1 The escape routes are routes for escape and also for access. Accordingly, the locking arrangement should be such that it does not obstruct these two objectives (escape and access) and that the doors in the way of escape routes can be opened from both sides.
2 The embarkation deck should be accessible from the open decks to which escapes routes lead.
3 The doors along the escape routes should not, in general, open against the escape flow. Especially, the following exceptions should be noted:
.1 the cabin doors may, in general, open into the cabins in order to avoid damage to persons in a corridor when the door is opened; and
.2 the doors in the vertical emergency escape trunks should, in general, open out of the trunk in order to permit the trunk to be used both for escape and for access.
Escape routes in the accommodation area may consist of:
.1 two stairways protected according to regulation II-2/46.1 and its interpretation in combination with doors in the outer boundaries on starboard and portside of the deckhouse at least two levels from where the lifeboat or liferaft embarkation area can be easily reached (see figure 1 of regulations 45.1.2.1/1.2.2 in the appendix) or;
.2 one stairway protected according to regulation II-2/46.1 and its interpretation in combination with at least one door in the outer boundary of the deckhouse at each level and a stair or escape hatch directly to the open deck from those parts of the accommodation which are situated below the lowest open deck (see figure 2 of regulations 45.1.2.1/1.2.2 in the appendix).
1 Spaces which are entered only occasionally by crew members may have only one means of escape. This sole means of escape should be independent of watertight doors. (See also interpretations of regulation II-2/28.1.1).
2 In the steering gear space a second means of escape should be provided when the emergency steering position is located in that space unless there is direct access to the open deck. (See also interpretation 2 of regulation II-2/28.3.2).
Dead-end corridors, where they can not be avoided, should be so designed that persons do not easily enter such corridors in cases of emergency.
1 Stairways and corridors used as means of escape should be not less than 700 mm in clear width and should have a handrail on one side. Stairways and corridors with a clear width of 1800 mm and over should have handrails on both sides. Clear width is the distance between the handrail and the bulkhead on the other side or between the handrails. The angle of inclination of stairways should be, in general, 45° but not greater than 50°, in machinery spaces and small spaces not more than 60°.
2 Doorways which give access to a stairway should be of the same size as the stairway, in accordance with the minimum width as defined in interpretation 1 above.
1 The escape (and access) routes should be so arranged that there are adequate escape routes also during loading and unloading.
2 At least one means of escape should be provided near the fore and aft ends of ro-ro cargo spaces.
1 If a shelter is provided, it should be arranged as follows:
.1 it should be enclosed and insulated as required for spaces of regulation II-2/44.2.2 category (4) against the space it serves. Ladders should be fixed in such a way that heat cannot, in case of a fire in the machinery space, be transferred to the ladder through non-insulated fixing points;
.2 the self-closing door should have the fire integrity of the bulkhead in which it is fitted. If there are other exits to this trunk they should also be provided with such doors;
.3 it should be provided with emergency lighting; and
.4 it should have a free opening of at least 800 mm x 800 mm. The ladder may be included in that area.
2 Ladders having strings of flexible steel wire ropes are not acceptable in such escape routes.
In ships of less than 1,000 gross tonnage, no fire shelter is required as a means of escape for machinery spaces of category A.
In general these machinery spaces should be provided with at least two escape routes. However, small spaces (e.g. maximum distance to the door is 5 m) or spaces which are entered only occasionally may be provided with only one escape exit.