The Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1997

Ventilation

14.—(1) Every enclosed space in the crew accommodation, except a cold store room, shall be provided with a ventilation system capable of maintaining the air in that space in a sufficiently pure condition for the health and comfort of the crew in all conditions of weather and climate which the ship is likely to encounter during the voyages on which she is intended to be engaged, and capable of being controlled as necessary for that purpose.

(2) The said ventilation system shall be additional to any sidescuttles, skylights, companion ways, doors or other openings not intended solely for ventilation, and shall be so arranged as to keep noise levels to a minimum and not to cause undue vibration.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1)—

(a) in all foreign going ships of 1000 tons or over except those regularly employed in latitudes north of latitude 50° North or south of latitude 45° South; and

(b) in all ships of under 1000 tons regularly engaged on voyages solely within the area of the Tropics or the Gulfs area;

the ventilation system provided for every enclosed space in the crew accommodation except a cold store room or a galley shall be an air conditioning system which shall be designed—

(i) to maintain the air at a satisfactory temperature and relative humidity as compared with outside air conditions, and to ensure a sufficiency of air changes in all air-conditioned spaces; and

(ii) to take account of the particular characteristics of operations at sea and not produce objectionable noises and vibrations.

(4) In ships provided with an air conditioning system, sanitary accommodation, laundries, drying rooms, changing rooms and pantries shall be provided with mechanical exhaust ventilation capable of ensuring rates of air changes sufficient for the type of accommodation for which it is provided.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), in all ships except those of under 500 tons which are either home trade ships or ships regularly employed on the coasts of New Zealand or in latitudes north of latitude 50° North or south of latitude 45° South, every enclosed space in the crew accommodation (except a cold store room) shall, if it is not ventilated by an air conditioning system, be provided with a trunked mechanical ventilation system capable of ensuring rates of air changes sufficient for the type of accommodation for which it is provided.

(6) A supply of power adequate to operate any air conditioning system or trunked mechanical ventilation system shall be provided. Any such system fitted shall be in operation at all times when any members of the crew are on board and the circumstances are such that ventilation by means of such system is required.

(7) In every ship, every enclosed space in the crew accommodation which is not ventilated either by an air conditioning system or by a trunked mechanical ventilation system shall be provided with a natural system of inlet and exhaust ventilation suitable to its purpose.