The purpose of Regulation 3.1 is to ensure seafarers’accommodation and recreational facilities
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has issued document to provide member states with information concerning currentlyavailable codes and standards related to the provisions of Regulation 3.1: Accommodation and Recreational Facilities.
The purpose of Regulation 3.1 is to ensure that seafarers enjoy decent accommodation andrecreational facilities on board ships consistent with promoting their health and well-being.Ratifying states are obliged to develop, adopt and implement laws that give full effect to allprovisions of the MLC, including subject Regulation 3.1 and associated Standard A3.1, and it isthese national requirements, rather than the MLC itself, with which ship operators must comply.
Some of the provisions in Standard A3.1 are detailed and prescriptive while others are more broadlyexpressed. Many simply refer to the need for measures to be “adequate”, “acceptable” or”sufficient”, leaving it to individual member states to specify appropriate criteria in each case.
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Provisions in Standard A3.1 which are general and for which specific criteria need to be defined byeach member state are listed below:
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These general provisions of Standard A3.1 provide member states with a degree of flexibility whendeciding on the precise criteria to be applied and, while some flag administrations may decide tomake Guidance 3.1 as mandatory and/or develop their own national requirements based on variousinternational standards, others may simply elect to adopt existing codes or standards established byauthoritative industry bodies or by national or international standard-setting organisations.
The purpose of this document is to provide member states with information concerning currentlyavailable codes and standards that they may wish to consider as a basis for developing their ownnational requirements relating to the structural and equipment provisions of Standard A3.1.In the absence of specific, nationally established criteria, the application of any of the codes orstandards listed below should be regarded as sufficient to satisfy the objectives of thecorresponding provisions of the MLC.
Examples of currently available codes and standards
| Issued by | Title | Summary | MLC ref. |
| Noise and Vibration | |||
| ISO | ISO 6954:2000Mechanical vibration -Guidelines for themeasurement, reportingand evaluation of vibrationwith regard to habitabilityon passenger andmerchant ships | Provides guidance on the measurement, reportingand evaluation of vibration with regard to habitabilityon passenger and merchant ships. |
A3.1.6(h) B3.1.2.2(a) B3.1.12. |
| ISO | ISO 20283-2:2008Mechanical vibration -Measurement of vibrationon ships | Establishes uniform procedures for gathering andpresenting vibration data of local structuralelements, superstructures, decks, bulkheads,masts, machines, foundations in sea-goingmerchant ships. |
A3.1.6(h) B3.1.2.2(a) B3.1.12. |
| ISO | ISO 8041:2005Human response tovibration – Measuringinstrumentation | Specifies the performance specifications andtolerance limits for instruments designed tomeasure vibration values. |
A3.1.6(h) B3.1.2.2(a) B3.1.12. |
| ISO | ISO 2923:1996 andISO 2923:1996/Cor 1:1997Acoustics – Measurementof noise on board vessels | Describes techniques and conditions for themeasurement of noise on board vessels. Theresults may be used to compare various vessels, inacceptance tests for comparison with national andinternational legislation, in monitoring tests, as abasis for further investigations and to assess theaudibility of acoustical alarms. |
A3.1.6(b) A3.1.6.(h) |
| IMO | Res. A.468(XII) (1981)Code on Noise Levels OnBoard Ships | Describes procedures and criteria for themeasurement of noise, specifications for measuringequipment, maximum acceptable sound pressurelevels in living and working spaces, acousticinsulation between accommodation spaces |
A3.1.6(b) A3.1.6(h) B3.1.2.2(a) B3.1.12. |
| ILO | ILO code of practice:Protection of workersagainst noise and vibrationin the working environment. | Includes guidance on the measurement of noise inthe working environment. |
A3.1.6(b) A3.1.6.(h) |
| Lighting | |||
| CEN | EN 12464-1:2011Light and lighting – Lightingof work places – Part 1:Indoor work places | This European Standard specifies lightingrequirements for humans in indoor work places,which meet the needs for visual comfort andperformance including requirements for lightingsolutions for most indoor work places and theirassociated areas in terms of quantity and quality ofillumination. In addition recommendations are givenfor good lighting practice. |
A3.1.6.(d) A3.1.6.(g) |
| CEN | EN 12665:2011Light and lighting – Basicterms and criteria forspecifying lightingrequirements | This European Standard defines basic terms anddefinitions for use in all lighting applications. ThisEuropean Standard also sets out a framework forthe specification of lighting requirements, givingdetails of aspects which have to be consideredwhen setting those requirements. |
A3.1.6(d) A3.1.6.(g) |
| IESNA | IESNA RP-12-97Recommended Practicefor Marine Lighting | Guidance on shipboard lighting from the point ofview of adequacy, comfort and safety. |
A3.1.6(d) A3.1.6.(g) |
| Heating and Ventilation | |||
| ANSI | ANSI/ASHRAE 55a-1995Thermal EnvironmentalConditions for HumanOccupanc | The standard outlines conditions in which aspecified fraction of the occupants will find theenvironment thermally acceptable. It is intended foruse in designing, commissioning, and testingoccupied spaces and the HVAC systems that servethem. | A3.1.7.(a) |
| ISO | ISO 9943:2009Shipbuilding – Ventilationand air-treatment ofgalleys and pantries withcooking appliances | The standard specifies the design requirements andgeneral considerations for the ventilation and airtreatment of galleys and pantries with cookingappliances on board merchant seagoing ships,when such ventilation and air-treatment is specifiedby the shipowner. It applies for normal conditions inall waters except those encountered in extremelycold or hot climates | – |
| ISO | ISO 7547:2002 andISO 7547:2002/Cor 1:2008Ships and marinetechnology -Air-conditioning andventilation ofaccommodation spaces -Design conditions andbasis of calculations | The standard specifies design conditions andmethods of calculation for air-conditioning andventilation of accommodation spaces and the radiocabin on board seagoing merchant ships for allconditions except those encountered in extremelycold or hot climates.Annex A provides guidance and details of goodpractice in the design of ventilation and airconditioning systems in ships.Annex B gives the thermal conductivities ofcommonly used construction materials | A3.1.7.(a) |
| Drainage | |||
| ISO | ISO 15749-1:2004,ISO 15749-2:2004,ISO 15749-3:2004 andISO 15749-4:2004Ships and marinetechnology – Drainagesystems on ships andmarine structuresPart I – Sanitary drainagesystem designPart II – Sanitary drainage,drain piping for gravitysystemsPart III – Sanitarydrainage, drain piping forvacuum systemsPart IV – Sanitarydrainage, sewage disposalpipes | This series of standards is valid for planning anddesigning drainage systems which evacuatewastewater from accommodation and commissaryareas (sanitary drainage) on ships and marinestructures.It takes into consideration the basic regulations andminimum requirements concerning hygienicrequirements and the protection of the marineenvironment | A3.1.6.(g) |
Notes:
1. Apart from the above examples of widely recognized standards there are also many national orindustrial standards which may provide acceptable level of living and working conditions.However, it is up to each flag state to evaluate these standards to determine if they are suitableand accepted under their national law.
2. Some IACS members have developed their own requirements related to MLC Regulation 3.1provisions, which are based on standards listed above and/or other related internationalstandards. They are not considered as mandatory class requirements but fulfilling them mayresult in an additional class notation
