113 accepted. I have therefore prepared a document alongside Cruise & Ferry that provides a brief guide to the rules affecting interior design and construction, in the hope that it may allow designers to understand the regulations and avoid the unfortunate situation where designs are rejected or need to be changed to comply. There is a globally accepted requirement which comes from the United Nations Convention of the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) that states that one of the duties of the flag state is to “effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control in administrative, technical and social matters over ships flying its flag”. In particular, each state must take measures for ships flying its flag to ensure safety at sea regarding construction, equipment and seaworthiness. Although this is a high level requirement and not detailed, it sets the foundation for a regulatory framework for safety. The UN has the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as one of its specialised agencies responsible for the safety and security of shipping. The IMO is responsible for regulations in the maritime sector through various conventions, of which The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is the most relevant to interior designers. SOLAS covers many aspects such as stability, life saving appliances and fire. Designers should focus on the fire area. SOLAS is constantly reviewed and updated by various working groups and every so often the members of the IMO meet to discuss proposed amendments. This means designers should keep an eye on what changes are in the future and try to future-proof their designs where possible. Lloyd’s Register issues, twice yearly, a document highlighting future legislation which can be downloaded for free. The text within the SOLAS chapters is supported by various codes that detail some of the requirements. The primary codes affecting designers are the Fire Test Procedure Code and the Fire Safety Systems Code. These international requirements are not applied on behalf of the UN or IMO. They are applied by the individual flag states through their legal systems. In the UK, this is through the Merchant Shipping Act, which says the UK applies SOLAS, and other countries have similar arrangements where their national legislation recognises SOLAS as their method of meeting their UNCLOS commitment. Within Europe there is a European Directive – the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) – also known as the ‘wheel mark’. This was a way to have an approval for an item which is accepted to the SOLAS requirements on behalf of one European flag to the SOLAS requirements accepted by other European flags. With the myriad of core materials and surfaces available to designers on the market, the article outlines the requirements identifying which need to be non combustible, have low flame spread or smoke and toxicity characteristics. Failure to meet the appropriate statutory requirements may result in designers’ proposals having to be significantly modified, or at worst being rejected. However, by becoming familiar with these requirements the designer may reduce the risk to their projects by providing compliant designs from the start. Visit the Cruise & Ferry website to download the full report ‘Navigating the minefield of regulations relating to marine interiors’, which explores how rules are applied to the design of the ship, how they are implemented, and more. A Lloyd’s Register surveyor verifying the material of a bulkhead lining panel
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