ISO 6185-3:2024

Overview

ISO 6185-3:2024 - Inflatable boats, Part 3 specifies minimum safety characteristics for the design, materials, manufacture and testing of inflatable boats and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) with a hull length (LH per ISO 8666) of less than 8 m and a motor power rating of 15 kW and greater. The standard applies to powered boats intended for use in temperatures from −20 °C to +60 °C, and covers two boat types: Type VII (buoyancy tubes port and starboard for design categories C and D) and Type VIII (for design category B). It excludes single‑chambered boats, tubes of unsupported materials, aquatic toys, inflatable liferafts, and boats with tubes made from aluminium, roto‑moulded polyethylene, fibre‑reinforced plastic or other rigid materials.

Key technical topics and requirements

The document addresses practical and testable safety requirements, including:

• Construction and structural materials: requirements for materials forming tubes and flexible floors, wood components, and foam‑filled buoyancy.
• Strength and load tests: lifting fittings, complete boat overload, drop tests (RIBs), in‑water tests, and attachment strength tests for buoyancy tubes.
• Buoyancy, stability and flotation: methods to determine maximum load capacity, total buoyant volume, subdivision of buoyancy chambers, nominal pressures, valves, and level flotation when swamped.
• Watertightness and drainage: openings, hull drainage, watertightness testing, and cockpit draining time (Type VIII).
• Operational safety: determination of maximum motor power and manoeuvring speed, prevention of falling overboard and recovery, handhold and seating requirements, field of vision from helm, fire protection, and rowing/rowlock safety.
• Installation standards: motor installation (inboard/outboard), ventilation for petrol systems, electrical installations, fuel and gas systems, remote steering, navigation lights and discharge prevention.
• Documentation and equipment: builder’s plates, craft identification, equipment supplied with the boat, and owner’s manual requirements.
• Normative tests and annexes: detailed test methods for buoyancy tube attachments and accessory strength.

Practical applications and users

ISO 6185-3:2024 is intended for:

• Boat designers and naval architects specifying inflatable boat structures and systems.
• Manufacturers of inflatable boats and RIBs to design and produce compliant vessels.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies conducting structural, buoyancy and stability tests.
• Regulatory and maritime safety authorities considering safety assessments and type approvals.
• Importers, dealers and fleet operators who need to confirm product safety and compliance.
• Owners and purchasers seeking information about safety features, load capacity and recommended installation limits.

This standard helps ensure reliable inflatable boat safety, clear guidance for boat testing and certification, and better alignment with international best practices for small powered craft.

Related standards

• Normative reference: ISO 8666 (used to determine hull length LH).
• ISO 6185 series (other parts cover different size/power classes of inflatable boats).