Following Port State Control findings on the design and installation of heat shielding ladders forming an escape route from machinery spaces, ABS has provided guidance on on ladders and stairways as a means of escape from engine rooms.
In a letter to industry, ABS has said PSC inspectors may issue a deficiency against 07120, Means of Escape, when there exists a gap in the heat shielding between the ladder and the deck it serves.
Within the regulation news update, it said ladders are to be designed and constructed with steel shields attached to their undersides such as to provide continuous protection against heat and flame from deck to deck.
Requirement
SOLAS Chapter II-2 Regulation 13.4.2.4, Inclined Ladders and Stairways, states: “For ships constructed on or after 1 January 2016, all inclined ladders/stairways fitted to comply with paragraph 4.2.1 with open treads in machinery spaces being part of or providing access to escape routes but not located within a protected enclosure shall be made of steel. Such ladders/stairways shall be fitted with steel shields attached to their undersides, such as to provide escaping personnel protection against heat and flame from beneath.”
Guidance on compliance
The steel shields attached to the undersides of ladders/stairways in category A machinery spaces being part of or providing access to escape routes which are not located within a protected enclosure, are to be extended to cover any gap between ladders/stairways and platforms to provide escaping personnel with protection against heat and flame from beneath.
Where the extension of this steel shield, as fitted or constructed with the ladder, is not possible due to the design and construction of the connection between the inclined ladders/stairways and ship’s platforms/decks, an additional steel shield should be fitted underneath to provide protection for any gap. The addition of these steel shields to cover gaps in the protection will bring the ladder into compliance with SOLAS regulations II-2/13.4.1.5 and II-2/13.4.2.4, provided they are installed so as not to interfere with the safe passage of personnel.
Read the notice: ABS - Guidance on ladders and stairways providing means of escape from engine rooms