Resolution MSC.200(80)

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES (RESOLUTION MSC.81(70))

(adopted on 13 May 2005)

corrected by MSC 80/24/Add.1/Corr.2

(17 January 2019)

 

 

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

 

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

 

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.689(17) on Testing of life-saving appliances, by which the Assembly, at its seventeenth session, adopted recommendations for test requirements for life-saving appliances,

 

RECALLING FURTHER that the Assembly, when adopting resolution A.689(17), authorized the Committee to keep the Recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances under review and to adopt, when appropriate, amendments thereto,

 

NOTING resolution MSC.81(70), by which, at its seventieth session, it adopted the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances, recognizing the need to introduce more precise provisions for the testing of life-saving appliances based on the requirements of the International Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code,

 

BEING DESIROUS to identify and develop comprehensive performance testing and approval standards for personal life-saving appliances to ensure a good probability of survival for short duration water immersion,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its eightieth session, amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances, proposed by the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment at its forty-eighth session,

 

1. ADOPTS amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)), the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

 

2. RECOMMENDS Governments to apply the annexed amendments when testing life-saving appliances.

 

Annex.

AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
(RESOLUTION MSC.81(70))

 

PART 1.
Prototype tests for life-saving appliances

 

1. The existing subparagraph .3 of paragraph 1.1 is replaced by the following:

 

".3 if it is intended to operate the quick-release arrangement provided for a self-activated smoke signal and self-igniting light, the lifebuoy has a mass of not less than 4 kg (see 1.8); and"

 

2. In paragraph 1.2.1.1, the words "8 h cycle at +65°C" are replaced by "8 h exposure at a minimum temperature of +65°C".

 

3. In paragraphs 1.2.1.2 and 1.2.1.4, the words "at a temperature of 20°C ±3°C" are added after the words "under ordinary room conditions".

 

4. In paragraph 1.2.1.3, the words "8 h cycle at -30°C" are replaced by the words "8 h exposure at a maximum temperature of -30°C".

 

5. The existing paragraph 1.9.3 is replaced by the following:

 

"1.9.3 The last three smoke signals taken from ordinary room conditions and attached by a line to a lifebuoy having a mass of not more than 4 kg should undergo the drop test into water prescribed in 1.3. The lifebuoy should have both a smoke signal and a lifebuoy light attached in the manner recommended by the manufacturers and be dropped from a quick-release fitting. The smoke signals should not be damaged and should function for a period of at least 15 min."

 

6. The following new paragraph 1.9.6 is added:

 

"1.9.6 A force of 225 N should be applied to the fitting that attaches the self-activating smoke signal to the lifebuoy. Neither the fitting nor the signal should be damaged as a result of the test."

 

7. The existing section 2 is replaced by the following:

 

"2. LIFEJACKETS

 

2.1 Temperature cycling test

 

A lifejacket should be subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in 1.2.1 and should then be externally examined. The lifejacket materials should show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.

 

2.2 Buoyancy test

 

The buoyancy of the lifejacket should be measured before and after 24 h complete submersion to just below the surface in fresh water. The difference between the initial buoyancy and the final buoyancy should not exceed 5% of the initial buoyancy.

 

2.3 Fire test

 

A lifejacket should be subjected to the fire test prescribed in 1.5. The lifejacket should not sustain burning for more than 6 s or continue melting after being removed from the flames.

 

2.4 Tests of components other than buoyancy materials

 

All the materials, other than buoyancy materials, used in the construction of the lifejacket, including the cover, tapes, seams and closures should be tested to an international standard acceptable to the Organization* to establish that they are rot-proof, colour-fast and resistant to deterioration from exposure to sunlight and that they are not unduly affected by seawater, oil or fungal attack.

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* Refer to the recommendations of the International Organization for Standardization, in particular publication ISO 12402-7:2006 Personal flotation devices – Part 7: Materials and components – Safety requirements and test methods.

