EN 14144:2025

Lifebuoys - Requirements, tests

This document applies to lifebuoys used on watercraft in sea and inland navigation, on floating bodies, floating equipment, marine equipment and shore equipment in the vicinity of bodies of water.
The document specifies the main dimensions, design, safety requirements and testing of lifebuoys.

Rettungsringe - Anforderungen, Prüfungen

Dieses Dokument ist anwendbar für Rettungsringe, die auf Wasserfahrzeugen in der See- und Binnenschifffahrt, auf Schwimmkörpern, schwimmenden Anlagen, meerestechnischen Anlagen sowie für Landanlagen im Bereich von Wasserflächen verwendet werden.
Das Dokument legt Hauptmaße, Konstruktion, Sicherheitsanforderungen und Prüfungen von Rettungsringen fest.

Bouées de sauvetage - Exigences, essais

Le présent document s’applique aux bouées de sauvetage utilisées sur les bateaux en navigation maritime et intérieure, sur les corps flottants, les équipements flottants, les équipements marins et les équipements à terre à proximité des plans d’eau.
Il spécifie les principales exigences en matière de dimensions, de conception, de sécurité ainsi que les essais des bouées de sauvetage.

Rešilni pasovi - Zahteve, preskusi

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Oct-2025
• ICS: 47.080 - Small craft
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 15 - Inland navigation vessels
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 29-Oct-2025
• Due Date: 03-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 29-Oct-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 14144:2026 - Lifebuoys - Requirements, tests

Relations

• Replaces: EN 14144:2003 - Lifebuoys - Requirements, tests
• Effective Date: 31-Jan-2024

Overview

EN 14144:2025 (CEN) - "Lifebuoys - Requirements, tests" - defines design, safety and test requirements for lifebuoys used on sea and inland navigation, floating bodies and equipment, and shore equipment near water. Published October 2025 and replacing EN 14144:2003, this standard sets mandatory dimensions, materials, performance and test procedures to ensure reliable buoyancy, durability and visibility of lifebuoys used in marine safety and inland waterways.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Lifebuoys for watercraft, floating installations and shore equipment in sea and inland navigation. (Note: compliance with EN 14144:2025 does not itself demonstrate SOLAS compliance.)
• Design and materials:
  • Buoyancy body: closed‑cell foam or equivalent; no loose chippings or inflatable chambers.
  • Top material: watertight enclosure.
  • Grab line: 9.5 mm diameter, (3.0 ± 0.2) m useful length, buoyant synthetic fibre, attached at 4 equidistant points to form 4 bights.
  • Reflective strips: at least 4 strips, 50 mm wide, retroreflective and permanently attached.
  • Colour: orange per NCS reference in EN ISO 12402-7:2020.
• Dimensional tolerances: ISO 2768‑1 (tolerance class c).
• Performance:
  • Minimum buoyancy: 150 N in freshwater for 24 h.
  • Mass: ≥ 2.5 kg and ≤ 4.2 kg.
  • Radial tensile strength: ≥ 900 N.
  • Impact resistance: survive one 30 m free fall into water and three 2 m drops onto concrete.
  • Resistance to diesel fuel, seawater, sunlight/UV and microorganisms.
  • Burning behaviour: self‑extinguishing, non‑dripping materials.
  • Service temperature range: air −30 °C to +65 °C, water −1 °C to +30 °C.
• Testing: Sequence of tests (dimensions, temperature cycling, fire test, drop tests, strength/load and resistance) carried out by labs compliant with EN ISO/IEC 17025. Manufacturer declaration and test evidence required.

Applications and practical value

• Use EN 14144:2025 to specify lifebuoy design and acceptance criteria for:
  • Marine equipment manufacturers and component designers.
  • Shipyards, ship owners and inland waterway operators for equipment procurement.
  • Port authorities, marinas and shore‑side safety equipment procurement.
  • Testing laboratories performing type tests and certification.
• Applying the standard improves survivability, visibility and durability of lifebuoys and supports regulatory conformity with the Marine Equipment Directive (2014/90/EU) and inland navigation technical requirements (2006/87/EC).

Who should use this standard

• Manufacturers, product designers and quality engineers
• Procurement officers and safety managers (ships, ports, marinas)
• Accredited testing laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
• Regulators and inspection authorities for inland and coastal navigation

Related standards

• EN ISO 12402-7:2020 (materials and components for personal flotation devices)
• EN ISO/IEC 17025 (testing laboratory competence)
• ISO 2768-1 (general tolerances)

Keywords: EN 14144:2025, lifebuoys, requirements, tests, CEN, marine safety, buoyancy, grab line, reflective strips, fire test, seawater resistance, inland navigation.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 14144:2004
Rešilni pasovi - Zahteve, preskusi
Lifebuoys - Requirements, tests
Rettungsringe - Anforderungen, Prüfungen
Bouées de sauvetage - Exigences, essais
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 14144:2025
ICS:
13.340.60 Zaščita pred padci in zdrsi Protection against falling and
slipping
47.080 Čolni Small craft
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 14144
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 47.080 Supersedes EN 14144:2003
English Version
Lifebuoys - Requirements, tests
Bouées de sauvetage - Exigences, essais Rettungsringe - Anforderungen, Prüfungen
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 22 September 2025.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 14144:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Safety requirements . 6
4.1 Design . 6
4.1.1 General. 6
4.1.2 Buoyancy body . 6
4.1.3 Top material . 6
4.1.4 Grab line . 6
4.1.5 Reflective strips . 6
4.1.6 Colour . 6
4.2 Dimensions. 6
4.3 Buoyancy . 7
4.4 Mass . 7
4.5 Strength . 7
4.6 Resistance . 7
4.7 Burning behaviour . 8
4.8 Temperature ranges for serviceability . 8
5 Testing . 8
5.1 General. 8
5.1.1 Scope and sequence of testing . 8
5.1.2 Manufacturer’s certificates . 8
5.1.3 Testing body . 8
5.2 Dimensions, mass, design . 8
5.3 Temperature tests . 8
5.4 Fire test . 9
5.5 Drop test . 9
5.5.1 Free fall into water . 9
5.5.2 Free fall onto concrete floor . 9
5.6 Strength . 9
5.7 Load-carrying capacity . 9
5.8 Resistance . 9
5.8.1 Resistance to seawater . 9
5.8.2 Resistance to diesel fuel . 9
6 Designation . 10
7 Marking . 10
Bibliography . 11
European foreword
This document (EN 14144:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 15 “Inland
navigation vessels”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 14144:2003.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Introduction
The document specifies requirements for life
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