ASTM F1823-97(2018)

Standard Guide for Water Rescue Personal Flotation Device (PFD)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide is applicable to all water rescue situations. The water situation, weather situation, and size of rescuer, will dictate what type of PFD to utilize.  
4.2 This guide will assist government agencies; state, local, or regional organizations; fire departments; rescue teams; and others who are responsible for purchasing and equipping personnel who respond to water emergencies.  
4.3 This guide establishes criteria that shall be considered in the performance, specification, purchase, and acceptance testing of a water rescue PFD.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the minimum performance and safety requirements of a water rescue lifejacket/PFD (Personal Flotation Device).  
1.2 In recognition of many broad and varied applications of such PFD's, many options are included.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2018
• ICS: 13.340.10 - Protective clothing
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.01 - Equipment, Testing, and Maintenance

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1823-97(2012) - Standard Guide for Water Rescue Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2018

Overview

ASTM F1823-97(2018) – Standard Guide for Water Rescue Personal Flotation Device (PFD) provides comprehensive guidance for selecting, specifying, and evaluating personal flotation devices used in water rescue situations. Developed by ASTM International, this guide is applicable to government agencies, fire departments, rescue teams, and other organizations responsible for water emergency response. ASTM F1823-97(2018) establishes essential criteria for the performance, selection, purchasing, and acceptance testing of water rescue lifejackets and PFDs to ensure effective safety and suitability in diverse rescue scenarios.

Key Topics

• Minimum Performance and Safety Requirements: Outlines the basic requirements for PFDs including buoyancy, construction quality, visibility, fit, and mobility.
• Types of Water Rescue PFDs: Recognizes a wide variety of PFD options tailored for various water rescue operations, including:
  • Type I – Off Shore Life Preserver
  • Type II – Near Shore Buoyant Vest
  • Type III – Special Purpose Flotation Aid
  • Type IV – Throwable Devices
  • Type V – Special Use Devices
• Design and Construction Criteria: Addresses the need for secure closure systems, protection from impact, hypothermia, and heat-related issues, as well as size suitability for different rescuers.
• Regulatory and Safety Compliance: Guides users on conforming to relevant national standards, such as the U.S. Coast Guard regulations, and emphasizes the importance of routine evaluation for serviceability.

Applications

Organizations that benefit from implementing ASTM F1823-97(2018) include:

• Government and Regulatory Agencies: For setting procurement and safety mandates regarding water rescue operations.
• Fire Departments and Rescue Teams: To ensure personnel are equipped with reliable PFDs tailored to specific water, weather, and operational conditions.
• Emergency Response Organizations: Improving responder safety and operational readiness during floods, swift water rescues, and disaster relief scenarios.
• Procurement and Safety Officers: Assisting in the identification, specification, and testing of water rescue lifejackets and related flotation devices for compliance, durability, and effectiveness.

By following this standard, organizations can enhance the safety of rescue personnel, ensure legal and regulatory compliance, and select the most appropriate PFD for each operational environment.

Related Standards

For comprehensive water safety and equipment compliance, users should also reference the following standards:

• U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Titles 33 and 46 (Maritime and Boating Safety)
  • 160.047 Buoyant Vests
  • 160.052 Buoyant Vests
  • 160.053 Work Vests
  • 160.060 Buoyant Vests
  • 160.064 Marine Buoyant Devices
  • 160.071 Immersion Suits
  • 160.076 Inflatable Lifejackets
  • 160.077 Hybrid Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices
• Additional ASTM Standards: Covering search and rescue equipment and marine safety gear.

Keywords: Water rescue PFD, personal flotation device, lifejacket, ASTM F1823, water emergency, rescue team safety, buoyancy aid standards

Adhering to ASTM F1823-97(2018) enhances water rescue operations by ensuring personnel are prepared with suitable and effective flotation devices, improving safety outcomes in critical emergency environments.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1823 − 97 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Guide for
Water Rescue Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1823; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope devices may be vests, ring buoys, life preservers, cushions, and
other special purpose buoyant devices.
1.1 This guide covers the minimum performance and safety
requirements of a water rescue lifejacket/PFD (Personal Flo-
4. Significance and Use
tation Device).
4.1 This guide is applicable to all water rescue situations.
1.2 In recognition of many broad and varied applications of
The water situation, weather situation, and size of rescuer, will
such PFD’s, many options are included.
dictate what type of PFD to utilize.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.2 This guide will assist government agencies; state, local,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
or regional organizations; fire departments; rescue teams; and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
others who are responsible for purchasing and equipping
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
personnel who respond to water emergencies.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.3 This guide establishes criteria that shall be considered in
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
the performance, specification, purchase, and acceptance test-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
ing of a water rescue PFD.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5. Classification
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.1 This guide includes the following types of PFD’s:
5.1.1 Type I—Off Shore Life Preserver.
2. Referenced Documents
5.1.2 Type II—Near Shore Buoyant Vest.
2.1 Code of Federal Regulations:
5.1.3 Type III—Special Purpose Flotation Aid.
160.047 Buoyant Vests
5.1.4 Type IV—Throwable Devices.
160.052 Buoyant Vests
5.1.5 Type V—Special Use Devices.
160.053 Work Vests
160.060 Buoyant Vests
6. General Requirements
160.064 Marine Buoyant Devices
6.1 All PFD’s should conform to standards set by the
160.076 Inflatable Lifejackets
appropriatenationalregulatoryauthority,thatis,theU.S.Coast
160.077 Hybrid Inflatable Personal Flotation Device
Guar
...