Personal flotation devices - Part 2: Lifejackets, performance level 275 - Safety requirements
1 Scope
This document specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 275.
It is applicable to lifejackets for adults, children or infants, for offshore use under severe conditions, or when protective clothing is being used or additional loads are being carried.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 32234.9-2023 Personal flotation devices - Part 9 : Evaluation (ISO 12402-9: 2020, IDT)
ISO 12402-5: 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 5: Buoyancy aids (level 50) - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-6: 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 6 : Special application lifejackets and buoyancy aids - Safety requirements and additional test methods
ISO 12402-7: 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 7 : Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods
Note: GB/T 32234.7-2015 Personal flotation devices - Part 7 : Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7: 2007, IDT)
ISO 12402-8: 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 8 : Accessories-Safety requirements and test methods
Note: GB/T 32234.8-2015 Personal flotation devices - Part 8 : Accessories - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-8: 2006, IDT)
ISO 13688: 2013 Protective clothing - General requirements
Note: GB/T 20097-2006 Protective clothing - General requirements (ISO 13688: 1998, MOD)
IMO MSC.658(16) Use and fitting of retro-reflective materials on life-saving appliances
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
personal flotation device PFD
garment or device which, when correctly worn and used in water, provides the user with a specific amount of buoyancy which increases the likelihood of survival
3.2
inherently buoyant
permanently less dense than water
3.3
automatic inflation
inflation of the PFD (3.1) without the user carrying out any action at the time of water immersion
3.4
manual inflation
inflation of the PFD (3.1) resulting from the user operating a mechanism
3.5
oral inflation
inflation resulting from the user blowing air into the PFD (3.1) by mouth
3.6
emergency position-indicating light
device which emits light so as to increase the chances of a user being located
3.7
multi-chamber buoyancy system
PFD (3.1) with buoyancy to meet the applicable PFD performance requirement provided by two or more independent chambers
Note: This excludes supplemental inflation chambers.
3.8
deck safety harness
device that allows a user to be securely attached to a strong point on a vessel or on shore, preventing a fall into the water or, if falling occurs, preventing separation from the vessel or shore
3.9
buddy line
cord which can be tied or otherwise fixed to another person or to that person's PFD (3.1) or other objects, so as to keep a user in the vicinity of that person or object with a view to making location and thus rescue easier
3.10
lifting loop
device which facilitates manual recovery of a person from water
3.11
sprayhood
cover brought or placed in front of the airways of a user in order to reduce or eliminate the splashing of water from waves or the like onto the airways, and thereby promoting the survival of the user in rough water conditions
3.12
protective cover
cover that is normally in place over the functional elements of a PFD (3.1) in order to protect them from physical damage, or snagging on external objects
Note 1: The protective cover maybe designed to provide additional properties, i.e. to make the PFDs suitable for use when the subject is exposed to additional hazards, e.g. significant abrasion, molten metal splash, flame and fire.
Note 2: The inflatable chamber of an inflatable PFD is an example of a functional element.
3.13
overpressure relief valve
valve used in an inflatable system to avoid the likelihood of destruction caused by overpressure
3.14
whistle
device which, when blown by mouth, produces an audible sound which can aid in the location of the user
3.15
hybrid PFD
PFD of combined buoyancy types, i.e. inherent and inflatable
3.16
bunching
curling or folding of internal buoyant material upon itself, from its original position, within the envelope
3.17
sheltered waters
water with protection from significant breaking waves, current, or strong winds, where the possibility of being blown or carried away from shore or a place of safety is minimal
3.18
offshore
water that is unprotected and influenced by a variety threat conditions such as waves, tide, currents, or wind, at sea or on inland waters
3.19
primary means of inflation
means of inflating an inflation chamber that meets the applicable PFD performance requirements and that requires the least amount of intervention by the user, generally according to the following order of precedence: automatic (easiest), manual (second), and oral (most difficult)
3.20
secondary means of inflation
alternate method of inflation which is provided in case the primary means of inflation (3.19) fails
3.21
primary chamber
inflation chamber associated with the primary means of inflation (3.19) that alone meets the applicable PFD (3.1) performance requirements
3.22
back-up chamber
inflation chamber other than the primary chamber(s) (3.21) or supplemental chamber (3.23) that, when used alone, provides performance in case the primary chamber fails to function
3.23
supplemental chamber
inflation chamber other than a primary chamber (3.21) or back-up chamber (3.22) that is intended for deployment after stabilization in the water, and provides enhanced performance such as higher freeboard, improved head support, additional stability, splash protection, location, detection
3.24
status indicator
part or parts of an inflation system which provide user feedback to assist in keeping an inflatable PFD in an armed and ready condition
3.25
adult lifejacket
PFD (3.1) intended for users with a body mass greater than 40 kg
3.26
infant lifejacket
lifejacket intended for users with a body mass less than or equal to 15 kg
