14B.2.12 Means of escape

  Purpose

The purpose of this section is to provide means of escape so that persons onboard can safely and swiftly escape to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation deck. For this purpose, the following functional requirements should be met:

• safe escape routes should be provided;
• escape routes should be maintained in a safe condition, clear of obstacles; and
• additional aids for escape should be provided as necessary to ensure accessibility, clear marking, and adequate design for emergency situations.

  14B.2.12.1 Stairways and ladders should be arranged to provide ready means of escape to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation deck from all guest and crew accommodation spaces and service spaces in which the crew are normally employed, other than machinery spaces. In particular, the following provisions should be complied with:

• .1 Below the bulkhead deck two means of escape, at least one of which should be independent of watertight doors, should be provided from each watertight compartment, main vertical zone or similarly restricted group of spaces. Exceptionally one of the means of escape may be dispensed with, due regard being paid to the nature and location of spaces and to the number of persons who might normally be accommodated or employed there.

• .2 Above the bulkhead deck, there are to be at least two means of escape from each vertical fire zone or similarly restricted spaces or group of spaces, at least one of which is to give access to an readily accessible escape which will provide continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the appropriate survival craft embarkation deck.

• .3 Within each main vertical zone there should be at least one readily accessible enclosed stairway providing continuous fire shelter, where practical, at all levels up to the appropriate lifeboat and liferaft embarkation decks or the highest level served by the stairway, whichever level is the highest. The width, number and continuity of the stairways should be satisfactory for the number of persons likely to use them.

• .4 Access from the stairway enclosures to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation areas should avoid high fire risk areas.

• .5 Stairways serving only a space and a balcony in that space should not be considered as forming one of the required means of escape.

• .6 If a radio room or wheelhouse has no direct access to the open deck, two means of escape should be provided, one of which may be a window of sufficient size or another means.

• .7 Stairways are not to exceed 3.5m vertical rise without the provision of a landing.

• .8 In the case where direct access to the appropriate survival craft embarkation deck as required by .1 and .2 is not practical, a ready accessible escape which will provide continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the appropriate open deck with subsequent direct passage to the embarkation deck can be accepted provided that these escape routes including external staircases, have emergency lighting and slip free surfaces under foot.

• .9 Protection of access from the stairway enclosures to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation areas should be provided either directly or through protected internal routes which have fire integrity and insulation values for stairway enclosures as determined by tables 1 and 2, as appropriate.

• .10 Where public spaces span three or more open decks and contain combustibles such as furniture and give access to other enclosed spaces, each level within the space is to have two means of escape, one of which is to give access to a readily accessible escape which will provide continuous fire shelter from the level of its origin to the appropriate survival craft embarkation deck.

  14B.2.12.2 Two means of escape should be provided from each machinery space. In particular, the following provisions should be complied with:

• .1 The two means of escape should consist of either:

  • (a) two sets of steel ladders as widely separated as possible, leading to doors in the upper part of the space similarly separated and from which access is provided to the appropriate survival craft embarkation decks. One of these ladders should provide continuous fire shelter from the lower part of the space to a safe position outside the space. This shelter is to be of steel or equivalent material, insulated where necessary, and provided with a self closing door at the lower end. If access is provided at other levels each level is to be provided with a steel or equivalent material self-closing door; or

  • (b) one steel ladder leading to a door in the upper part of the space from which access is provided to the embarkation deck and additionally, in the lower part of the space and in a position well separated from the ladder referred to, a steel door capable of being operated from each side and which provides access to a safe escape route from the lower part of the space to the embarkation deck.

• .2 One of the means of escape from any such space required by 14B.2.12.2.1 may be dispensed with on sailing vessels with small machinery spaces, so long as either a door or a steel ladder and walkways provide a safe escape route to the embarkation deck with due regard being paid to the nature and location of the space and whether persons are normally employed in that space.

• .3 Two means of escape should be provided from a machinery control room located within a machinery space, at least one of which should provide continuous fire shelter to a safe position outside the machinery space.

  14B.2.12.3 Lifts should not be considered as forming one of the required means of escape.

  14B.2.12.4 In exceptional circumstances a single means of escape may be accepted for spaces other than accommodation spaces that are entered only occasionally, if the escape route does not pass through a galley, machinery space or watertight door.

  14B.2.12.5 Adequate deck area is to be provided at assembly stations and embarkation areas having due regard to the expected number of persons. Generally, assembly stations should be provided close to the embarkation stations. Each assembly station should have sufficient clear deck space to accommodate all persons assigned to assemble at that station, but at least 0.35 m² per person.

  14B.2.12.6 Emergency Escape Breathing Devices

Emergency escape breathing devices (EEBD's) should comply with the Fire Safety Systems Code. At least one spare emergency escape breathing device should be kept onboard.

• 14B.2.12.6.1 All vessels should carry at least two EEBD's within accommodation spaces, and at least two EEBD's should be carried in each main vertical zone.

• 14B.2.12.6.2 On all vessels, within the machinery spaces, EEBD's should be situated ready for use at easily visible locations, which can be reached quickly and easily at any time in the event of fire. The number and location should take into account the layout of the machinery space and the number of persons normally working in the space. The number and location of these devices should be indicated in the fire control plan.