Section 11 in The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction And Survey) Rules, 1974
11. Precautions against shock, fire and other hazards of electrical origin.
(1)In every ship all electrical equipments shall be so constructed and installed that there will be no danger of injury to any person handling it in a proper manner. Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (2), where electrical equipment supplied as ship's equipment is required to be operated at a voltage in excess of 55 volts, the exposed metal parts of such equipment which arc not intended to have voltage above that of earth but which may have such a voltage under fault conditions shall be earthed.(2)In every ship, exposed metal parts of portable electric lamps, tools and similar apparatus supplied as ship's equipment required to be operated at a voltage in excess of 55 volts, shall be earthed through a conductor in the supply cable, unless by the use of double insulation or a suitable isolating transformer, protection, at least as effective as earthing through a conductor is provided. When electric lamps, tools or other apparatus are used in damp spaces, provision shall be made so far as practicable, to ensure that the danger of electric shock is reduced to a minimum.(3)In every ship each main and emergency switch board shall be so arranged as to give easy access to the back and the front thereof, without danger to any person. Every such switch board shall be suitably guarded and a non-conducting mat or grating shall be provided at its back and the front, where necessary. No exposed parts which may have a voltage, between conductors or to earth, exceeding 250 volts direct current or 55 volts alternating current, shall be installed on the face of any such board or control panel.(4)The hull return system of distribution shall not be used in any ship : Provided that the Central Government may exempt any ship other than a tanker from complying with the requirements of this sub-rule.(5)In every ship, each electric cable shall, at every position at which an electrical fault may cause a fire, be flame-retardant, sheathed or armoured or otherwise equally effectively protected. All metal sheaths and metal armour or electrical cable shall be electrically continuous" and shall be earthed.(6)In every ship, lighting fittings shall be so arranged as to prevent rises in temperature which would be injurious to the electrical wiring thereof or which would result in a risk of fire in the surrounding material.(7)In every ship, wiring shall be supported in such a manner as to avoid chafing and other injury.(8)In every ship-(a)each separate electrical circuit, shall be protected against short circuit;(b)each such separate electrical circuit other than a circuit in respect of which the Central Government has granted an exemption, shall be protected against overload. On or near each overload protective device, the current carrying capacity of the circuit which it protects and the rating or setting of the device shall be clearly and permanently indicated.(9)In every ship, all accumulator (storage) batteries shall be housed in boxes or compartments which are constructed to protect the batteries from damage and are ventilated to minimise the accumulation of explosive gas. Devices liable to are shall not be installed in any compartment assigned principally to accumulator batteries.(10)In every ship in which electric space heater forms a part of its equipment every such electric space heater shall be fixed in such a position and shall be sio constructed as to reduce the risk of fire to the minimum. No such heater shall be constructed with an element so exposed that clothing, curtains or other materials can be scorched or set on fire by heat from the element.
