Background:

The NMA is aware that there has been insufficient focus on compliance with the requirements for means of escape when planning and designing factory facilities.

Requirements

The main requirement for an emergency exit with associated escape route is that it must be able to serve as a quick means of escape to open decks.

There shall be two separate means of escape from the factory. Walkways to or from working positions in the factory and passages through the factory must satisfy the minimum width requirement for means of escape. Emergency exits and escape routes in spaces in which the crew is normally working, are required to be not less than 700 mm wide. The width requirement applies to corridors, stairways, doors or any other openings/passages which form part of the means of escape. The headroom on a sheltered production deck shall be at least 2 metres.

Acceptable narrowing for parts of an escape route, in or through a factory:

  • In a straight section of an escape route, a narrowing to a minimum of 500 mm may be accepted from deck level and to a height of 1.20 metres above deck.
  • Maximum acceptable height of sills or obstructions which must be crossed over is 600 mm over a length of up to 0.5 m in areas with a width of at least 700 mm and a headroom of 2 metres.
  • The headroom requirements for the escape route to one of the emergency exits may be reduced once over a length of maximum 1 metre, provided that there is a width of at least 700 mm from deck level up to a height of minimum 700 mm above deck.
  • The headroom requirements for the escape route may in an area be reduced over a length of maximum 1 metre, provided that there is a width of at least 700 mm from deck level up to a height of minimum 1,200 mm above deck.

Preconditions

  • In areas where the escape route "turns", the height and width requirements may not be modified.
  • There must be a distance of at least 1.5 metres between narrowings as described above, so that the combination of reduced height, reduced width and sills does not hinder quick passage through the escape route.
  • Safe passage through acceptable narrowings requires sufficient padding, rounding of sharp corners, lighting, cleats, handles, etc.
  • In case of narrowings as described above, these must not interfere with the possibility of evacuating people not capable of helping themselves through the factory.

Legal basis:

Regulations of 13 June 2000 No. 660 on the construction, operation, equipment and surveys of fishing vessels of 15 m in overall length (LOA) and over, sections 2-16 (6), 5-33