Overview
EN ISO 8469:2021 - Small craft: Non-fire-resistant fuel hoses specifies general requirements and physical tests for non-fire-resistant fuel hoses used in permanently installed fuel systems of small craft (recreational boats and similar watercraft up to 24 m hull length). It covers hoses intended to convey petrol (including petrol blended with ethanol) and diesel (including diesel blended with FAME) and sets design working-pressure limits: ≤ 0.34 MPa for hoses with inner diameter up to and including 10 mm, and ≤ 0.25 MPa for hoses up to 63 mm inner diameter.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & applicability: Hoses for permanently installed systems on small craft; excludes fire‑resistant hose requirements (see ISO 7840:2021).
- Inner diameters: Standardized hose inner diameters range from about 3.2 mm to 63 mm, with specified tolerances for consistent manufacturing and fit.
- Physical tests on finished hose (new samples required for each test), including:
- Bursting pressure (hydrostatic strength)
- Vacuum collapse resistance
- Volume change after exposure to fuels
- Mass reduction (degradation)
- Ozone resistance
- Fuel permeation and low‑permeation requirements (new in this edition)
- Cold flex performance
- Abrasion resistance
- Dry heat resistance
- Oil resistance
- Adhesion between layers
- Test liquids: Petrol testing uses a defined blend (90% liquid C per ISO 1817 + 10% ethanol); diesel testing is required for hoses intended for diesel/FAME blends. Hoses intended for both fuel types must be tested with each fluid separately.
- Marking: Finished hoses must be marked per Clause 7 to ensure traceability and correct use.
Applications and who uses this standard
- Manufacturers of marine fuel hoses and hose assemblies - to design and validate hose constructions for small craft.
- Boat builders and integrators - to select compliant hoses for permanently installed fuel systems.
- Marine engineers and maintenance professionals - to verify hose condition, replacement criteria, and compatibility with fuel blends (ethanol, FAME).
- Test labs and certification bodies - to perform required physical tests and issue conformity reports.
- Procurement and inspection teams - to specify compliant components that support safety and regulatory conformity.
Related standards
EN ISO 8469:2021 provides a practical, test‑based framework to ensure non‑fire‑resistant marine fuel hoses are safe, compatible with modern fuel blends, and suitable for small craft fuel systems - essential for manufacturers, integrators and regulators working in the recreational marine sector.
