Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)

Article 12.02 Special design requirements for accommodation

1. It shall be possible to ventilate accommodation adequately even when the doors are closed; in addition, communal living quarters shall receive adequate daylight and, as far as possible, provide a view out.

2. Where there is no deck-level access to the accommodation and the difference in level is 0,30 m or more the accommodation shall be accessible by means of stairs.

3. In the foresection of the vessel no floor shall be more than 1,20 m below the plane of maximum draught.

4. Living and sleeping quarters shall have at least two exits which are as far apart from each other as possible and which serve as escape routes. One exit may be designed as an emergency exit. This does not apply to rooms with an exit leading directly onto the deck or into a corridor which serves as an escape route, provided the corridor has two exits apart from each other leading to port and starboard. Emergency exits, which may include skylights and windows, shall have a clear opening of at least 0,36 m² and a shortest side no less than 0,50 m and permit rapid evacuation in an emergency. Insulation and cladding of escape routes shall be made of flame-retardant materials and the usability of escape routes shall be guaranteed at all times by appropriate means such as ladders or separately attached rungs.

5. Accommodation shall be protected against inadmissible noise and vibration. Sound pressure levels shall not exceed:

(a) 70 dB(A) in communal living quarters;

(b) 60 dB(A) in sleeping quarters. This provision shall not apply to vessels operating exclusively outside the rest periods of the crew as laid down by the national legislation of the Member States. The restriction of the daily operating period shall be entered on the Community certificate.

6. Headroom in the accommodation shall be not less than 2,00 m.

7. As a general rule, vessels shall have at least one communal living room partitioned off from the sleeping quarters.

8. The free floor area of communal living quarters shall be not less than 2 m² per person, and in any event not less than 8 m² in total (not counting furniture, except tables and chairs).

9. The cubic capacity of private living and sleeping rooms shall be not less than 7 m³ each.

10. The volume of airspace per person shall be at least 3,5 m³ in private living quarters. In sleeping quarters it shall be at least 5 m³ for the first occupant and at least 3 m³ for each additional occupant (not counting volume of furniture). Sleeping cabins shall, as far as possible, be intended for no more than two persons. Berths shall be not less than 0,30 m above the floor. Where one berth is placed over another, the headroom above each berth shall be not less than 0,60 m.

11. Doors shall have an opening whose upper edge is at least 1,90 m above deck or above the floor and a clear width of at least 0,60 m. The prescribed height may be achieved by means of sliding or hinged covers or flaps. Doors shall open to the outside and it shall be possible to open them from either side. Sills shall not be more than 0,40 m high, but shall nonetheless comply with the provisions of other safety regulations.

12. Stairways shall be permanently fixed and safely negotiable. They shall be deemed to be so when:

(a) they are at least 0,60 m wide;

(b) the tread is at least 0,15 m deep;

(c) the steps are non-slip;

(d) stairways with more than three steps are fitted with at least one handrail or handle.

13. Pipes carrying dangerous gases or liquids, and particularly those under such a high pressure that a leak could pose a danger to persons, shall not be located in the accommodation or in corridors leading to the accommodation. This does not apply to steam pipes and hydraulic system pipes, provided they are fitted in metal sleeves, and for the pipes of liquefied gas installations for domestic purposes.