MED AND SOLAS STANDARD

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SOLAS, or Safety Of Life At Sea, is a set of international standards established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. These standards govern the safety of ships undertaking international voyages, covering aspects such as such as stability, machinery, electrical installations, fire protection and rescue devices. The main objective of the SOLAS Convention is to define minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships.

The IMO, as a specialized body of the United Nations, is responsible for setting standards for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1397 of the MED Directive brings together all the legislative and regulatory references necessary for CE certification and the placing of marine equipment on the European market. It indicates the design, construction and efficiency requirements for each MED equipment, in accordance with SOLAS and IMO standards, as well as the tests provided for by international instruments (ISO, EN standards).

The SOLAS rules for self-contained breathing apparatus are listed, along with the corresponding test standards, in MED/3.7. Likewise, references for emergency evacuation respirators (EEBD) are listed in point MED/3.41.