4.3.1 The design of craft should be such that
all occupants may safely evacuate the craft into survival craft with
the minimum practicable delay in a single operation under all reasonable
emergency conditions by day or by night. The positions of all exits
which may be used in an emergency, and of all life-saving appliances,
the practicability of evacuation procedure, and the evacuation time
representative for crew and passengers, should be demonstrated to
the satisfaction of the Administration.
4.3.2 Accommodation spaces, evacuation routes,
exits, life-jacket stowage and survival craft stowage, and embarkation
points, should be clearly and permanently marked and illuminated as
required in Chapter 12.
4.3.3
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(a) Each enclosed accommodation space should be
provided with at least two exits arranged, if possible, in the opposite
ends of the space. One of the exits may be an emergency exit. Normal
exit(s) should be safely and easily accessible and should provide
a satisfactory route to a normal point of boarding or disembarking
from the craft, and should comply in any case with the requirements
for an emergency exit.
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(b) Normal exit doors should be capable of being
readily operated from inside and outside the craft and in daylight
and in darkness. The means of operation should be obvious, rapid and
of adequate strength.
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(c) The closing, latching and locking arrangement
for normal exits should be such that it is readily apparent to the
appropriate crew member when the doors are closed and in a safe operational
condition, either in direct view or by an indicator.
4.3.4
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(a) The craft should have a sufficient number
of emergency exits which are suitable to facilitate the quick and
unimpeded escape in emergency conditions, such as collision damage
or fire, of persons wearing approved life-jackets.
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(b) Sufficient space for a crew member should
be provided adjacent to an emergency exit when the assistance of a
crew member is likely to be necessary in ensuring the rapid evacuation
of passengers.
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(c) Emergency exit doors should be capable of
being opened from either side, even though persons may be crowding
against the door. Exits should not be unduly vulnerable to jamming
in the event of minor structural deformation.
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(d) Footholds, ladders, etc., provided to give
access from the inside to emergency exits, should be of rigid construction
and permanently fixed in position, except that they may fold if they
can be brought into use immediately in emergency conditions and the
risk of their jamming is small. Permanent handholds should be provided
whenever necessary to assist persons using emergency exits, and should
be suitable for conditions when the craft has developed any possible
angle of heel or pitch.
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(e) The means of opening of all emergency exits
should be obvious, rapid, and of adequate strength. When the craft
is in service the securing devices should be self-contained without
removable handles or keys.
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(f) All emergency exits, together with their means
of opening, should be adequately marked for the guidance of passengers.
Adequate marking should also be provided for the guidance of rescue
personnel outside the craft.
4.3.5
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(a) In general, at least two unobstructed evacuation
paths should be available for the use of each person. Evacuation paths
should be so disposed that adequate evacuation facilities will be
available in the event of any likely damage or emergency conditions,
and evacuation paths should be adequately lighted.
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(b) The dimensions of passages, doorways and stairways
which form part of evacuation paths should be such as to allow easy
movement of persons when wearing life-jackets provided to comply with 8.3.1. There should be no protrusions in evacuation
paths which could cause injury, ensnare clothing or damage life-jackets.
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(c) Adequate notices should be provided to direct
passengers to emergency exits.
4.3.6 Provision should be made on board for embarkation
points properly equipped for evacuation of passengers into life-saving
appliances.