§197.332. PVHO—Decompression chambers.
46 C.F.R. § 197.332
Each decompression chamber must—
Meet the requirements of § 197.328;
Have internal dimensions sufficient to accommodate a diver lying in a horizontal position and another person tending the diver;
Have a capability for ingress and egress of personnel and equipment while the occupants are under pressure;
Have a means of operating all installed man-way locking devices, except disabled shipping dogs, from both sides of a closed hatch;
Have interior illumination sufficient to allow visual observation, diagnosis, and medical treatment of an occupant.
Have one bunk for each two occupants;
Have a capability that allows bunks to be seen over their entire lengths from the exterior;
Have a minimum pressure capability of—
6 ATA, when used for diving to 300 fsw; or
The maximum depth of the dive, when used for diving operations deeper than 300 fsw, unless a closed bell meeting the requirements of § 197.330(a) (3), (4), and (5) is used;
Have a minimum pressurization rate of 2 ATA per minute to 60 fsw and at least 1 ATA per minute thereafter;
Have a decompression rate of 1 ATA per minute to 33 fsw;
Have an external pressure gage for each pressurized compartment;
Have a capability to supply breathing mixtures at the maximum rate required by each occupant doing heavy work; and
Have a sound-powered headset or telephone as a backup to the communications system required by § 197.328(c) (5) and (6), except when that communications system is a sound-powered system.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1509; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703, 6101; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
Source
Source: CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, unless otherwise noted.