Overview
EN ISO 13590:2023 (identical to ISO 13590:2022) specifies construction and system installation requirements for personal watercraft (PWC). It provides manufacturers, designers and conformity assessors with normative guidance on safe design and installation of fuel, electrical, steering and flotation systems for jet‑propelled personal watercraft. The standard supersedes EN ISO 13590:2018 and supports conformity with EU Directive 2013/53/EU for small craft. It does not apply to outboard‑powered personal watercraft or jet‑powered surfboards.
Key topics and technical requirements
EN ISO 13590:2023 covers a broad range of technical areas relevant to PWC safety and installation, including:
- Builder’s plate and watercraft identification - requirements for marking and unique identification.
- Fuel system - materials, tank design and installation, fill/vent openings, static‑pressure and shock testing, pumps, stop valves, filters, metallic fuel lines, fittings and grounding. Includes detailed fuel‑hose performance tests (tensile, burst, cold flexibility, oil/ozone/fuel resistance).
- Electrical system - conductor type, sizing and identification, support/protection, overcurrent protection, external ignition protection, terminations, batteries and ignition secondary circuits.
- Steering and controls - installation requirements, off‑throttle steering considerations and related safety features.
- Ventilation - ventilation of compartments and safe management of fuel/vapour.
- Hull structure, stability and flotation - structural integrity testing, swamped‑condition flotation and buoyancy criteria.
- Mooring, towing and anchoring - rated attachment points and load considerations for towing/mooring.
- Flooding and reboarding - provisions for managing flooding and means of reboarding after falling overboard.
- Owner’s manual - required information for safe operation, maintenance and emergency procedures.
Where applicable, EN ISO 13590 references other normative standards for hoses, fuel components and materials.
Practical applications and users
This standard is essential for:
- PWC manufacturers and OEMs - to design and install compliant fuel, electrical and steering systems.
- Naval architects and system integrators - to ensure hull, flotation and stability meet safety tests.
- Compliance officers and notified bodies - for conformity assessment against Directive 2013/53/EU.
- Service technicians and installers - for correct replacement of hoses, fittings, batteries and wiring.
- Distributors and fleet operators - to verify builder’s plate data and required owner’s manual content.
Using EN ISO 13590:2023 helps reduce fire, flooding and electrical hazards, supports certification, and improves operational safety of personal watercraft.
Related standards
Normative references include standards for fuel hoses and material testing such as ISO 1817, ISO 7326, ISO 7840 and ISO 8469, which are cited to ensure compatible test methods and material performance.
