Vietnam: Windows used as escape route must have a size not less than 400 mm x 400 mm

According to Article 13 of the Circular No. 27/2020/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, equipping for dinning rooms of the ships supplying services of tourist accommodation and staying overnight, the floating restaurants and hotels must satisfy requirements stated in the part of safety equipping of Regulation on decentralization and building means of inland waterway TCVN 5801:2005; if using windows glazed as escape route, it is required to equip hammer to break glass in necessary cases. The windows used as escape route must have a size not less than 400 mm x 400 mm.

Besides, equipment of rooms and other decorating things on the ships supplying services of tourist accommodation and staying overnight, the floating restaurants and hotels must be fixed, unmovable in all weather conditions. The public areas must have at least 2 escape route which is arranged in opposite together, these routes must ensure not be jammed when happening malfunction. The escape routes from normal public areas must have a quick-release structure and ensure the following requirements:

- The structures are arranged at height of between 760 mm and 1120 mm;

- The force impacting on the opening structure is required to not exceed 67 N;

- There is no structure of lock, screw located or structure that prevents opening of window when impacting on the opening structure.

Moreover, equipping to protect for seafarers, passengers of the ships supplying services of tourist accommodation and staying overnight, the floating restaurants and hotels must satisfy requirements stated in the part of safety equipping of Regulation on decentralization and building means of inland waterway TCVN 5801:2005 and in regulations to which ships must apply. On the ships supplying services of tourist accommodation and staying overnight, the floating restaurants and hotels, it is required to equip:

- The radio system to inform emergency cases for passengers via to each separate room. This system must inform in both Vietnamese and English (in case having international passengers);

- The devices indicating and warning emergency circumstances by sound and light.

In particular, on corridors of the ships supplying services of tourist accommodation and staying overnight, the floating restaurants and hotels must have devices leading direction to the escape routes by light or luminescent indicator ranges for passengers to identify in all circumstances. Doors on the escape direction must be opened without use of keys when moving according to the escape direction.

View more details at the Circular No. 43/2012/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, effective from May 01, 2013.

Le Vy

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