2 Testing
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1168 – Interim Guidelines for the Testing, Approval and Maintenance of Evacuation Guidance Systems Used as an Alternative to Low-Location Lighting Systems – (1 June 2005) - Annex - Interim Guidelines for the Testing, Approval and Maintenance of Evacuation Guidance Systems Used as an Alternative to Low-Location Lighting Systems - 2 Testing

2 Testing

  2.1 Test for corridors should be performed in reduced visibility using theatrical (white) smoke with an Optical Density at least OD 0.5 m-1 footnote. Measuring equipment should conform to a standard acceptable to the Administration.

  2.2 If the system is to be installed in public spaces, the test should be performed in reduced visibility using theatrical (white) smoke with an Optical Density at least OD 0.1 m-1.

  2.3 Test for stairway enclosures should be performed in clear (no smoke) conditions.

  2.4 A minimum 80% of the participants should reach the pre-designated exit with a speed of movement of at least 0.7 m/s calculated using the distance measurement of the optimum route. Participants achieving a speed of movement of less than 0.7 m/s should be deemed to have failed. There is no speed of movement criterion applied to stairway enclosure tests.

  2.5 The maximum percentage of participants choosing failed exits should not exceed the value of 2% for public spaces and 5% for accommodation areas, corridors and stairway enclosures.

  2.6 In the public space configuration when testing with two correct exits, no more than 15% of the participants may choose the more distant exit.

  2.7 There should be a minimum of 60 participants for each test - being at least 8 and not more than 12 of each age group 16-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66-75 with an average of 45-55% male/female of the entire group.

  2.8 A "control" test should be performed with no guidance system in operation in order to demonstrate that there is no significant inherent bias to favour the pre-designated exit. Participants of the "control" test should not participate in any previous or subsequent tests.

  2.9 For the purpose of this section:

  • .1 a "correct exit" is an exit to which the evacuation guidance system intentionally guides participants;

  • .2 participants arriving at any of the "fail exits" are deemed to have "failed" the test and should be stopped at that point;

  • .3 only one participant should be in the test at a time in order to preclude any crowd behavioural influence;

  • .4 the test area should be illuminated by the emergency lighting as required by SOLAS; and

  • .5 during the test signage other than those being part of the test should not be used.

Parent topic: Annex - Interim Guidelines for the Testing, Approval and Maintenance of Evacuation Guidance Systems Used as an Alternative to Low-Location Lighting Systems
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