EN ISO 12402-7:2020

Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7:2020)

This document specifies the minimum requirements for the construction and performance of materials and components of personal flotation devices, as well as the relevant test methods.

Persönliche Auftriebsmittel - Teil 7: Werkstoffe und Bestandteile - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren (ISO 12402-7:2020)

Dieses Dokument legt die Mindestanforderungen an die Konstruktion und Leistungsfähigkeit der Werkstoffe und Bestandteile von persönlichen Auftriebsmitteln sowie die entsprechenden Prüfverfahren fest.

Équipements individuels de flottabilité - Partie 7: Matériaux et composants - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai (ISO 12402-7:2020)

Le présent document spécifie les exigences minimales de construction et de performances des matériaux et composants des équipements individuels de flottabilité, ainsi que les méthodes d'essai correspondantes.

Osebni plavajoči pripomočki - 7. del: Materiali in sestavni deli - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne metode (ISO 12402-7:2020)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Oct-2020
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Apr-2021
• ICS: 13.340.70 - Lifejackets, buoyancy aids and floating devices
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 162 - Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 162/WG 6 - Lifejackets
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 14-Oct-2020
• Completion Date: 14-Oct-2020
• Directive: 2016/425 - Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 12402-7:2020 - Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7:2020)

Relations

• Replaces: EN ISO 12402-7:2006/A1:2011 - Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7:2006)
• Effective Date: 21-Oct-2020
• Replaces: EN ISO 12402-7:2006 - Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7:2006)
• Effective Date: 21-Oct-2020

Overview

EN ISO 12402-7:2020 (ISO 12402-7:2020) defines the minimum safety requirements and test methods for materials and components used in personal flotation devices (PFDs) such as lifejackets and buoyancy aids. Adopted as an EN standard, it provides harmonized criteria for construction, materials performance, sampling, conditioning and pass/fail assessment to ensure PFD durability, reliability and user safety.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard covers material types, component construction and a comprehensive set of test methods. Major technical topics include:

• General principles, sampling and pass/fail criteria - procedures for selecting and conditioning specimens and reporting units of measurement.
• Sewing thread and seams - construction and loop-breaking strength performance requirements.
• Fabrics and colourfastness - fabric performance, exposure and colour durability tests.
• Structural webbing, tie tape and lacing - torsional stiffness, construction and strength testing for load-bearing components.
• Zippers and hardware - construction, functional and strength tests for structural zippers, webbing closures, adjusters and lacing closures.
• Foam flotation materials - foam type, performance, laminated knitted fabric tests and ageing behaviour.
• Inflation systems and inflation chamber materials - construction, operability, humid-atmosphere, durability, over‑pressure relief and human-subject performance tests for hybrid and inflatable lifejackets.
• Polymeric foam coatings and window materials - construction and performance testing for coatings used on flotation components.
• Gas-filled cylinders - construction, acceptance testing and marking requirements for gas cylinders used in automatic/manual inflation systems.
• Informative annexes - mildew resistance (soil burial), abrasion resistance (Wyzenbeek oscillatory method) and example design drawings.

Practical applications and users

This standard is essential for:

• PFD manufacturers and designers - to select compliant fabrics, foams, webbing and inflator components and to validate product durability and safety.
• Test laboratories and quality control - to perform standardized sampling, conditioning and pass/fail testing for certification and batch verification.
• Regulators and certification bodies - to assess conformity of personal flotation devices with European and international requirements.
• Procurement and fleet managers - to specify PFD material and component requirements for commercial, recreational and occupational safety programs.

Related standards

• EN ISO 12402 series (other parts) address general performance, design and user requirements for lifejackets and buoyancy aids.
• This document is published as EN ISO 12402-7:2020 and replaces earlier editions (2007 / 2011 amendments).

