Overview
ISO 16707:2016 - Ships and marine technology: Marine evacuation systems - Determination of capacity specifies a standardized procedure to evaluate and determine the evacuation capacity of marine evacuation systems (MES). Intended as an alternative to the procedure in IMO Resolution MSC.81(70) and required by the IMO Life‑Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, the standard provides a uniform test regime that reduces test personnel risk while delivering reproducible capacity results under controlled trial conditions.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and purpose: Defines how to assess the number of persons a given MES can evacuate within the applicable available evacuation time (30 min for SOLAS passenger ships; 17 min 40 s for HSC).
- Test arrangement: Use of a water‑deploying test rig as an alternative to shipboard testing, with the rig positioned parallel to a pier. Installation height: entrance height at 15 m (±1 m) above the waterline or the approved installation height if lower.
- MES/ship interface: Retaining/connection lines and longitudinal distances must simulate real ship installations.
- Associated survival craft: Positioning and handling requirements; when multiple crafts are used, at least two largest craft must be deployed if they’re needed to reach maximum capacity.
- Test persons: Selection rules require able‑bodied, untrained participants wearing approved lifejackets; numbers are specified as percentages of survival craft capacity (e.g., at least 110% of the largest survival craft capacity; upper limit of 165 test persons in certain cases). Weight distribution categories are defined for representative sampling.
- Test procedure and timing: Procedures for system activation, crew roles, timing interruptions for safety, and equal use of multiple passages. Timekeeping duties and use of synchronized video are covered.
- Capacity calculation: Methodology covers calculation of average descent time, survival craft handling and boarding time, congestion time and final MES capacity, including adjustment for different installation heights. Annex A provides examples and Annex B contains test forms.
Applications - Who Uses This Standard
- Shipbuilders and ship designers specifying MES installations to meet SOLAS/LSA requirements.
- MES manufacturers and system integrators validating product performance and certification.
- Classification societies and certification bodies conducting acceptance testing or approving alternative capacity determination methods.
- Maritime safety officers, port authorities and test laboratories planning and executing MES capacity trials.
- Regulatory and compliance teams ensuring consistency with IMO requirements.
Related Standards (if applicable)
- IMO International Life‑Saving Appliance (LSA) Code (MSC.48(66) as amended)
- IMO Resolution MSC.81(70) (Revised recommendation on testing of life‑saving appliances)
- SOLAS 1974 (as amended)
ISO 16707:2016 provides a practical, repeatable framework for assessing MES capacity - essential for compliance, safety assurance and design validation of shipboard evacuation systems.