Stairways
35.—(1)  For the purpose of this rule, the term weather deck shall be understood as the uppermost complete deck, except in the case of compartments, from which the only access to the open air is on the deck of a poop, bridge, forecastle or other closed-in space, in which case the deck over that space shall be deemed the weather deck.
(2)  Stairways or ladders leading to the weather deck shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:
(a)separate stairways or ladders shall be provided for each passenger compartment, and in no case may the only means of access to a compartment consist of openings through a watertight bulkhead, unless these openings are trunked watertight to the margin line. When a compartment provides accommodation for a large number of passengers, the stairways shall be distributed in such a manner as to prevent congestion at any part of the compartment;
(b)the aggregate width of the stairways or ladders from each compartment shall be not less than one inch for every 3 adults accommodated in the compartment or compartments from which the stairways lead;
(c)in the case of stairways which provide access to the weather deck for the passengers berthed in two compartments, one above the other, the stairways leading from the uppermost compartment to the weather deck shall have an aggregate width of one inch for every 3 adults accommodated in both compartments;
(d)when the stairways leading from any compartment or compartments to the weather deck are enclosed by a poop, bridge, forecastle or other closed-in space, and when the bulkheads forming the ends of these erections have doorways in them, the aggregate width of these doorways, plus the stairways leading from the weather deck to poop, bridge or forecastle deck, shall not be less than that required by sub‑paragraphs (b) and (c);
(e)if, in the opinion of a surveyor of ships there is serious difficulty in providing stairways of the required aggregate width leading from any individual compartment directly to the weather deck, a surveyor of ships may sanction a reduction in the aggregate width, not exceeding 25% provided the deficiency is made up by an increase in the width of the stairways in an adjoining compartment intended for the accommodation of passengers of the same class and sex, and communicating directly with the compartment in question by doorways of sufficient width. No concession is, however, to be allowed under this paragraph unless at least two separate stairways, not less than 30 inches wide, are provided from the compartment in question;
(f)the stairways from passenger compartments shall lead directly to a space on the weather deck which is at all times accessible to unberthed passengers. Arrangements by which the direct access of unberthed passengers to the deck is by means of emergency stairways leading into the cabin passengers’ accommodation or into galleys or other spaces not intended for the accommodation of unberthed passengers, are considered undesirable and shall not be accepted unless full particulars with plans of the proposed arrangement have been submitted to the Surveyor-General of Ships before the construction of the vessel is commenced, and have received the Surveyor-General of Ships’ approval. Such stairways shall in no case be accepted if fitted with doors the means of securing which are outside the unberthed passengers’ compartments;
(g)no ladder or stairway is to be less than 30 inches in width. No stairway is to be more than 50 inches in width unless fitted with an intermediate rail or rails. Such rails are not to be less than 30 inches or more than 50 inches apart. The width of all ladders and stairways shall be measured on the tread or step and within the sides, unless the handrails encroach on the tread or step, in which case the distance between the rails is to be taken as the width;
(h)there shall be at least 6 feet clear space in a vertical direction above each stair;
(i)all ladders and stairways shall be fitted on each side with efficient handrails, not ropes, and if open ladders are provided for a compartment to be occupied by women or children an intermediate rail shall be fitted on each side;
(j)all ladders and stairways shall be as well lighted as the rest of the compartment, both by day and night;
(k)ladders shall, as far as possible, be pitched fore and aft, and shall not be too steep, the angle from the vertical being as near 37 degrees as the arrangements of the ship will admit. All ladders intended for the accommodation of women are to be lined on the back; and
(l)on existing ships where permanent stairways or ladders are not provided, substantial and securely fixed stairways or ladders shall be fitted in hatchways leading to spaces occupied by passengers, and over each such hatchway there shall be erected an efficiently secured booby hatch, or other substantial covering, which in the opinion of a surveyor of ships, will afford the greatest amount of light and air, and of protection from the weather which the case will admit.