Keywords: ISO 12402-7, EN ISO 12402-7:2020, personal flotation devices, lifejackets, materials and components, safety requirements, test methods, inflation systems, foam flotation, webbing, fabric testing.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2020
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 12402-7:2007
SIST EN ISO 12402-7:2007/A1:2011
Osebni plavajoči pripomočki - 7. del: Materiali in sestavni deli - Varnostne zahteve
in preskusne metode (ISO 12402-7:2020)
Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and components - Safety requirements and
test methods (ISO 12402-7:2020)
Persönliche Auftriebsmittel - Teil 7: Werkstoffe und Bestandteile - Sicherheitstechnische
Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren (ISO 12402-7:2020)
Équipements individuels de flottabilité - Partie 7 : Matériaux et composants - Exigences
de sécurité et méthodes d'essai (ISO 12402-7:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 12402-7:2020
ICS:
13.340.70 Rešilni jopiči, vzgonska Lifejackets, buoyancy aids
pomagala in plavajoči and floating devices
pripomočki
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 12402-7
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.340.70 Supersedes EN ISO 12402-7:2006
English Version
Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and
components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO
12402-7:2020)
Équipements individuels de flottabilité - Partie 7: Persönliche Auftriebsmittel - Teil 7: Werkstoffe und
Matériaux et composants - Exigences de sécurité et Bestandteile - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen
méthodes d'essai (ISO 12402-7:2020) und Prüfverfahren (ISO 12402-7:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 10 June 2019.

