Section 18 Crew and passenger emergency safety systems

18.1.1 For the purpose of this Section emergency lighting, transitional emergency lighting and supplementary emergency lighting are hereafter referred to under the generic name `emergency lighting'.

18.1.2 Emergency lighting provided in compliance with Pt 6, Ch 2, 3 Emergency source of electrical power is to be arranged so that a fire or other casualty in the spaces containing the emergency source of electrical power, associated transforming equipment and the emergency lighting switchboard does not render the main lighting system inoperative.

18.1.3 The level of illumination provided by the emergency lighting is to be adequate to permit safe evacuation in an emergency, having regard to the possible presence of smoke, see Pt 6, Ch 2, 18.4 Escape route or low location lighting (LLL).

18.1.4 The locations identified in SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea Chapter II-1 - Construction - Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations, Part D - Electrical installations, Regulation 41 - Main source of electrical power and lighting systems, Regulation 42 - Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships and Regulation 43 - Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships, and the exits from accommodation spaces and service spaces, as defined by SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea Chapter II-2 - Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction, Part A - General Regulation 3 - Definitions are to be illuminated by emergency lighting.

18.1.5 Switches are not to be installed in the final sub-circuits to emergency light fittings unless the light fittings are serving normally unmanned spaces (e.g. storage-rooms, cold rooms, etc.), or they are normally required to be extinguished for operational reasons (e.g. for night visibility from the navigating bridge). Where switches are fitted they are to be accessible only to ship's crew with provision made to ensure that the emergency lighting is energised when such spaces are manned and/or during emergency conditions.

18.1.6 Where emergency lighting fittings are connected to dimmers, provision is to be made, upon the loss of the main lighting, to automatically restore them to their normal level of illumination.

18.1.7 Fittings are to be specially marked to indicate that they form part of the emergency lighting system.

18.2.1 An electrically operated bell or klaxon or air-operated whistle with independent air supply or other equivalent warning system installed in addition to the ship's whistle or siren, for sounding the general emergency alarm signal is to comply with the LSA Code - International Life-Saving Appliance Code – Resolution MSC.48(66) and with the requirements of this Section, see also Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.14 Alarms and Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.16 Operation under fire conditions.

18.2.2 The main and emergency sources of supply to the general emergency alarm system shall be in accordance with LSA Code , Chapter VII, 7.2 General alarm and public address system. For General emergency alarm systems refer to the IMO Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009, 4 General.

18.2.3 In conjunction with the IMO Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009 4 General the general emergency alarm distribution system is to be so arranged that a fire or casualty in any one main vertical zone, as defined by SOLAS Chapter II-2, Part A, Regulation 3 - Definitions, other than the zone in which the public address control station is located, will not interfere with the distribution in any other such zone.

18.2.4 There are to be segregated cable routes to public rooms, alleyways, stairways, control stations and on passenger ships on open decks, so arranged that any single electrical fault, localised fire or casualty will not cause the loss of the facility to sound the general emergency alarm in any public rooms, alleyways, stairways, control stations and on passenger ships on open decks, albeit at a reduced capacity.

18.2.5 Where the special alarm fitted to summon the crew, operated from the navigation bridge, or fire control station, forms part of the ship's general alarm system, it is to be capable of being sounded independently of the alarm to the passenger spaces.

18.2.6 The sound pressure levels are to be measured during a practical test and documented, see Pt 6, Ch 2, 21.2 Trials.

18.3.1 Public address systems on passenger ships and cargo ships used to sound the general emergency alarm or the fire-alarm are to comply with SOLAS Ch III, Part B, Regulation 6, Sections 4 and 5, the LSA Code - International Life-Saving Appliance Code – Resolution MSC.48(66) ,Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009 , and the requirements of this Section.

18.3.2 The public address system is to be provided with an emergency source of electrical power in accordance with SOLAS Ch III, Part B,Regulation 6 , Section 5.4 with automatic changeover facilities located adjacent to the public address system. Failure of any power supply is to operate an audible and visual alarm, in accordance with LSA Code, Chapter VII - Other Life-Saving Appliances and Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009 , 4 General.

