[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR197.332]

[Page 429]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 197_GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart B_Commercial Diving Operations
 
Sec. 197.332  PVHO--Decompression chambers.

    Each decompression chamber must--
    (a) Meet the requirements of Sec. 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 
Sec. 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 Sec. 197.328(c) (5) and (6), except 
when that communications system is a sound-powered system.