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, Turkey 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
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 12402-7:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 12402-7:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 188 "Small
craft" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 162 “Protective clothing including hand and
arm protection and lifejackets” 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 2021, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2021.
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 ISO 12402-7:2006.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations 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, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 12402-7:2020 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 12402-7:2020 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12402-7
Second edition
2020-07
Personal flotation devices —
Part 7:
Materials and components — Safety
requirements and test methods
Équipements individuels de flottabilité —
Partie 7: Matériaux et composants — Exigences de sécurité et
méthodes d'essai
Reference number
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 3
4 Materials and components . 4
4.1 General . 4
4.1.1 Principles . 4
4.1.2 Sampling. 5
4.1.3 Pass or fail criteria . 5
4.1.4 Units of measurement . 5
4.1.5 Material . 5
4.1.6 Sample conditioning . 6
4.2 Sewing thread . 6
4.2.1 Construction . 6
4.2.2 Performance . 7
4.2.3 Loop breaking strength . 7
4.3 Fabric . 7
4.3.1 General. 7
4.3.2 Performance . 7
4.3.3 Colour .11
4.4 Structural webbing and tie tape .12
4.4.1 General.12
4.4.2 Torsional stiffness .12
4.5 Structural lacing .13
4.5.1 General.13
4.5.2 Construction .13
4.5.3 Performance .14
4.6 Structural zippers .14
4.6.1 Construction .14
4.6.2 Performance .14
4.7 Hardware .17
4.7.1 Webbing closures and adjusters . .17
4.7.2 Lacing closures and adjusters .21
4.7.3 Multi-eyelet guides . .24
4.8 Foam flotation material .25
4.8.1 General.25
4.8.2 Performance .26
4.8.3 Knitted fabric laminated to foam flotation material .31
4.9 Inflation chamber materials .33
4.9.1 General.33
4.9.2 Performance .34
4.10 Polymeric foam coatings.36
4.10.1 Construction .36
4.10.2 Performance .37
4.11 Inflation systems for hybrid and solely inflatable lifejackets .39
4.11.1 Construction .39
4.11.2 Performance .42
4.11.3 Performance tests using human subjects .49
4.11.4 Operability test of automatic inflation systems .50
4.11.5 Operability test of manual inflation systems .51
4.11.6 Operability test of oral systems .51
4.11.7 Discharge test of automatic and manual inflation systems .52
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
4.11.8 Humid atmosphere test of automatic inflation systems .53
4.11.9 System durability test of automatic and manual inflation systems .54
4.11.10 Operability test of over-pressure relief valves .54
4.11.11 Pull test of automatic and manual inflation systems, and cylinder-seal-
indicating cylinders .54
4.11.12 Window material .55
4.12 Gas-filled cylinders .56
4.12.1 Construction .56
4.12.2 Tests and acceptance criteria .58
4.12.3 Marking .70
Annex A (informative) Mildew resistance of materials: Soil burial method .71
Annex B (informative) Abrasion resistance of cloth: Oscillatory method (Wyzenbeek method) .73
Annex C (informative) Example of a design drawing .76
Bibliography .77
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 188, Small craft, Subcommittee SC 1,
Personal safety equipment.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12402-7:2006), which has been technically
revised. It also incorporates the Amendment ISO 12402-7:2006/Amd. 1:2011.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows:
a) temperature of temperature cycling (4.1.6.3) was changed from (65 ± 2) °C into (60 ± 2) °C;
b) compliance criteria in Table 1, Sewing thread, were changed;
c) requirements for fabrics performance were changed (see 4.3.2 and Table 2);
d) new chromaticity coordinates x and y and luminance factor β for yellow, orange and red non-
fluorescent colours of lifejacket material were added (see Table 3);
e) new chromaticity coordinates x and y and luminance factor β for yellow, yellow-orange, orange and
orange-red fluorescent colours of lifejacket material were added (see Table 4);
f) compliance criteria of structural webbing (see Table 5) were modified;
g) compliance criteria of structural tie tape (see Table 6) were modified;
h) new subclause “General” to structural lacing was added (see 4.5.1);
i) immersion of zippers, automatic and manual inflation systems in IRM 902 oil was deleted and
ambient temperature replaced by (20 ± 2) °C (see Tables 8, 17 and 18);
j) compliance criteria of webbing closures and adjusters were modified (see Table 9);
k) compliance criteria of lacing closures and adjusters were modified (see Table 10);
l) number of samples reduced for density test on foam flotation material (see Table 12);
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
m) dimensional test for foam flotation material deleted;
n) test method for the compressibility of inherently buoyant material was modified (see 4.8.2.4);
o) compliance criteria of inflation chamber materials were modified (see Table 15).
A list of all parts in the ISO 12402 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
vi © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
Introduction
ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 deals with personal floatation devices (PFDs) for persons engaged in
activities, whether in relation to their work or their leisure, in or near water. PFDs manufactured,
selected, and maintained to this International Standard give a reasonable assurance of safety from
drowning to a person who is immersed in water. ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 does not include the
following:
— requirements for lifejackets on seagoing ships, which are regulated by the International Maritime
1)
Organization (IMO) under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS);
— throwable devices and flotation cushions.
ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 allows for the buoyancy of a PFD to be provided by a variety of materials or
designs, some of which can require preparation before entering the water (e.g. inflation of chambers by
gas from a cylinder or blown in orally). PFDs can be divided into the following two main classes:
— those which provide face up in-water support to the user regardless of physical conditions
(lifejackets); and
— those which require the user to make swimming and other postural movements to position the user
with the face out of the water (buoyancy aids).
Within these main two classes there are a number of levels of support, types of buoyancy, activation
methods for inflatable devices, and auxiliary items (such as location aids), which all affect the user‘s
probability of survival. Within the different types of buoyancy allowed, inflatable PFDs either provide
