ISO 19897:2019

Overview

ISO 19897:2019 - Ships and marine technology - Marine evacuation systems - Testing under conditions of icing - specifies a uniform test method to verify that marine evacuation systems (MES) remain operational when exposed to icing. It supports the International Life‑saving Appliance (LSA) Code requirement (paragraph 6.2.2.1.8) that MES be “designed to, as far as practicable, remain effective under conditions of icing.” This standard is essential for manufacturers, test houses, classification societies and ship operators concerned with MES reliability in cold-weather environments.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and intent: Provides specifications for an MES icing test (functional rather than full-system icing in some cases) to demonstrate safe deployment under icing conditions.
• Test equivalence: Icing conditions are set to be equivalent to a minimum of 30 kg/m², as required by the IMO Intact Stability Code (2008).
• Ice accretion procedure:
  • Test location temperature: ≤ −10 °C.
  • Build an ice layer of at least 3.5 cm thickness on critical parts by spraying cold fresh water from angles above 45° to horizontal with intermittent pauses to allow icing to form.
• Functions to be tested:
  • Deployment: system can be deployed by one person.
  • Stowage container: passage, platform and integrated survival craft deploy satisfactorily.
  • Bowsing/retaining system: winches operate satisfactorily when activated.
  • Access to passage: unobstructed access from open deck entrances.
• Critical parts subject to icing:
  • Exterior doors and hatches, access doors (if exposed), moving parts, winches, retaining lines, connection lines.
• Reference device (for systems with anti‑icing/de‑icing that prevent local ice build-up):
  • Angle‑iron shape; 100 mm ±10 mm height, 100 mm ±10 mm width, 10 mm ±2 mm thickness, 300 mm ±20 mm length.
  • Position ~40 cm in front of the test set-up; use one reference device per 3 m of system length.
  • When a 3.5 cm layer forms on the reference device surfaces, actuate the system for the deployment test.

Applications and users

• Who uses it: MES manufacturers, naval architects, shipyards, classification societies, regulatory authorities, independent test laboratories, and ship owners/operators specifying cold-climate readiness.
• Practical uses:
  • Type‑approval and certification testing for MES intended for cold-weather service.
  • Design validation and product development for anti‑icing/de‑icing features.
  • Acceptance testing after repair, retrofit or installation.
  • Risk reduction for passenger evacuation planning in polar or sub‑arctic operations.

Related standards

• IMO International Life‑saving Appliances (LSA) Code (reference: paragraph 6.2.2.1.8)
• IMO International Code on Intact Stability (2008 IS Code) - icing mass equivalence used by ISO 19897:2019
• Testing guidance in IMO resolutions referenced in the ISO document bibliography

Keywords: ISO 19897:2019, marine evacuation systems, MES icing test, testing under conditions of icing, LSA Code, anti‑icing, marine safety.