Overview
ISO 17940:2015 - Ships and marine technology - Hinged watertight doors - specifies classification, marking and requirements for the design, fabrication, packaging, storage, transportation and acceptance of hinged watertight doors. The standard applies to watertight doors capable of resisting pressure from either side corresponding to a headwater up to 10 m, and sets out structural, material, testing and marking rules to ensure reliable performance in marine environments.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Classification, marking, packaging, storage, transport, design, fabrication and acceptance for hinged watertight doors for ships.
- Classification & marking:
- Opening direction: Type L (left-hand) and Type R (right-hand).
- Designation format example: “Hinged watertight door ISO 17940 L H 1600×600”.
- Structure & dimensions:
- Main dimensional guidance and nominal sizes referenced to ISO 3796.
- Typical components: door plate, frame, clips, hinges, closing device, seals, limit switches and notice plates.
- Closing device types (H and W) and connecting rod arrangements illustrated.
- Materials & mechanical properties:
- Door plates: steel with minimum yield stress 355 N/mm².
- Door frames and hinges: shipbuilding-quality steel with minimum yield stress 235 N/mm².
- Closing devices: corrosion-resistant steel with minimum yield stress 315 N/mm².
- Sealing materials suitable for marine service.
- Quality of manufacture:
- Surface finish free from burrs, sharp edges and defects; weld quality requirements; derusting grade Sa2½ or St3 per ISO 8501-1; anti-corrosion primer.
- Testing & acceptance:
- Watertightness pressure test: 0.1 MPa for 5 minutes; hose test at ≥0.2 MPa with nozzle ≥12.5 mm and flushing distance ≤1.5 m.
- Powder contact test: contact width ≥5 mm, compression depth ≤4 mm.
- 15° inclined test: door manually inclined ±15° to confirm closed–open–closed operation.
- Status display & electrical protection:
- Local and remote indicators (red = open, green = closed); clip-loose visual alert; remote indicator to central console.
- Electrical equipment protection rating IP67 per IEC 60529.
Applications and users
ISO 17940 is intended for:
- Shipbuilders, shipyards and manufacturers of watertight doors and hardware.
- Naval architects and marine designers specifying compartmentation and flooding protection.
- Classification societies, flag administrations and surveyors for acceptance tests.
- Maintenance teams and ship operators performing repairs, retrofits and safety compliance checks.
Practical benefits include standardized acceptance testing, consistent installation quality and clear marking for operational safety and SALVAGE/abandonment planning.
Related standards
- ISO 3796 - Clear openings for external single-leaf doors (nominal sizes reference)
- ISO 8501-1 - Surface cleanliness (derusting grades)
- IEC 60529 - Degrees of protection by enclosures (IP Code)
- SOLAS (cited in bibliography) - overarching international safety regulations
Keywords: ISO 17940, hinged watertight doors, watertight doors, shipbuilding, marine safety, watertightness testing, IP67, ISO 3796, ISO 8501-1.
