View report page

38
"Fresh-water Tanks are commonly situated in the' tween decks abaft the engine-room bulkhead.
There is often about six inches between the tank and the deck and between the tank and the bulkhead, and
also the ship's side. Either the tank should be set well away from the deck, bulkhead and ship's side, or
else the space should be made inaccessible to rats by expanded metal.
"Insulated Cargo Spaces—Rats frequently burrow into the insulation and are there safe from
ordinary fumigations. The insulation should be covered with strong wire screening of half-inch or finer
mesh. This should be overlapped at joints and corners or all edges and corners should be flashed with sheet
metal, as it is just these places which are likely to be neglected and which the rats instinctively attack.
There should also be flashing round pipes, beams, girders, &c., which go through the insulation. Wooden
sheathing, whether at sides, deckhead or elsewhere, should be flashed with sheet metal at edges and angles
and where pierced by pipes, beams, &c.
"The openings of cold air trunks should be screened with expanded metal.
"If some material impervious to gnawing by rats could be employed for sheathing all flashing would, of
course, be rendered unnecessary.
"Fore and After Peaks are frequently rat-infested. Hatch covers should be tight fitting. There
should be facilities for open and orderly stowage of stores. If flooring is required this should take the form
of gratings in easily handled sections, constructed flush on both sides and fitted closely so that there is nospace
for rats underneath. Shelving should be of the sparred type. Lockers or bins should be of metal, or
if of wood should be flashed with metal wherever exposed to gnawing.
"Permanent and Reserve Coal Bunkers.—Wooden flooring should be omitted wherever practicable.
If flooring is required it should be closely fitted, and all edges be flashed.
"Engine Room.—Lockers and storerooms should be of metal; avoid placing them in dark corners.
The lightening holes in the bases or foundations of motors, &c., afford access for rats to the enclosed space
underneath. These openings should be screened.
"Baggage and Mail Rooms.—A fixed hollow floor should be avoided. Snugly fitted gratings, flush on
both sides, and in small sections, should be fitted. Doors should be tight fitting, shelving should be of the
sparred type, and all permanent openings should be screened.
"Passenger Accommodation.—Harbourage for rats exists between sheathing and the side of the ship;
in overhead deck spaces; in double walls or partitions and behind panelling, and in certain fittings. Rats
usually get into these spaces through holes for pipes, beams, &c. Therefore avoid double wall construction
as far as possible and otherwise block off the internal spaces at all ends and partition points by installing
sheet metal or wire mesh across the space. If spaces are over twenty-five feet long block them off at intermediate
points.
"Avoid open spaces above or below partition bulkheads, panneling, &c. If openings are necessary for
ventilation close them with expanded metal.
"Fit metal collars where pipes pierce bulkheads or partitions, paying particular attention to bathrooms
and lavatory compartments to which rats go for water.
"Avoid rat-harbourage in furniture and fittings; thus instal open settees instead of boxed seats;
put cupboards, lockers, wardrobes, &c., flat on the deck and up to the ceiling or have a sloping top. If
rats might gnaw into dead spaces in furniture flash with metal the part where gnawing might take place.
"Wooden berths of boxed type in officers' quarters should be replaced by metal beds with metal
drawers under.
"Crew Accommodation.—The same principles apply—avoid double walls, make bulkheads and
partitions complete above and below with expanded metal if necessary, have all fittings of metal and screen
openings for pipes, &c.
"Galleys.—If the deckhead is insulated flash with metal where pipes or structural members go through.
Where there are half-height bulkheads between compartments these should be carried up to the deckhead
with expanded metal of not more than half-inch mesh. The expanded metal should fit closely round any
pipes, or metal collars should be fitted.
"Openings into the ventilating system should be screened.
"Fittings should be well away from bulkheads or flush up to them and close down to decks, or with a
clear space of ten inches underneath. Protect refrigerators and ice boxes.
"Store-Rooms.—As in other Stores—avoid wooden flooring and substitute gratings if necessary;
shelves should be of sparred type; all lockers, bins, &c., should be of metal. Avoid dead space above,
below or behind lockers; screen openings for pipes, ventilators, &c.
"Miscellaneous Fittings—Ventilation.—All openings into the ventilating ducts should be screened
as rats may use these as a means of communication between compartments. Cowls and blowers have been
used by rats as a means of entry, and though they are not commonly so used, they may with advantage be
screened. Torpedo ventilators may provide a means of access to living accommodation if they are situated
in close relation to pipes and beams. They should, therefore, either be screened or be so placed that rats
cannot reach them. In the interior, ventilation trunks should not be so placed in relation to beams or the
deckhead as to provide rat-harbourage, but if any enclosed space is so formed it should be screened.
Obviously trunkways circular in section are less likely to form a convenient shelf for rats than trunks which
are rectangular.