Hull Construction Regulations

76 (1) In the case of ships of 4 000 tons, gross tonnage, and over,

• (a) the hull, superstructure, structural bulkheads and deckhouses shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material;

• (b) within accommodation spaces the corridor bulkheads shall be constructed of steel or of incombustible “B” Class divisions;

• (c) permanent deck covering, within accommodation spaces on decks forming the crown of machinery or cargo spaces, shall be of a type that will not readily ignite;

• (d) interior stairways, lift trunks and other similar trunks within accommodation spaces shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material;

• (e) the boundary bulkheads of an emergency generator room and the bulkheads separating galleys, paint rooms, lamp rooms and boatswain’s stores from accommodation spaces shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material;

• (f) within accommodation spaces, machinery spaces and control stations, paints, varnishes or similar preparations having a nitro-cellulose or highly inflammable base shall not be applied;

• (g) pipes conveying oil or combustible liquids shall be of a material approved by the Board having regard to the fire risk;

• (h) overboard scuppers, sanitary discharges or other outlets shall not be of material likely to fail in the event of fire if they are close to the water line or in such a position that the fusing of the material in the event of fire would give rise to a danger of flooding;

• (i) electric radiators, if used, shall be fixed in position and so constructed as to reduce risks to a minimum and no radiators shall be fitted with an element so exposed that clothing, curtains or other materials can be scorched or set on fire by heat from the element;

• (j) cellulose-based film shall not be used in cinematograph installations on board ship; and

• (k) facilities shall be provided for stopping ventilation fans serving machinery and cargo spaces and for closing all doorways, ventilators, annular spaces around funnels and other openings to such spaces and these facilities shall be capable of being operated from outside such spaces in case of fire.

(2) For the purposes of this section, permanent deck covering means a deck covering adhering to, or permanently attached to, the deck and shall include any combination of decking material such as underlayments and surface material.