We’re seeking feedback on proposed updates to the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part C4 – Fire Safety. Find out what’s changing, why it matters and how you can have your say.
- 24 November 2025 - consultation opens
- 6 February 2026 - consultation closes
- 1 February 2027 - feedback report published
- 30 June 2027 - new standard published
- 30 June 2029 - new standard comes into effect
The key proposed changes include updates to:
Lithium-ion battery installations
- Add a new chapter to introduce fire safety requirements for electrical energy storage (EES) spaces for lithium battery installations
Categorisation of spaces
- Add a new “medium machinery space” category for machinery spaces over 10 m³ that fall below the “machinery space” thresholds
- Define fire risk categories for spaces containing portable equipment utilising lithium-ion batteries and powered by petrol engines
Smoke detectors, alarms and fire extinguishers
- Require interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in accommodation spaces, stairways, corridors and escape routes on certain vessels
- Provide suitable fire extinguisher alternatives to 30B foam and 12 kg dry powder extinguishers
Fire resisting divisions, deck finish materials and wood-fire heaters
- Updates to fire resisting division requirements including definitions, termination height above keel, and requirements for fuel tank boundaries in high-risk spaces
- Specify fire performance benchmarks for deck finishes, linings, ceilings, and doors
- Clarification of treatment of wood fire heaters
Dangerous goods
- Resolve outdated National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) references and clarify fuel carriage for tenders and vessel use
Administrative updates
- Editorial changes to make sure the standard is accurate and current, including removing outdated references
The proposed changes impact:
- owner/operators
- surveyors
- designers and builders
of new construction domestic commercial vessels (DCV) and certain transitional vessels.
About NSCV C4
NSCV Part C4 sets the design, construction and installation standards for fire protection on new and certain transitional DCVs, including:
- vessel categorisation
- passive and active fire safety systems
- fire safety planning and documentation
- protection for machinery and enclosed spaces
- additional measures for electrical energy storage systems
NSCV C4 was last reviewed in 2018. These updates are aimed at making DCV fire safety standards contemporary and aligned with today’s technology
Have your say
Feedback closes 11.59pm on 6 February 2026