14.2.1 Ships carrying cargoes for which 15.12, 15.12.1 or 15.12.3 is listed in column o in the table of chapter 17 shall have on board sufficient but not less than three complete sets of safety equipment, each permitting personnel to enter a gas-filled compartment and perform work there for at least 20 min. Such equipment shall be in addition to that required by SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.

  14.2.2 One complete set of safety equipment shall consist of:

• .1 one self-contained air-breathing apparatus (not using stored oxygen);

• .2 protective clothing, boots, gloves and tight-fitting goggles;

• .3 fireproof lifeline with belt resistant to the cargoes carried; and

• .4 explosion-proof lamp.

  14.2.3 For the safety equipment required in 14.2.1, all ships shall carry either:

• .1 one set of fully charged spare air bottles for each breathing apparatus;

• .2 a special air compressor suitable for the supply of high-pressure air of the required purity;

• .3 a charging manifold capable of dealing with sufficient spare air bottles for the breathing apparatus; or

• .4 fully charged spare air bottles with a total free air capacity of at least 6,000 l for each breathing apparatus on board in excess of the requirements of SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.

  14.2.4 A cargo pump-room on ships carrying cargoes which are subject to the requirements of 15.18 or cargoes for which in column k in the table of chapter 17 toxic-vapour-detection equipment is required but is not available shall have either:

• .1 a low-pressure line system with hose connections suitable for use with the breathing apparatus required by 14.2.1. This system shall provide sufficient high-pressure air capacity to supply, through pressure-reduction devices, enough low-pressure air to enable two men to work in a gas-dangerous space for at least 1 h without using the air bottles of the breathing apparatus. Means shall be provided for recharging the fixed air bottles and the breathing apparatus air bottles from a special air compressor suitable for the supply of high-pressure air of the required purity; or

• .2 an equivalent quantity of spare bottled air in lieu of the low-pressure air line.

  14.2.5 At least one set of safety equipment as required by 14.2.2 shall be kept in a suitable clearly marked locker in a readily accessible place near the cargo pump-room. The other sets of safety equipment shall also be kept in suitable, clearly marked, easily accessible places.

  14.2.6 The breathing apparatus shall be inspected at least once a month by a responsible officer, and the inspection recorded in the ship's log-book. The equipment shall be inspected and tested by an expert at least once a year.