18.3.3 The public address system is to have multiple amplifiers having their power supplies so arranged that a single fault will not cause the loss of the facility to broadcast emergency announcements in public rooms, alleyways, stairways and control stations, albeit at a reduced capacity, for passenger vessels it is to be in accordance with MSC/Circular.808 – Recommendation on Performance Standards for Public Address Systems on Passenger Ships, Including Cabling – (Adopted on 30 June 1997), Sections 2.5 - 2.7.

18.3.4 The public address distribution system is to be so arranged that a fire or casualty in any one main vertical zone, as defined by SOLAS 1974 as amended Reg II-2/A, Regulation 3 - Definitions, other than the zone in which the public address control station is located, will not interfere with the distribution in any other such zone.

18.3.5 There are to be at least two cable routes, sufficiently separated throughout their length, to public rooms, alleyways, stairways and control stations so arranged that any single electrical fault, fire or casualty will not cause the loss of the facility to broadcast emergency announcements in any public rooms, alleyways, stairways, and control stations, albeit at a reduced capacity. Refer to SOLAS Chapter III - Life-saving appliances and arrangements.

18.3.6 Amplifiers are to be continuously rated for the maximum power that they are required to deliver into the system for audio and, where alarms are to be sounded through the public address system, for tone signals.

18.3.7 Loudspeakers are to be continuously rated for their proportionate share of amplifier output and protected against short-circuits and passenger vessels are to be in compliance with MSC/Circular.808 – Recommendation on Performance Standards for Public Address Systems on Passenger Ships, Including Cabling – (Adopted on 30 June 1997).

18.3.8 Amplifiers and loudspeakers are to be selected and arranged to prevent feedback and other interference. There are also to be means to automatically override any volume controls, so as to ensure the specified sound pressure levels are met. In addition the requirements of MSC Circular 808 for passenger vessels are required.

18.3.9 Where the public address system is used for sounding the general emergency alarm and the fire-alarm, the requirements as per IMO Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009,5 Audible Presentation of Alerts and Calls and 5 Audible Presentation of Alerts and Calls are to be met.

18.3.10 Where more than one alarm is to be sounded through the public address system, the requirements are in accordance with Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009 5 Audible Presentation of Alerts and Calls.

18.3.11 The sound pressure levels are to be measured during a practical test using speech and, where applicable, tone signals, and documented, see Pt 6, Ch 2, 21.2 Trials.

18.4.1 The escape route or low location lighting (LLL) required by SOLAS 1974, as amended Pt D, Ch II-2, Regulation 13 - Means of escape, 3.2.5.1, where satisfied by electric illumination, is to comply with the requirements of this sub-Section. The positional marking of lighting or photo luminescent strip indicators is to be in accordance with SOLAS Ch II-2 Pt D, Regulation 13 - Means of escape, 3.2.5.1.

18.4.2 The LLL system is to be provided with an emergency source of electrical power as required by Pt 6, Ch 2, 3.3 Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships and also be connected to the main source of electrical power, with automatic changeover facilities located adjacent to the control panel, see also Pt 6, Ch 2, 1.16 Operation under fire conditions.

18.4.3 The power supply arrangements to the LLL are to be arranged so that a single fault or a fire in any one fire zone or deck does not result in loss of the lighting in any other zone or deck. This requirement may be satisfied by the power supply circuit configuration, use of fire-resistant cables complying with Pt 6, Ch 2, 11.5 Construction 11.5.3, and/or the provision of suitably located power supply units having integral batteries adequately rated to supply the connected LLL for a minimum period of 60 minutes, see Pt 6, Ch 2, 12.3 Location 12.3.8. Manual activation is to be in accordance with IMO Resolution A.752(18) – Guidelines for the Evaluation, Testing and Application of Low-Location Lighting on Passenger Ships – (Adopted on 4 November 1993).

18.4.4 For the recommendation of performance and installation of lights and lighting assemblies refer to ISO Standard 15370:2001 Ships and marine technology - Low location lighting on passenger ships .