2 Static seat tests
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - HSC 2000 Code - International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 – Resolution MSC.97(73) - Annex 10 - Criteria for testing and evaluation of seats - 2 Static seat tests

2 Static seat tests

  2.1 The requirements of this section are applicable to all crew and revenue seats .

  2.2 All seats to which this paragraph applies, along with their supports and deck attachments, shall be designed to withstand at least the following static forces applied in the direction of the craft:

  • .1 forward direction: a force of 1.5 kN.

  • .2 after direction: a force of 1.5 kN,

  • .3 transverse direction: a force of 1.5 kN,

  • .4 vertically downward: a force of 2.25 kN, and

  • .5 vertically upward: a force of 1.5 kN.

A seat shall comprise a frame, bottom and back. Forces applied in the fore or aft direction of the seat shall be applied horizontally to the seat back 350 mm above the seat bottom. Forces applied in the transverse seat direction shall be applied horizontally to the seat bottom. Vertical upward forces shall be evenly distributed to the corners of the seat bottom frame. Vertical downward forces shall be uniformly distributed over the seat bottom.

If a seating unit consists of more than one seating position, these forces shall be applied at each seating position concurrently during the tests.

  2.3 When the forces are applied to a seat, consideration shall be given to the direction in which the seat is to face in the craft. For example, if the seat faces sideways, the transverse craft force would be applied fore and aft on the seat and the forward craft force would be applied transversely on the seat.

  2.4 Each seating unit to be tested shall be attached to the support structure similar to the manner in which it will be attached to the deck structure in the craft. Although a rigid support structure can be used for these tests, a support structure, having the same strength and stiffness as the support structure in the craft, is preferred.

  2.5 The forces described in 2.2.1 to 2.2.3 shall be applied to the seat through a cylindrical surface having a radius of 80 mm and a width at least equal to the width of the seat. The surface shall be equipped with at least one force transducer able to measure the forces applied.

  2.6 The seat shall be considered acceptable if:

  • .1 under the influence of the forces referred to in 2.2.1 to 2.2.3, the permanent displacement measured at the point of application of the force is not more than 400 mm;

  • .2 no part of the seat, the seat mountings or the accessories become completely detached during the tests;

  • .3 the seat remains firmly held, even if one or more of the anchorages is partly detached;

  • .4 all of the locking systems remain locked during the entire test but the adjustment and locking systems need not be operational after the tests; and

  • .5 rigid parts of the seat with which the occupant may come into contact shall present a curved surface with a radius of at least 5 mm.

  2.7 The requirements of section 3 may be used in lieu of the requirements of this section provided that the accelerations used for the tests are at least 3g.

Parent topic: Annex 10 - Criteria for testing and evaluation of seats
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