 

2.5 Strength tests

 

Body or lifting loop strength tests

 

2.5.1 The lifejacket should be immersed in water for a period of 2 min. It should then be removed from the water and closed in the same manner as when it is worn by a person. A force of not less than 3,200 N (2,400 N in the case of a child or infant-size lifejacket) should be applied for 30 min to the part of the lifejacket that secures it to the body of the wearer (see figure 1) and separately to the lifting loop of the lifejacket. The lifejacket should not be damaged as a result of this test. The test should be repeated for each encircling closure.

 

Shoulder lift test

 

2.5.2 The lifejacket should be immersed in water for a period of 2 min. It should then be removed from the water and closed on a form as shown in figure 2, in the same manner as when it is worn by a person. A force of not less than 900 N (700 N in the case of a child- or infant-size lifejacket) should be applied for 30 min across the form and the shoulder section of the lifejacket (see figure 3). The lifejacket should not be damaged as a result of this test. The lifejacket should remain secured on the form during this test.

 

 

 

C - Cylinder

125 mm diameter for adult sizes

50 mm diameter for infant and child sizes

 

L - Test load

 

Figure 1.
Body strength test arrangement for lifejackets

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2
Test form for shoulder lift test for lifejackets

 

 

 

 

 

 

C - Cylinder

125 mm diameter for adult sizes

50 mm diameter for infant and child sizes

 

L - Test load

 

Figure 3
Shoulder lift test arrangement for lifejackets

 

 

 

2.6 Tests for lifejacket buoyancy material

 

The following tests should be carried out on eight specimens of each lifejacket buoyancy material. The specimens should be at least 300 mm square and be of the same thickness as used in the lifejacket. In the case of kapok, the entire lifejacket should be subjected to the test. The dimensions should be recorded at the beginning and end of these tests. Where multiple layers of materials are used to achieve the total thickness desired for the lifejacket, the specimens should be of the thinnest material used.

 

Test for stability under temperature cycling

 

2.6.1 Six specimens should be subjected to temperature cycling as prescribed in 1.2.1.

 

2.6.2 The dimensions of the specimens (except kapok) should be recorded at the end of the last cycle. The specimens should be carefully examined and should not show any sign of external change of structure or of mechanical qualities.

 

2.6.3 Two of the specimens should be cut open and should not show any sign of internal change of structure.

 

2.6.4 Four of the specimens should be used for compression and water absorption tests, two of which should be so tested after they have also been subjected to the diesel oil test as prescribed in 1.4.

 

Tests for compression and water absorption

 

2.6.5 The tests should be carried out in fresh water and the specimens should be immersed for a period of seven days under a 1.25 m head of water.

 

2.6.6 The tests should be carried out:

 

.1 on two specimens as supplied;

 

.2 on two specimens which have been subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in 2.6.1; and

 

.3 on two specimens which have been subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in 2.6.1 followed by the diesel oil test as prescribed in 1.4.

 

2.6.7 The results should state the buoyant force in N which each specimen exerts when submerged in water after one and seven days’ immersion. The reduction of buoyancy should not exceed 10% for specimens which have been exposed to the diesel oil conditioning and must not exceed 5% for all other specimens. The specimens should show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.

 

Tensile strength test

 

2.6.8 The tensile strength at break of the material should be measured before and after the combined exposure described in 2.6.6.3. When tested according to an international standard acceptable to the Organization*, the materials should have a minimum tensile strength of 140 kPa before exposure, which should not be reduced by more than 25% following the combined exposures. In the case of kapok, the protective cover should have a minimum breaking strength of 13 kPa before exposure, which should not be reduced by more than 25% following the combined exposures.

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* Refer to the recommendations of the International Organization for Standardization, in particular publication ISO 12402-7:2006, Personal flotation devices – Part 7: Materials and components – Safety requirements and test methods.

 

2.7 Donning test

 

2.7.1 To minimize the risk of incorrect donning by uninitiated persons, often in adverse conditions, lifejackets should be examined for the following features and tested as follows:

 

.1 fastenings necessary for proper performance should be few and simple, and provide quick and positive closure that does not require tying of knots;

 

.2 adult lifejackets should readily fit various sizes of adults, both lightly and heavily clad; and

 

.3 all lifejackets should be capable of being worn inside-out, or clearly in only one way.

