Regulation 20 Beds
Every sleeping room shall be fitted with a bed for each person accommodated in the room.
The framework of each bed, and its leeboards or lee rails, if any, shall be constructed of metal or some other material which is hard, smooth and unlikely to become corroded. If the bed is constructed of tubular frames, the frames shall be completely sealed.
There shall be unobstructed access to at least one side of each bed.
Where beds abut upon each other, they shall be separated by rigid screens made of wood or other suitable opaque material. Beds shall not be arranged in tiers of more than two.
Beds shall not be fitted fore-and-aft along the ship’s side unless the size of the room is such that it is impracticable to fit them elsewhere. Where beds are fitted along the ship’s side, they shall be in single-tier, except in a room in which there is no sidescuttle or in which any sidescuttle fitted is fitted clear of the beds.
The distance from the bottom of the mattress of every bed to the floor of the room shall be at least 305 millimetres.
In every double-tier bed the upper berth shall be placed approximately midway between the bottom of the lower berth and the lower side of the deckhead beams, or the ceiling if fitted below those beams.
The minimum inside dimension of beds shall be adequate to accommodate mattresses of a size not less than 1.98 metres by 800 millimetres.
Every bed shall be fitted with either—
a spring bottom or spring under-mattress and a top mattress of a material which will resist damp and is unlikely to harbour vermin; or
a suitable resilient mattress fitted on a suitably ventilated base.
A bottom of wood, canvas or dust-proof material shall be fitted to the upper berth of every double-tier bed.
Leeboards or lee rails shall be fitted to the upper berth of every double-tier bed.
Where a double-tier bed is fitted, a suitable portable ladder shall be supplied for access to the upper berth. The ladder shall be so constructed that it hooks on to the lee rail to prevent any slipping when in use. Suitable provision shall be made for its safe stowage when not in use.