full buoyancy without any user intervention other than arming (i.e. PFDs inflated by a fully automatic
method) or require the user to initiate the inflation. Hybrid PFDs always provide some buoyancy but
rely on the same methods as inflatable PFDs to achieve full buoyancy. With inherently buoyant PFDs,
the user only needs to put the PFD on to achieve the performance of its class.
PFDs that do not require intervention (automatically operating PFDs) are suited to activities where
persons are likely to enter the water unexpectedly; whereas PFDs requiring intervention (e.g. manually
inflated PFDs) are only suitable for use if the user believes there will be sufficient time to produce
full buoyancy, if automatic operation would result in entrapment, or if help is close at hand. In every
circumstance, the user should ensure that the operation of the PFD is suited to the specific application.
The conformity of a PFD to this part of the ISO 12402 series: 2020 does not imply that it is suitable for
all circumstances. The relative amount of required inspection and maintenance is another factor of
paramount importance in the choice and application of specific PFDs.
ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 is intended to serve as a guide to manufacturers, purchasers, and users of
such safety equipment in ensuring that the equipment provides an effective standard of performance in
use. Equally essential is the need for the designer to encourage the wearing of the equipment by making
it comfortable and attractive for continuous wear on or near water, rather than for it to be stored in
a locker for emergency use. The primary function of a PFD is to support the user in reasonable safety
in the water. Within the two classes, alternative attributes make some PFDs better suited to some
circumstances than others or make them easier to use and care for than others. Important alternatives
provided by ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 are the following:
— to provide higher levels of support (levels 100, 150, or 275) that generally float the user with greater
water clearance, when required for increasingly severe conditions; or to provide lighter or less
bulky PFDs (levels 50 or 100);
— to provide the kinds of flotation (inherently buoyant foam, hybrid, and inflatable) that
accommodate the sometimes conflicting needs of reliability and durability, in-water performance,
and continuous wear;
1)  The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is an institution with domicile in London issuing regulations
which are then published as laws by its Member States.
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
— to provide automatically operating (inherently buoyant or automatically inflated) PFDs that float
users without any intervention on their part, except in initially donning the PFD (and regular
inspection and rearming of inflatable types), or to provide user control of the inflatable PFDs
buoyancy by manual and oral operation; and
— to assist in detection (location aids) and recovery of the user.
PFDs provide various degrees of buoyancy in garments that are light in weight and only as bulky and
restrictive as needed for their intended use. They need to be secure when worn, in order to provide
positive support in the water and to allow users to swim or actively assist themselves or others. The
PFD selected ensures that the user is supported with the mouth and nose clear of the water under the
expected conditions of use and the user’s ability to assist.
Under certain conditions (such as rough water and waves), the use of watertight and multilayer clothing,
which provide (intentionally or otherwise) additional buoyancy, or the use of equipment with additional
weight (such as tool belts) can alter the performance of the PFD. Users, owners and employers need to
ensure that this is taken into account when selecting a PFD. Similarly, it is possible that PFDs do not
perform as well in extremes of temperature, although meeting ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 requirements.
PFDs can also be affected by other conditions of use, such as chemical exposure and welding, and can
require additional protection to meet the specific requirements of use. Taking a PFD into such conditions
necessitates the assurance that the PFD will not be adversely affected. ISO 12402 (all parts):2020 also
allows a PFD to be an integral part of a safety harness designed to conform to ISO 12401:2009, or an
integral part of a garment with other uses, for example to provide thermal protection during immersion,
in which case the complete assembly as used is expected to conform to ISO 12402 (all parts):2020.
In compiling the attributes required of a PFD, consideration has also been given to the potential length
of service that the user might expect. Whilst a PFD needs to be of substantial construction and material,
its potential length of service often depends on the conditions of use and storage, which are the
responsibility of the owner, user and/or employer. Furthermore, whilst the performance tests included
are believed to assess relevant aspects of performance in real-life use, they do not accurately simulate
all conditions of use. For example, the fact that a device passes the self-righting tests in swimming attire,
as described herein, does not guarantee that it will self-right an unconscious user wearing clothing;
neither can it be expected to completely protect the airway of an unconscious person in rough water.
Waterproof clothing can trap air and further impair the self-righting action of a lifejacket.
It is essential that owners, users and employers choose those PFDs that meet the correct standards for
the circumstances in which they will be used.
The characteristics of the product properties, alternative choices and the limitations to normal use are
to be explained to potential buyers by manufacturers and distributors of PFDs prior to purchase.
Similarly, it is advised that regulators regarding the use of these garments consider carefully which
class and performance levels are most appropriate for the foreseeable conditions of use, allowing
for the higher risk circumstances. These higher risk circumstances should account for the highest
probabilities of occurrence of accidental immersion and expected consequences. Requirements and
recommendations for the correct selection and application of PFDs are given in ISO 12402-10:2020.
viii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
Personal flotation devices —
Part 7:
Materials and components — Safety requirements and
test methods
1 Scope
This document specifies the minimum requirements for the construction and performance of materials
and components of personal flotation devices, as well as the relevant test methods.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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.
ISO 105-A02: 1993, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour
ISO 105-E02: 2013, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part E02: Colour fastness to sea water
