EN 1502:2023

• Abstract:

  This document is applicable to boarding stairs for inland navigation vessels. Boarding stairs are used on inland navigation vessels for a safe transition into ship's boats, safe disembarking to the shore or a safe crossing over onto vessels with lower decks.; This document specifies safety requirements on the design, dimensions and strength and test methods for boarding stairs.; Boarding stairs are designed for vessels having a boarding height greater than 1,5 m above the light water-line. They can be used up to a height of around 3,0 m above the light water-line.; Boarding stairs are not intended for use by passengers.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Feb-2023
• ICS: 47.020.10 - Hulls and their structure elements
• ICS: 47.060 - Inland navigation vessels
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 15/WG 2 - Maintenance of Inland navigation standards
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 08-Feb-2023
• Due Date: 31-Aug-2023
• Completion Date: 08-Feb-2023
• Ref Project: SIST EN 1502:2023 - Inland navigation vessels - Boarding stairs

• Replaces: EN 1502:2020 - Inland navigation vessels - Boarding stairs
• Effective Date: 23-Jun-2021
• Refers: EN 22768-1:1993 - General tolerances - Part 1: Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications (ISO 2768-1:1989)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13281:2023 - Inland navigation vessels - Safety requirements for walkways and working places
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13281:2000 - Inland navigation vessels - Safety requirements for walkways and working places
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

EN 1502:2023 - published by CEN - specifies safety, design and test requirements for boarding stairs used on inland navigation vessels. The standard covers boarding stairs intended for safe transfer into ship’s boats, disembarking to shore or crossing to lower decks. It applies to stairs for vessels with a boarding height greater than 1.5 m above the light water-line and usable up to around 3.0 m. Boarding stairs conforming to EN 1502:2023 are not for passenger use.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Design & dimensions

  • Tabled dimensions for 6–10 step stairs (e.g., 6 steps: h = 1 400 mm, l = 2 505 mm) and maximum permissible masses (6 steps ≈ 15.5 kg up to 10 steps ≈ 22.5 kg).
  • Edges rounded to at least R 1.5 mm.
  • Handrails fitted on both sides; recommended tubular section Ø 35 mm ± 5 mm or equally easy-to-grip profiles.
  • Spacer must ensure an inclination of around 75° and provide contact points or surface at least 500 mm apart/wide.

• Strength & loads

  • Steps designed for a rated load of 1.5 kN.
  • Stair must withstand two simultaneous rated loads of 1.5 kN on top and bottom steps.
  • Each handrail must resist 0.3 kN design force.

• Testing

  • Type testing for series production: one unit randomly sampled from batches up to 20.
  • Strength tests apply higher test loads (e.g., steps loaded with 2.5 kN for 60 s; handrails tested with 0.5 kN).
  • Buoyancy demonstrated by freshwater submersion; sealed hollow sections must be watertight.

• Construction & materials

  • Hollow sections and connections watertight; boarding stairs must be buoyant.
  • Treads non‑skid and water‑displacing (see EN ISO 14122‑2 Annex A).
  • Materials resistant to weather, freshwater/saltwater, UV and oil/fuel - e.g., aluminium or FRP.

• Marking

  • Durable manufacturer’s plate with designation (“Boarding stair EN 1502”), permissible load (“2 persons or 150 kg single load”), origin and year of manufacture.

Applications and users

• Practical for shipbuilders, naval architects, boat equipment manufacturers, vessel operators and safety inspectors working on inland waterways.
• Use cases: outfitting workboats, crew transfer ladders, utility boarding on barges and inland vessels where a compact, tested boarding stair is required.

Related standards & references

• EN 790 (stairs with 45°–60°), EN 17361 (outboard ladders), EN ISO 14122‑2 (permanent means of access), EN 485‑1 / EN 754‑1 (aluminium products), Directive (EU) 2016/1629.

Keywords: EN 1502:2023, boarding stairs, inland navigation vessels, CEN, safety requirements, dimensions, strength test, buoyancy, handrails, non‑skid tread.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2023
Plovila za celinske vode - Stopnice za vkrcanje
Inland navigation vessels - Boarding stairs
Fahrzeuge der Binnenschifffahrt - Außenbordtreppen
Bateaux de navigation intérieure - Escaliers de bordaille
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 1502:2023
ICS:
47.020.10 Ladijski trupi in njihovi Hulls and their structure
konstrukcijski elementi elements
47.060 Jezerska in rečna plovila Inland navigation vessels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 1502
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
February 2023
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 47.020.10; 47.060 Supersedes EN 1502:2020
English Version
Inland navigation vessels - Boarding stairs
Bateaux de navigation intérieure - Escaliers de Fahrzeuge der Binnenschifffahrt - Außenbordtreppen
bordaille
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 January 2023.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1502:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Safety requirements . 5
4.1 Dimensions . 5
4.2 Parts . 5
4.2.1 General . 5
4.2.2 Handrails and strut. 5
4.2.3 Spacer . 5
4.3 Assembly . 7
4.4 Strength . 8
5 Construction . 8
5.1 Watertightness . 8
5.2 Buoyancy . 8
5.3 Safe tread . 8
5.4 Mass . 8
5.5 Materials . 8
6 Testing . 8
6.1 General . 8
6.2 Strength test . 8
6.3 Buoyancy test . 9
7 Designation. 9
8 Marking . 9
Bibliography . 10

European foreword
This document (EN 1502:2023) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 15 “Inland
navigation vessels”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by August 2023, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by August 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 1502:2020.
The main changes compared to EN 1502:2020 are listed below:
a) 5.1 has been replaced by “Watertightness”;
b) 5.4 has been deleted.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to boarding stairs for inland navigation vessels. Boarding stairs are used on
inland navigation vessels for a safe transition into ship's boats, safe disembarking to the shore o
...