scope:

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

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

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

i) Whole-body Vibration (separate criteria for accommodation areas and workspaces)

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 crew performance and providing a base level of habitability and elements of safety related to habitability.

While producing this Guide, ABS has taken steps to minimize the associated costs of acquiring this notation by taking a practical approach to measurements, test personnel (Testing Specialists), and test equipment.