 

Test subjects

 

2.7.2 These tests should be carried out with at least 12 able-bodied persons who are completely unfamiliar with the lifejacket and selected according to the heights and weights in table 2.1 and the following:

 

.1 small test subjects need not be adults;

 

.2 at least 1/3, but not more than 1/2 of test subjects should be females, including at least 1 per height category but excluding the tallest height;

 

.3 at least one male and one female should be from the lowest and highest weight group;

 

.4 at least one subject should be selected from each cell containing a "1"; and

 

.5 enough additional subjects should be selected from cells containing a "X" to total the required number of test subjects, with no more than one subject per cell. A uniform distribution across weight ranges should be maintained.

 

Table 2.1
Test subject selection for adult lifejackets

 

 

 

Clothing

 

2.7.3 Each test subject should be tested wearing the clothing specified for the test and appropriate to their size as follows:

 

.1 Normal clothing means normal indoor clothing, which would not normally interfere with the donning of a lifejacket; and

 

.2 Heavy-weather clothing means the attire appropriate for a hostile environment, including a hooded arctic parka and warm cotton gloves.

 

2.7.4 Each test should be timed from when the order is given until the test subject declares that donning is complete. For assessment purposes donning is considered complete when the subject has donned and securely adjusted all methods of securing the lifejacket to the extent needed to meet the in-water performance requirements, including inflation, if needed.

 

Test without instruction

 

2.7.4.1 The test subjects may be tested individually or as a group. Wearing normal clothing, the first attempt should be with no assistance, guidance or prior demonstration. The lifejacket, with closures in the stored condition, should be placed on the floor, face up, in front of the test subject. The instruction provided should be identical for each subject and should be equivalent to the following: "PLEASE DON THIS LIFEJACKET AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND ADJUST IT TO A SNUG FIT SO YOU CAN ABANDON SHIP." The lifejacket should be capable of being donned by at least 75 % of the subjects, and within 1 min. If a subject dons the lifejacket substantially correctly but fails to secure and/or adjust all closures, the jump test in 2.8.8 and in-water performance tests in 2.8.5 and 2.8.6 should be performed with the lifejacket as donned to establish whether the performance is acceptable and the donning is successful.

 

Test after instruction

 

2.7.4.2 For each subject whose first attempt exceeds 1 min or is incomplete, after demonstration or instruction to familiarize the subject with the donning procedure, the test subject should then don the lifejacket without assistance while wearing normal clothing, using the same instruction and timing method as in 2.7.4.1. Each subject should correctly don the lifejacket within a period of 1 min.

 

Heavy-weather clothing test

 

2.7.4.3 Each subject should then don the lifejacket without assistance while wearing heavy-weather clothing, using the same instruction and timing method as in 2.7.4.1. Each subject should don the lifejacket correctly within a period of 1 min.

 

2.8 Water performance tests

 

2.8.1 This portion of the test is intended to determine the ability of the lifejacket to assist a helpless person or one in an exhausted or unconscious state and to show that the lifejacket does not unduly restrict movement. The in-water performance of a lifejacket is evaluated by comparison to the performance of a suitable size standard reference lifejacket, i.e. Reference Test Device (RTD) as specified in appendices 1 to 3. All tests should be carried out in fresh water under still conditions.

 

Test subjects

 

2.8.2 These tests should be carried out with at least 12 persons as described in 2.7.2. Only good swimmers should be used, since the ability to relax in the water is rarely otherwise obtained.

 

Clothing

 

2.8.3 Subjects should wear only swimming costumes. Preparation for water performance tests

 

2.8.4 The test subjects should be made familiar with each of the tests set out below, particularly the requirement regarding relaxing and exhaling in the face-down position. The test subject should don the lifejacket, unassisted, using only the instructions provided by the manufacturer. After entering the water, care should be taken to ensure that there is no significant amount of air unintentionally trapped in the lifejacket or swimming costume.