Div 8Construction of Watertight Doors.

Division 8.—Construction of Watertight Doors.

Construction and fitting of watertight doors generally.

29. A watertight door shall be of such design, material and construction as will maintain the integrity of the watertight bulkhead in which it is fitted.

Material of watertight doors.

30.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a watertight door, and the frame of a watertight door, shall be made of cast steel, mild steel or cast iron.

(2.) A watertight door, and the frame of a watertight door, which gives direct access to a space which may contain bunker coal shall not be made of cast iron.

Securing of watertight doors.

31. A watertight door shall be secured by means other than bolts and shall be closed by means other than gravity or a dropping weight.

Rubbing faces to be fitted to watertight doors.

32.—(1.) A sliding watertight door, or the frame of a sliding watertight door, shall be fitted with rubbing faces of brass or similar material.

(2.) If the width of the rubbing faces is less than one inch, the rubbing faces shall be fitted in recesses.

Screw gear on watertight doors.

33. If a screw gear is used for operating a sliding watertight door, the nut in which the screw works shall be made of a suitable non-corrodible metal.

Frame of watertight doors.

34.—(1.) The frame of a watertight door shall be properly fitted to the bulkhead in which the door is situated and the jointing material between the frame and the bulkhead shall be of a type which will not deteriorate or be injured when subject to heat.

(2.) The frame of a vertically sliding watertight door shall be so constructed—

(a) that there is no groove in the bottom of the frame in which dirt may lodge; and

(b) if the frame is of skeleton form—that dirt cannot lodge in the frame.

Vertically sliding watertight doors.

35.—(1.) The bottom edge of a vertically sliding watertight door shall be tapered or bevelled.

(2.) A vertically sliding watertight door which is operated by power shall be so constructed and fitted that, if the power supply ceases when the door is raised, the door will not drop.

Horizontally sliding watertight doors.

36.—(1.) A horizontally sliding watertight door shall be so installed as to prevent its moving if the ship rolls and, if necessary, a clip or other suitable device shall be provided to prevent the door from so moving.

(2.) A clip or device referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation shall not interfere with the closing of the door when the door is required to be closed.