(1) Manholes and flush scuttles in position 1
or 2 or within superstructures other than enclosed superstructures
shall be closed by substantial covers capable of being made watertight.
Unless secured by closely spaced bolts, the covers shall be permanently
attached.
(2) Openings in freeboard decks other than hatchways,
machinery space openings, manholes and flush scuttles shall be protected
by an enclosed superstructure, or by a deckhouse or companionway of
equivalent strength and weathertightness. Similarly, any such opening
in an exposed superstructure deck, in the top of a deckhouse on the
freeboard deck which gives access to a space below the freeboard deck
or a space within an enclosed superstructure shall be protected by
an efficient deckhouse or companionway. Doorways in such companionways
or deckhouses that lead or give access to stairways leading below,
shall be fitted with doors in accordance with regulation
12(1). Alternatively, if stairways within a deckhouse are enclosed
within properly constructed companionways fitted with doors complying
with regulation 12(1), the external door
need not be weathertight.
(3) Openings in the top of a deckhouse on a raised
quarterdeck or superstructure of less than standard height, having
a height equal to or greater than the standard quarterdeck height,
shall be provided with an acceptable means of closing but need not
be protected by an efficient deckhouse or companionway as defined
in the regulation, provided that the height of the deckhouse is at
least the standard height of a superstructure. Openings in the top
of the deckhouse on a deckhouse of less than a standard superstructure
height may be treated in a similar manner.
(4) In position 1 the height above the deck of
sills to the doorways in companionways shall be at least 600 mm. In
position 2 it shall be at least 380 mm.
(5) Where access is provided from the deck above
as an alternative to access from the freeboard deck in accordance
with regulation 3(10)(b), then the height
of sills into a bridge or poop shall be 380 mm. The same shall apply
to deckhouses on the freeboard deck.
(6) Where access is not provided from above, the
height of the sills to doorways in deckhouses on the freeboard deck
shall be 600 mm.
(7) Where the closing appliances of access openings
in superstructures and deckhouses are not in accordance with regulation 12(1), interior deck openings shall
be considered exposed (i.e. situated in the open deck).