Part D – Escape
Regulation 13 – Means of Escape
1. Purpose
The purpose of this regulation 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 shall be met:
1.1 safe escape routes shall be provided;
1.2 escape routes shall be maintained in a safe condition, clear of obstacles; and
1.3 additional aids for escape shall be provided as necessary to ensure accessibility, clear marking, and adequate design for emergency situations.
2. General requirements
2.1 Unless expressly provided otherwise in this regulation, at least two widely separated and ready means of escape shall be provided from all spaces or groups of spaces.
2.2 Lifts shall not be considered as forming one of the means of escape as required by this regulation.
3. Means of escape from control stations, accommodation spaces and service spaces
3.1 General requirements
3.1.1 Stairways and ladders shall be so arranged as to provide ready means of escape to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation deck from passenger and crew accommodation spaces and from spaces in which the crew is normally employed, other than machinery spaces.
3.1.5 Doors in escape routes shall, in general, open in way of the direction of escape, except that:
3.2.1.2 Where the Administration has granted dispensation under the provisions of paragraph 3.2.1.1, this sole means of escape shall provide safe escape. However, stairways shall not be less than 800 mm in clear width with handrails on both sides.
3.2.5 Marking of escape routes
3.2.5.1 In addition to the emergency lighting required by regulations II-1/42 and III/11.5, the means of escape, including stairways and exits, shall be marked by lighting or photoluminescent strip indicators placed not more than 300 mm above the deck at all points of the escape route, including angles and intersections. The marking must enable passengers to identify the routes of escape and readily identify the escape exits. If electric illumination is used, it shall be supplied by the emergency source of power and it shall be so arranged that the failure of any single light or cut in a lighting strip will not result in the marking being ineffective. Additionally, escape route signs and fire equipment location markings shall be of photoluminescent material or marked by lighting. The Administration shall ensure that such lighting or photoluminescent equipment has been evaluated, tested and applied in accordance with the Fire Safety Systems Code.
3.2.6.1 Cabin and stateroom doors shall not require keys to unlock them from inside the room. Neither shall there be any doors along any designated escape route which require keys to unlock them when moving in the direction of escape.
3.4 Emergency escape breathing devices
3.4.1 Emergency escape breathing devices shall comply with the Fire Safety Systems Code. Spare emergency escape breathing devices shall be kept onboard.
3.4.2 All ships shall carry at least two emergency escape breathing devices within accommodation spaces.
4. Means of escape from machinery spaces
4.3.3 Emergency escape breathing devices shall comply with the Fire Safety Systems Code.
5. Means of escape on passenger ships from special category and open ro-ro spaces to which any passengers carried can have access
6. Means of escape from ro-ro spaces
At least two means of escape shall be provided in ro-ro spaces where the crew are normally employed. The escape routes shall provide a safe escape to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation decks and shall be located at the fore and aft ends of the space.
7. Additional requirements for ro-ro passenger ships
G2 Locks in doors
G2.1 Every ‘B’ Class door fitted in a cabin bulkhead should be capable, when locked, of being opened manually from the cabin side other than by means of the key or key card.
G18 Flexible ladders (not acceptable)
G18.1 Flexible ladders, i.e. ladders having strings of flexible steel wire rope (or chains) are not acceptable as forming part of any escape route.