Regulation 16 – Construction and Initial Tests of Watertight Closures
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.429(98)/Rev.2 - Revised Explanatory Notes to the SOLAS Chapter II-1 Subdivision and Damage Stability Regulations - (adopted on 11 November 2020) - Annex - Revised Explanatory Notes to the SOLAS Chapter II-1 Subdivision and Damage Stability Regulations - Part B - Guidance on Individual SOLAS Chapter II-1 Subdivision and Damage Stability Regulations - Regulation 16 – Construction and Initial Tests of Watertight Closures

Regulation 16 – Construction and Initial Tests of Watertight Closures

General

These requirements are only to establish a general design standard for watertight closures. They are not intended to require any non-watertight hatches to be watertight, nor do they override the requirements of the International Convention on Load Lines.

Regulation 16.2

Large doors, hatches or ramps on passenger and cargo ships, of a design and size that would make pressure testing impracticable, may be exempted from regulation 16.2, provided it is demonstrated by calculations that the doors, hatches or ramps maintain watertightness at design pressure with a proper margin of resistance. Where such doors utilize gasket seals, a prototype pressure test to confirm that the compression of the gasket material is capable of accommodating any deflection, revealed by the structural analysis, should be carried out. After installation every such door, hatch or ramp should be tested by means of a hose test or equivalent.

Note: See explanatory notes for regulation 13 for additional information regarding the treatment of steps in the bulkhead deck of passenger ships. See explanatory notes for regulation 13-1 for additional information regarding the treatment of steps in the freeboard deck of cargo ships.

Parent topic: Part B - Guidance on Individual SOLAS Chapter II-1 Subdivision and Damage Stability Regulations
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