NEW CLASS B, C AND D SHIPS AND EXISTING CLASS B SHIPS:

.1 Stairways and ladders, corridors and doors shall be arranged to provide ready means of escape to the lifeboat and life-raft embarkation deck from all passenger and crew spaces and from spaces in which the crew is normally employed, other than machinery spaces. In particular, the following provisions shall be complied with: Below the bulkhead deck two means of escape, at least one of which shall be independent of watertight doors, shall be provided from each watertight compartment or similarly restricted space or group of spaces. Exceptionally one of the means of escape may be dispensed with, due regard being paid to the nature and location of spaces and to the number of persons who might be normally employed there. In such a case the sole means of escape shall provide safe escape. For ships which are constructed on or after 1 January 2003, the abovementioned dispensation may only be given for crew spaces that are entered only occasionally, in which case the required escape route shall be independent of watertight doors. Above the bulkhead deck there shall be at least two means of escape from each main vertical zone or similarly restricted space or group of spaces at least one of which shall give access to a stairway forming a vertical escape. If a radiotelegraph station has no direct access to the open deck, two means of escape from or access to such station shall be provided, one of which may be a porthole or window of sufficient size or another means. In existing class B ships, a corridor, or part of a corridor from which there is only one route of escape shall not exceed 5 metres in length. In new class A, B, C and D ships of 24 metres in length and above, a corridor, lobby or part of a corridor from which there is only one route of escape shall be prohibited. Dead-end corridors used in service areas which are necessary for the practical utility of the ship, such as fuel oil stations and athwartship supply corridors, shall be permitted, provided such dead-end corridors are separated from crew accommodation areas and inaccessible from passenger accommodation areas. A part of a corridor that has a depth not exceeding its width is considered a recess or local extension and is permitted. At least one of the means of escape required by paragraphs .1.1 and .1.2 shall consist of a readily accessible enclosed stairway, which shall provide continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the appropriate lifeboat and life-raft embarkation decks, or to the uppermost deck if the embarkation deck does not extend to the main vertical zone being considered. In the latter case, direct access to the embarkation deck by way of external open stairways and passageways shall be provided and shall have emergency lighting in accordance with Regulation III/5.3 and slip-free surfaces underfoot. Boundaries facing external open stairways and passageways forming part of an escape route shall be so protected that a fire in any enclosed space behind such boundaries would not impede escape to the embarkation stations. The widths, number and continuity of escapes shall be as follows: Stairways shall not be less than 900 mm in clear width, if reasonable and practicable to the satisfaction of the Member State, but shall in no case be less than 600 mm. Stairways shall be fitted with handrails on each side. The minimum clear width of stairways shall be increased by 10 mm for every one person provided for in excess of 90 persons. The maximum clear width between handrails where stairways are wider than 900 mm shall be 1800 mm. The total number of persons to be evacuated by such stairways shall be assumed to be two thirds of the crew and the total number of passengers in the areas served by such stairways. The width of the stairways shall at least conform to the standard as given in IMO Resolution A.757 (18). All stairways sized for more than 90 persons shall be aligned before and after. Doorways and corridors and intermediate landings included in means of escape shall be sized in the same manner as stairways. Stairways shall not exceed 3,5 metres in vertical rise without the provision of a landing and shall not have an angle of inclination greater than 45 °. Landings at each deck level shall not be less than 2 m^(2) in area and shall increase by 1 m^(2) for every 10 persons provided for in excess of 20 persons but need not exceed 16 m^(2), except for those landings servicing public spaces having direct access onto the stairway enclosure. At least one of the means of escape required in the paragraphs .1.1 and .1.2 shall consist of a readily accessible enclosed stairway, which shall provide continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the appropriate lifeboat and life-raft embarkation decks or to the uppermost weather deck if the embarkation deck does not extend to the main vertical zone being considered. In the latter case direct access to the embarkation deck by way of external open stairways and passageways shall be provided and shall have emergency lighting in accordance with Regulation III/5.3 and slip-free surfaces underfoot. Boundaries facing external open stairways and passageways forming part of an escape route and boundaries in such a position that their failure during a fire would impede escape to the embarkation deck shall have fire integrity, including insulation values, in accordance with tables 4.1 to 5.2, as appropriate. The widths, number and continuity of escapes shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code. Satisfactory protection of access from the stairway enclosures to the lifeboat and life-raft embarkation areas shall be provided. Protection of access from the stairway enclosures to the lifeboat and life-raft embarkation areas shall be provided either directly or through protected internal routes which have fire integrity and insulation values for stairway enclosures as determined by tables 4.1 to 5.2, as appropriate. In addition to the emergency lighting required by Regulations II-1/D/3 and III/5.3, the means of escape including stairways and exits, shall be marked by lighting or photoluminescent strip indicators placed not more than 0,3 metres above the deck at all points of the escape route including angles and intersections. The marking must enable passengers to identify all the routes of escape and readily identify the escape exits. If electric illumination is used, it shall be supplied by the emergency source of power and it shall be so arranged that the failure of any single light or cut in a lighting strip will not result in the marking being ineffective. Additionally, all escape route signs and fire equipment location markings shall be of photoluminescent material or marked by lighting. The Administration of the flag State shall ensure that such lighting or photoluminescent equipment have been evaluated, tested and applied in accordance with the guidelines as given in IMO Resolution A.752 (18). However, for new class B, C and D ships constructed on or after 1 January 2003 the Administration of the Flag State shall ensure that such lighting or photoluminescent equipment has been evaluated, tested and applied in accordance with the Fire Safety Systems Code. In ships carrying more than 36 passengers the requirements of paragraph .1.7 of this regulation shall also apply to the crew accommodations. Normally locked doors that form part of an escape route. Cabin and stateroom doors shall not require keys to unlock them from inside the room. Neither shall there be any doors along any designated escape route which require keys to unlock them when moving in the direction of escape. Escape doors from public spaces that are normally latched shall be fitted with a means of quick release. Such means shall consist of a door-latching mechanism incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force in the direction of escape flow. Quick release mechanisms shall be designed and installed to the satisfaction of the Administration of the flag State and in particular: consist of bars or panels, the actuating portion of which extends across at least one half of the width of the door leaf, at least 760 mm and not more than 1120 mm above the deck; cause the door latch to release when a force not exceeding 67 N is applied; and not be equipped with any locking device, set screw or other arrangement that prevents the release of the latch when pressure is applied to the releasing device.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-10 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.