks.
They invite you to share your feedback to help ensure the proposed changes are clear, practical, and fit for purpose.
Who the changes apply to
- Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV) owners and operators
- Surveyors
- Designers and builders of new construction DCVs and certain transitional vessels
Why are the changes required
The proposed changes aim to strengthen, modernise, and clarify fire safety requirements so domestic commercial vessels, and the people who operate them, are better protected.
Key proposed changes
- Updated fire safety requirements for lithium batteries
- New “medium machinery space” category
- Expanded rules for storing petrol-powered equipment and lithium-powered toys/tenders
- Interconnected smoke alarms in accommodation spaces
- New alternatives for selected fire extinguishers
- Clearer standards for fire-resisting divisions and fuel tank boundaries
- Fire performance benchmarks for key fittings
- Clearer regulation of wood-fired heaters
Have your say
Find out more about the proposed changes and have your say. The consultation is open until 6 February 2026.
Click here to provide your feedback
