46 C.F.R. § 197.332

PVHO—Decompression chambers.

Last amended: 2016Year: 2026Length: 257 wordsSubsections: 13Official source

Cite as 46 C.F.R. § 197.332 (2026)

Each decompression chamber must— (a) Meet the requirements of § 197.328; (b) Have internal dimensions sufficient to accommodate a diver lying in a horizontal position and another person tending the diver; (c) Have a capability for ingress and egress of personnel and equipment while the occupants are under pressure; (d) Have a means of operating all installed man-way locking devices, except disabled shipping dogs, from both sides of a closed hatch; (e) Have interior illumination sufficient to allow visual observation, diagnosis, and medical treatment of an occupant. (f) Have one bunk for each two occupants; (g) Have a capability that allows bunks to be seen over their entire lengths from the exterior; (h) Have a minimum pressure capability of— (1) 6 ATA, when used for diving to 300 fsw; or (2) 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; (i) Have a minimum pressurization rate of 2 ATA per minute to 60 fsw and at least 1 ATA per minute thereafter; (j) Have a decompression rate of 1 ATA per minute to 33 fsw; (k) Have an external pressure gage for each pressurized compartment; (l) Have a capability to supply breathing mixtures at the maximum rate required by each occupant doing heavy work; and (m) 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.
Cross-references to the CFR
197.328197.330
46 C.F.R. § 197.332: PVHO—Decompression chambers. | Justis AI