Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC (2006/87/EC) (repealed)

CHAPTER 12 ACCOMMODATION

Article 12.01 General

1. Vessels shall have accommodation for the persons lodging habitually on board, and at least for the minimum crew.

2. Accommodation shall be so designed, arranged and fitted out as to meet the health, safety and comfort needs of those on board. It shall be of safe and easy access and adequately insulated against heat and cold.

3. The inspection body may authorise exceptions to the provisions of this Chapter if the health and safety of those on board are ensured by other means.

4. The inspection body shall enter on the Community certificate any restrictions on the vessel's daily operating periods and its operating mode resulting from the exceptions referred to in paragraph 3.

Article 12.02 Special design requirements for accommodation

1. It shall be possible to ventilate accommodation adequately even when the doors are closed; in addition, communal living quarters shall receive adequate daylight and, as far as possible, provide a view out.

2. Where there is no deck-level access to the accommodation and the difference in level is 0,30 m or more the accommodation shall be accessible by means of stairs.

3. In the foresection of the vessel no floor shall be more than 1,20 m below the plane of maximum draught.

4. Living and sleeping quarters shall have at least two exits which are as far apart from each other as possible and which serve as escape routes. One exit may be designed as an emergency exit. This does not apply to rooms with an exit leading directly onto the deck or into a corridor which serves as an escape route, provided the corridor has two exits apart from each other leading to port and starboard. Emergency exits, which may include skylights and windows, shall have a clear opening of at least 0,36 m² and a shortest side no less than 0,50 m and permit rapid evacuation in an emergency. Insulation and cladding of escape routes shall be made of flame-retardant materials and the usability of escape routes shall be guaranteed at all times by appropriate means such as ladders or separately attached rungs.

5. Accommodation shall be protected against inadmissible noise and vibration. Sound pressure levels shall not exceed:

(a) 70 dB(A) in communal living quarters;

(b) 60 dB(A) in sleeping quarters. This provision shall not apply to vessels operating exclusively outside the rest periods of the crew as laid down by the national legislation of the Member States. The restriction of the daily operating period shall be entered on the Community certificate.

6. Headroom in the accommodation shall be not less than 2,00 m.

7. As a general rule, vessels shall have at least one communal living room partitioned off from the sleeping quarters.

8. The free floor area of communal living quarters shall be not less than 2 m² per person, and in any event not less than 8 m² in total (not counting furniture, except tables and chairs).

9. The cubic capacity of private living and sleeping rooms shall be not less than 7 m³ each.

10. The volume of airspace per person shall be at least 3,5 m³ in private living quarters. In sleeping quarters it shall be at least 5 m³ for the first occupant and at least 3 m³ for each additional occupant (not counting volume of furniture). Sleeping cabins shall, as far as possible, be intended for no more than two persons. Berths shall be not less than 0,30 m above the floor. Where one berth is placed over another, the headroom above each berth shall be not less than 0,60 m.

11. Doors shall have an opening whose upper edge is at least 1,90 m above deck or above the floor and a clear width of at least 0,60 m. The prescribed height may be achieved by means of sliding or hinged covers or flaps. Doors shall open to the outside and it shall be possible to open them from either side. Sills shall not be more than 0,40 m high, but shall nonetheless comply with the provisions of other safety regulations.

12. Stairways shall be permanently fixed and safely negotiable. They shall be deemed to be so when:

(a) they are at least 0,60 m wide;

(b) the tread is at least 0,15 m deep;

(c) the steps are non-slip;

(d) stairways with more than three steps are fitted with at least one handrail or handle.

13. Pipes carrying dangerous gases or liquids, and particularly those under such a high pressure that a leak could pose a danger to persons, shall not be located in the accommodation or in corridors leading to the accommodation. This does not apply to steam pipes and hydraulic system pipes, provided they are fitted in metal sleeves, and for the pipes of liquefied gas installations for domestic purposes.

Article 12.03 Sanitary installations

1. At least the following sanitary installations shall be provided in vessels with accommodation:

(a) one toilet per accommodation unit or per six crew members; it shall be possible to ventilate these with fresh air;

(b) one washbasin with waste pipe and connected up to hot and cold potable water per accommodation unit or per four crew members;

(c) one shower or bath connected up to hot and cold potable water per accommodation unit or per six crew members.

2. The sanitary installations shall be in close proximity to the accommodation. Toilets shall not have direct access to galleys, mess rooms or combined communal living quarters/galleys.

3. Toilet compartments shall have a floor space of at least 1 m², not less than 0,75 m wide and not less than 1,10 m long. Toilet compartments in cabins for no more than two persons may be smaller. Where a toilet contains a wash basin and/or shower, the floor space shall be increased at least by the floor space occupied by the wash basin and/or shower (or bath).

Article 12.04 Galleys

1. Galleys may be combined with communal living quarters.

2. Galleys shall comprise:

(a) a cooker;

(b) a sink with waste connection;

(c) a supply of potable water;

(d) a refrigerator;

(e) sufficient storage and working space.

3. The eating area of combined galleys/communal living quarters shall be large enough to accommodate the number of crew normally using it at the same time. Seats shall be not less than 0,60 m wide.

Article 12.05 Potable water

1. Vessels with accommodation shall have a potable water installation. Potable water tank filling apertures and potable water hoses shall be marked as being intended exclusively for potable water. Potable water filler necks shall be installed above the deck.

2. Potable water installations shall:

(a) on their inner surfaces be made of a material which resists corrosion and poses no physiological danger;

(b) be free of pipe sections where a regular flow of water is not guaranteed, and

(c) be protected against excessive heating.

3. In addition to paragraph 2, potable water tanks shall:

(a) have a capacity of at least 150 l per person normally living on board, and at least per member of the minimum crew;

(b) have a suitable, lockable opening to enable the inside to be cleaned;

(c) have a water level indicator;

(d) have ventilation pipes which lead to the open air or are fitted with appropriate filters.

4. Potable water tanks shall not share walls with other tanks. Potable water pipes shall not pass through tanks containing other liquids. Connections are not permitted between the potable water supply system and other pipes. Pipes carrying gas or liquids other than potable water shall not pass through potable water tanks.

5. Potable water pressure vessels shall operate only on uncontaminated compressed air. Where it is produced by means of compressors, appropriate air filters and oil separators shall be installed directly in front of the pressure vessel unless the water and the air are separated by a diaphragm.

Article 12.06 Heating and ventilation

1. It shall be possible to heat accommodation in accordance with its intended use. Heating installations shall be appropriate for the weather conditions which may arise.

2. It shall be possible to ventilate the living and sleeping quarters adequately even when the doors are closed. Ventilation shall ensure adequate air circulation in all climatic conditions.

3. The accommodation shall be so designed and arranged as to prevent as far as possible the entry of foul air from other areas of the vessel such as engine rooms or holds; where forced-air ventilation is used, the intake vents shall be so placed as to satisfy the above requirements.

Article 12.07 Other accommodation installations

1. Each crew member living on board shall have an individual berth and an individual clothes locker fitted with a lock. The internal measurements of the berth shall be not less than 2,00 × 0,90 m.

2. Suitable places for storing and drying work clothes shall be provided, but not in the sleeping quarters.

3. All accommodation areas shall be fitted with electric lighting. Additional lamps using gas or liquid fuel may only be used in communal living quarters. Lighting devices using liquid fuel shall be made of metal and shall burn only fuels with a flash point above 55 ^oC or commercial paraffin oil. They shall be placed or attached so as not to constitute a fire hazard.