scope:

This Guide focuses on five (5) habitability aspects of accommodation vessel design and layout that can be controlled, measured, and assessed. These five (5) aspects are broken into two (2) categories in this Guide, personnel accommodation areas and the ambient environment.

Accommodation area criteria pertain to dimensional and outfitting aspects of spaces and open deck areas where personnel eat, sleep, recreate, and perform routine daily activities.

The ambient environmental aspects of habitability pertain to the environment that personnel are exposed to during periods of leisure and rest. Specifically, this Guide provides criteria, limits, and measurement methodologies for the following:

i) Whole-body Vibration

ii) Noise

iii) Indoor Climate

iv) Lighting

The criteria provided in this Guide are based on currently available research data and standards for the purpose of improving personnel performance and providing a base level of habitability and elements of safety related to habitability.

While producing this Guide, ABS took a pragmatic approach to measurements, test personnel (Testing Specialists), and test equipment.