ISO 13297:2020

Overview

ISO 13297:2020 - "Small craft - Electrical systems - Alternating and direct current installations" is the consolidated international standard for the design, construction and installation of DC and single‑phase AC electrical systems on small craft. It covers extra‑low‑voltage DC systems (nominal ≤ 50 V DC) and single‑phase AC systems (nominal voltage not exceeding 250 V AC). The fifth edition combines previous DC and AC documents (ISO 13297:2014 and ISO 10133:2012) into a single marine electrical standard focused on safety, reliability and interoperability.

Key topics and requirements

ISO 13297:2020 addresses practical technical requirements across system design, installation and documentation. Major topics include:

• General requirements for DC and AC systems, including system voltage definitions and safety principles
• DC system specifics: batteries, battery‑disconnect switches, conductor and wiring rules for two‑wire and negative‑ground systems
• AC system specifics: socket outlets, shore power appliance inlets, polarization and isolation transformers, and AC panel board requirements
• Overcurrent protection (fuses, trip‑free circuit breakers) for supply and branch circuits
• Ground‑fault / earth‑leakage protection (RCDs) and protective conductor (grounding) arrangements
• Inverters and inverter/chargers installation and integration with AC systems
• Panel boards (switchboards), marking and labeling requirements for safe operation and maintenance
• Conductors and system wiring: selection, routing, sheathing, and installation practices (Annex A normative on conductor requirements)
• Ignition protection for equipment in flammable environments (reference to ISO 8846)
• Owner’s manual content requirements and installation instructions (Annex B)
• Informative annexes with recommended system tests (Annex C), typical AC diagrams (Annex D) and overcurrent protection location options (Annex E)

Practical applications and users

ISO 13297:2020 is essential for:

• Marine electrical and systems designers specifying safe DC/AC installations on small craft
• Boat builders, shipyards and OEMs implementing compliant wiring, shore power and battery systems
• Marine electricians and installers performing new installations, refits or repairs
• Surveyors, inspectors and certification bodies assessing safety and conformity
• Fleet owners and maintenance teams using the owner’s manual and test guidance for ongoing safety checks

Use cases include shore power inlet installations, battery bank design and protection, inverter integration, panel board layout and electrical safety upgrades.

Related standards

Normative and related references cited in ISO 13297:2020 include:

• ISO 8846 (ignition protection)
• ISO 7010 (safety signs)
• ISO 10240 (owner’s manual)
• IEC 60309‑2, IEC 60529 (plug/coupler and IP ratings)
• Exclusions: electrical propulsion and higher‑voltage systems addressed by ISO 16315 and three‑phase AC guidance in IEC 60092‑507.

Keywords: ISO 13297:2020, small craft electrical systems, marine electrical installations, DC and AC installations, shore power, battery systems, overcurrent protection, RCD, inverters.