ISO 6017:2024

Overview

ISO 6017:2024 specifies requirements for the design, testing and installation of an Automatic Watertight Ventilation Shutdown System (AWVSS) for small craft (recreational boats and similar watercraft up to 24 m hull length). The standard covers both hydrostatic and electric activation methods and defines performance, material, installation and testing criteria to ensure reliable automatic closure of ventilation openings to maintain watertightness and assist buoyancy in flood situations.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Design and testing of AWVSS activated electrically or hydrostatically on small craft.
• System function: Automatic closure of ventilation inlets/outlets to a defined level of watertightness when activated.
• Manufacturer information: Installation and operation instructions must state operating pressure range, installation location, heel/trim activation angles and opening area.
• Hydrostatic AWVSS testing:
  • Bench test on representative sample, mounted on a vertical plane simulating engine‑compartment face.
  • Tested in standard position and at manufacturer‑specified maximum heel angle.
  • Minimum external pressure: 35 kPa for at least 3 minutes; no leaks or permanent deformation allowed.
• Electric AWVSS requirements:
  • Core components: closing appliances (shutters/valves), sensors, controller, electric actuator.
  • Visual and audible activation indicators required, visible from main steering position.
  • Electrical components exposed to water must be at least IP56 (IEC 60529).
  • Ignition protection for components in explosive atmospheres (ISO 8846).
  • Sensors must detect relevant variables (heel, trim, water ingress).
  • Manual override and optional emergency power/UPS support required.
• Materials and corrosion resistance:
  • Galvanically compatible materials; corrosion resistance per ISO tests (e.g., ISO 6509‑1 for brass, ISO 14993 for other metals).
  • Non‑metallic parts must be UV and oxidation stabilized (ISO 9093 references).

Practical applications and users

Who uses ISO 6017:2024:

• Small craft designers and naval architects specifying ventilation safety systems.
• Marine equipment manufacturers (AWVSS designers and suppliers).
• Boat builders and integrators installing ventilation systems in engine rooms and compartments.
• Marine surveyors, installers and maintenance personnel conducting acceptance tests and regular inspections.
• Safety managers and operators assessing risk from engine intake closure and ensuring de‑icing and inspection routines.

Practical value:

• Helps prevent water ingress and preserve buoyancy by closing ventilation openings automatically.
• Provides testable, harmonized criteria (pressure and electrical tests) for product certification and installation conformity.
• Alerts manufacturers and shipyards to secondary risks (underpressure, engine stalling, tank venting) so they can mitigate operational hazards.

Related standards

Normative references include: ISO 6509‑1, ISO 8846, ISO 11812, ISO 12216, ISO 12217‑1/2/3, ISO 14993, IEC 60529, and ISO 9093 guidance for material testing. These standards complement ISO 6017 by covering corrosion, watertightness, stability and electrical protection topics.