Home  >  Codes and Standards  >  Complete List of Codes and Standards  >  NFPA 303: Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards

NFPA 303, Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards

2021 NFPA 303 Standard - Current Edition
In purchasing digital access through a PDF or subscription service, you are purchasing a single-user license to access content only by the named account holder. Certain restrictions apply.

NFPA Members save an additional 10%.

Item #: NFPA_303
Price: $0.00
Edition:
Digital Access with NFPA LiNK® Plans starting at $11.99/month
Formats Available:


















Quantity:
  • Description

    Reduce hazards around marinas and boatyards by complying with NFPA 303 requirements.

    Injuries from fire and electrical shock and environmental damage resulting from spilled hazardous materials are a significant concern in and around marinas and related facilities. NFPA 303, Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards, helps protect people and property by offering strategies and provisions for establishing an acceptable level of safety.

    Referenced in NFPA 1, Fire Code, this vital standard provides criteria for the construction and operation of marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, boat condominiums, and docking facilities, including associated piers, docks, and floats. Content also covers support facilities and structures used in building, repairing, fueling, and storing vessels if at risk in the event of a fire.

    From management and operational hazards to fire protection, electrical equipment and wiring, and berthing and storage, you get access to broad-based knowledge for helping to safeguard these structures and facilities.

    The 2021 edition is essential for anyone involved with or responsible for safety in marinas and boatyards.

    NFPA 303 has been updated to account for the overall lack of awareness amongst boat owners that dangerous ground-fault leakages can occur on their vessels. The latest edition further addresses electrical hazards with new requirements that apply retroactively to all marinas within two years of adoption of this edition.

    The standard now states that vessels are to be tested for the presence of AC ground faults at the time of the initial connection to a marina electrical system. This rule applies to vessels that have not been constructed in accordance with the shore-power ground-fault requirements of Article 555 of NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®. Vessels are not to be permitted to connect to the marina system if they display ground-fault leakage exceeding 30 mA.

    Additional changes include:

    • Amended provision for receptacle configurations of less than 30 amperes and no more than 50 amperes to require these devices to be of a locking and grounding type that is listed and labeled
    • New language specifying the minimum width of fire department access roads
    • Revised fire protection requirements for in-out dry storage and rack storage
    • Added requirements that standpipe systems be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 14 and portable fire extinguishers be provided in accordance with NFPA 10
    • Updated requirement for automatic fire-extinguishing systems for covered piers in excess of 5000 ft2
    • New requirement that operators of marinas and boatyards keep a record of employee training related to fire drills
    • Addition that guidance information be provided for signage at berths and slips to facilitate reporting of fires or other emergencies

    Get up to speed with marina safety by purchasing NFPA 303, 2021 edition.

    Fire personnel, construction professionals, facility owners and managers, insurance professionals, and AHJs rely on NFPA 303 for the knowledge they need to help minimize risks and work toward eliminating incidents completely. Make sure you have the latest information by ordering your copy today.

  • Table of Contents (2021 Current Edition)

    NFPA® 303 Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards, 2021 Edition

