17. (1) Every sleeping room on a new ship shall be provided with

• (a) in respect of each person accommodated in the room,

  • (i) a bed,

  • (ii) a drawer,

  • (iii) a clothes closet that

    • (A) is at least 1.8 m high,

    • (B) is not less than 530 mm in one horizontal direction and has a horizontal area of at least 2 130 cm²,

    • (C) has a shelf fitted at a point not less than 230 mm and not more than 380 mm below the top of the closet, and

    • (D) has fittings from which clothes may be hung, and

  • (iv) at least one coat hook in addition to any coat hooks fitted in the clothes closet;

• (b) a built-in table top of the sliding or drop leaf type or a desk or a table;

• (c) seating, in addition to the bed surfaces, sufficient to accommodate at one time all the persons accommodated in the room;

• (d) a mirror, except where a mirror is fitted in the private toilet space for that sleeping room;

• (e) a cabinet for toilet requisites except where such a cabinet is fitted in the private toilet space for that sleeping room;

• (f) a curtain fitted to each bed, unless the room accommodates only one person;

• (g) a curtain fitted to each side scuttle, unless the side scuttle is fitted with blinds or jalousies;

• (h) a wash-basin of vitreous china or other equally hygenic and durable material, except where such a wash-basin is fitted in a toilet space that is readily accessible from the sleeping room; and

• (i) a towel bar or hook.

(2) Every sleeping room on an existing ship shall be provided with,

• (a) in respect of each person accommodated in the room, a bed; and

• (b) the fittings and furniture described in paragraphs (1)(d) to (i).

(3) Every sleeping room on every ship shall, in respect of each person accommodated in the room, be provided with at least one drawer that is fitted with a lock or with a hasp and staple for a padlock.

(4) All closets, tables, desks, the unupholstered parts of chairs, settees and similar furnishings provided in compliance with this section shall

• (a) be made of wood, rustproofed metal or other smooth and impervious material that is not likely to crack, warp or become corroded; and

• (b) be so constructed as to avoid infestation by vermin.

18. (1) Where practicable, every bed on a new ship shall be positioned with its length in a fore and aft direction.

(2) Every bed on a new ship shall have a horizontal surface that contains, inside the lee-rails or lee-boards, if any, a rectangular area measuring at least 1 980 mm long and at least 685 mm wide.

(3) Every bed on a new ship shall

• (a) subject to subsection (11), be so positioned that there is unobstructed access, with a mean width of 610 mm, on at least one side of the bed;

• (b) be so constructed that the bottom of the mattress is not less than 305 mm from the floor of the room; and

• (c) be fitted with a spring or foam mattress or with a mattress and a spring bottom.

(4) Every bed on an existing ship shall be constructed and fitted in accordance with paragraphs (3)(b) and (c).

(5) The mattress on every bed shall be made of material that will resist the absorption of moisture and avoid infestation by vermin.

(6) The framework of every bed on every ship and the lee-boards or lee-rails, if fitted, shall

• (a) be made of rustproofed metal or other material that is hard, smooth and unlikely to become corroded;

• (b) be constructed so as to avoid infestation by vermin; and

• (c) if the bed is constructed with a tubular frame, have the frame completely sealed and without perforations.

(7) Every bed that is above another bed on every ship shall be fitted with a bottom of wood or other dustproof material.

(8) Where beds abut upon each other, they shall be separated by screens made of wood or other rigid material.

(9) Beds shall not be placed

• (a) within 100 mm of an uninsulated ventilation trunk that may be used for circulating hot or cold air; or

• (b) within 50 mm of a bulkhead or the ship’s side, unless the bed is so supported and the room so constructed as to avoid harbouring dirt and vermin in or near the bed and to enable the bedding to be kept dry.

(10) Where two-tier beds are fitted on a new ship, the bottom of the mattress of the upper bed shall be at least

• (a) 760 mm below the lower side of the deck-head beams or any other overhead fittings; and

• (b) 840 mm above the bottom of the mattress of the lower bed.

(11) Where the adjacent sides of two beds in the same room on a new ship are parallel to each other, or when the lines of the sides of those beds are projected and make an angle of less than 90 degrees with each other, the mean distance between the sides of those beds shall not be less than 760 mm.