    Chapter 1 Administration
    1.1 Scope.
    1.2 Purpose.
    1.3 Retroactivity.
    Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
    2.1 General.
    2.2 NFPA Publications.
    2.3 Other Publications.
    2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.
    Chapter 3 Definitions
    3.1 General.
    3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
    3.3 General Definitions.
    Chapter 4 Management
    4.1 Smoking Restrictions.
    4.2 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Fire-Fighting Equipment and Fire Protection Systems.
    4.3 Employee Training.
    4.4 Fire Department Liaison.
    4.5 Boat Owners and Guests.
    4.6 Open-Flame Devices.
    4.7 Portable Cooking Equipment.
    4.8 Ground-Fault Testing for Marinas.
    Chapter 5 Electrical Wiring and Equipment
    5.1 National Electrical Code.
    5.2 Listed or Labeled.
    5.3 Electrical Datum Plane.
    5.4 Power Supply.
    5.5 Grounding.
    5.6 Dry Locations.
    5.7 Damp Locations.
    5.8 Wet Locations.
    5.9 Electrical Installation.
    5.10 Circuit Breakers, Switches, Panels, and Marine Power Outlets (Damp and Wet Locations).
    5.11 Marine Power Outlet.
    5.12 Receptacles.
    5.13 Disconnects.
    5.14 Lighting Fixtures and Switches.
    5.15 Electrical Equipment Enclosures.
    5.16 Feeders and Branch Circuits on Piers.
    5.17 Hazardous (Classified) Locations.
    5.18 Tests.
    5.19 Marine Hoists, Railways, Cranes, and Monorails.
    5.20 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Electrical Wiring and Equipment.
    Chapter 6 Fire Protection
    6.1 Portable Fire Extinguishers.
    6.2 Fixed Fire-Extinguishing Systems.
    6.3 Fire Standpipe Systems.
    6.4 In-Out Dry Storage and Rack Storage.
    6.5 Hydrants and Water Supplies.
    6.6 Fire Pumps.
    6.7 Exposure Protection.
    6.8 Transmittal of Fire Emergency.
    6.9 Automatic Fire Detectors.
    Chapter 7 Berthing and Storage
    7.1 Wet Storage and Berthing.
    7.2 Dry Storage.
    Chapter 8 Operational Hazards
    8.1 Conditions on Individual Boats.
    8.2 General Precautions.
    8.3 Heating.
    8.4 Storage and Handling of Fuels.
    8.5 Storage and Handling of Paints and Solvents.
    8.6 Storage and Handling of Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Materials.
    8.7 Paint Removal and Painting.
    8.8 Lumber Storage.
    8.9 Welding, Brazing, Soldering, and Metal Cutting.
    8.10 Woodworking.
    8.11 Machine Shop.
    8.12 Battery Service and Storage.
    8.13 Servicing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Systems.
    8.14 Maintenance.
    8.15 Shrink-Wrap Operations.
    Annex A Explanatory Material
    Annex B Informational References
  • 2016 Edition Description

    2016 Edition

    Reduce fire and electrical risks at marinas and related facilities with strategies in the 2016 NFPA 303.

    Every year, marina fires and electric shock incidents cause numerous deaths and injuries, in addition to incurring millions of dollars in property loss along with environmental damage from hazardous materials spills. Most of these incidents, including the large number of fires and casualties directly related to electrical faults, could be prevented through compliance with NFPA 303, Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards.

    This important Standard establishes a minimum acceptable level of safety to life and property from fire and electrical hazards at marinas and related facilities, including boatyards, yacht clubs, boat condominiums, and docking facilities. Now referenced in NFPA 1: Fire Code, the requirements in NFPA 303 help minimize risks with the goal of eliminating them altogether.

    Significant changes in the 2016 NFPA 303 target problem areas identified by recent events and reported data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System:

    • New reference to NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®) for the installation of ground fault protection in marinas and boatyards, along with new regular testing, to address Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) deaths
    • New provisions for maintaining firefighting equipment and electrical equipment, and protecting portable fire extinguishers, to help identify and mitigate the negative effects of harsh environmental exposures and conditions
    • Revised requirements for inspection, testing, and maintenance of firefighting equipment incorporate references to all applicable NFPA® standards
    • New requirement for facility pre-fire plans to be submitted to the AHJ annually for greater oversight
    • New requirement for pre-fire plans to include a more detailed list of firefighting equipment within the facility, along with employee responsibilities during emergency situations
    • New requirements for isolation valves in standpipe systems and clarification of the minimum flow rate for supply piping. Isolation valves are critical for maintaining water supply by closing off damaged sections of piping systems.
    • New requirements prohibiting portable cooking equipment in berthing areas, and new requirements for portable electric heaters

    The 2016 NFPA 303 is essential for anyone involved with, or responsible for safety in marinas and boatyards, including construction professionals, fire safety personnel, facility owners and maintainers, and insurance professionals. (Print, 25 pp., 2016)

  • NFPA PDF Products

    If you purchased a PDF, licensed PDFs can be accessed immediately. Instructions can be found in your order confirmation.

    Effective with the annual 2020 code cycle, NFPA® will no longer offer access to the PDF format as a choice for new editions of codes and standards, handbooks, or other reference titles. Existing PDFs will remain in-market and will still be accessible in our National Fire Codes® Subscription Service (NFCSS™). For more information about the different format options available to access essential code and standard content you need, click here.

  • Historical Editions

    Previous editions of NFPA® documents are available for sale. Please see applicable NFPA codes and standards product pages to confirm which editions are available for purchase. If you have any questions, contact NFPA Customer Support at 1-800-344-3555 or nfpa.org/customerservice.