ISO 105-X12: 2016, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part X12: Colour fastness to rubbing
ISO 139:2005/Amd 1:2011, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 188:2011, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Accelerated ageing and heat resistance tests
ISO 846:2019, Plastics — Evaluation of the action of microorganisms
ISO 1302:2002, Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) — Indication of surface texture in technical
product documentation
ISO 13688:2013, Protective clothing — General requirements
ISO 1421:2016, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of tensile strength and elongation
at break
ISO 1926:2009, Rigid cellular plastics — Determination of tensile properties
ISO 2062:2009, Textiles — Yarns from packages — Determination of single-end breaking force and
elongation at break using constant rate of extension (CRE) tester
ISO 2411:2017, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of coating adhesion
ISO 3696:1987, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
ISO 4674-1:2016, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of tear resistance — Part 1: Constant
rate of tear methods
ISO 4892-1:2016, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 1: General guidance
ISO 4892-2:2013, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 2: Xenon-arc lamps
ISO 5470-2:2003, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of abrasion resistance — Part 2:
Martindale abrader
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
ISO 6330:2012, Textiles — Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing
ISO 7229:2015, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Measurement of gas permeability
ISO 7854:1995, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of resistance to damage by flexing
ISO 9073-4:1997, Textiles — Test methods for nonwovens — Part 4: Determination of tear resistance
ISO 9227:2017, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
ISO 12402-2:2020, Personal flotation devices — Part 2: Lifejackets, performance level 275 — Safety
requirements
ISO 12402-3:2020, Personal flotation devices — Part 3: Lifejackets, performance level 150 — Safety
requirements
ISO 12402-4:2020, Personal flotation devices — Part 4: Lifejackets, performance level 100 — Safety
requirements
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 purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids —
Safety requirements and additional test methods
ISO 13934-1:2013, Textiles — Tensile properties of fabrics — Part 1: Determination of maximum force and
elongation at maximum force using the strip method
ISO 13934-2:2014, Textiles — Tensile properties of fabrics — Part 2: Determination of maximum force
using the grab method
ISO 13937-2:2000, Textiles — Tear properties of fabrics — Part 2: Determination of tear force of trouser-
shaped test specimens (Single tear method)
ISO 13938-1:2019, Textiles — Bursting properties of fabrics — Part 1: Hydraulic method for determination
of bursting strength and bursting distension
ISO 13938-2:2019, Textiles — Bursting properties of fabrics — Part 2: Pneumatic method for determination
of bursting strength and bursting distension
ISO 80000-1:2009, Quantities and units — Part 1: General
ISO 80000-2:2019, Quantities and units — Part 2: Mathematical signs and symbols to be used in the natural
sciences and technology
ISO 80000-3:2019, Quantities and units — Part 3: Space and time
ISO 80000-4:2019, Quantities and units — Part 4: Mechanics
EN 590:2013/Amd 1:2017, Automotive fuels — Diesel — Requirements and test methods
EN 10088-1:2014, Stainless steels — Part 1: List of stainless steels
CIE publication No, 15.2, Colorimetry
ASTM D412-16, Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers —Tension
ASTM D471-16, Standard Test Method for Rubber Property-Effect of Liquids
ASTM D412-92, Tensile Strength Properties of Rubber and Elastomers
ASTM D2061-07, Standard Test Methods for Strength Tests for Zippers
ASTM D2062, Standard Test Methods for Operability of Zippers
2 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
ASTM D882-12, Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
FTMS 191A, Federal Test Method Standard
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
NOTE Users of this document are encouraged to consult the Online browsing platform (OBP) for the terms
and definitions given in ISO 12402-2:2020 to ISO 12402-6:2020.
3.1
coated fabric
flexible material composed of a textile fabric and an adherent polymeric material
3.2
cylinder seal indicator
visual display on an inflation system (3.8) which provides information regarding the status of the seal
on an installed cylinder
3.3
design inflation range
range of buoyancy and pressure, as specified by the manufacturer, to which a chamber is capable of
being inflated to provide the intended in-water performance
3.4
weft
yarn running from selvage (3.14) to selvage at right angles to the warp (3.18) in woven fabrics
Note 1 to entry: For knitted fabric see 4.3.2.3.
3.5
filling density
mass of the gas charge for gas-filled cylinders or other inflation-medium containers, in kilograms,
divided by the volume of the inflation-medium container, in litres
3.6
foam flotation material
closed-cell (cells not interconnecting) foamed polymeric material
3.7
full inflation
chamber or chambers inflated to any value within the design inflation range (3.3)
3.8
inflation system
means of inflating one or more chambers to make the PFD buoyant or more buoyant on demand, either
actively or passively of the user's action
3.9
initial jaw separation
distance between the bottom of the top clamp and the top of the bottom clamp of a tensile test machine
prior to testing
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
3.10
fabric-laminated foam
layered fabric structure wherein a fabric is combined with a continuous sheet of foam flotation material,
either by heat or by an adhesive in such a way that the identity of the continuous sheet material is
retained
3.11
multi-eyelet guide
polymeric part designed to be sown into a PFD and having a series of holes to insert lacing for adjustment
of the fit of a PFD
3.12
multiple-point status indicator
status indicator (3.17) which utilises two or more independent visual display points to communicate
inflation system (3.8) readiness
3.13
polymeric foam coating
coating applied to flotation foam in place of a fabric covering to protect and strength the finished PFD
3.14
selvage
uncut edge portion of a fabric
3.15
serviceability
ease with which the inflation system (3.8) mechanism is properly rearmed
3.16
single-point status indicator
status indicator (3.17) which combines all system checks into a single visual display point to
communicate inflation system (3.8) readiness
3.17
status indicator
part or parts of an inflation system (3.8) which provide user feedback to assist in keeping an inflatable
PFD in an armed and ready condition
3.18
warp
yarn running lengthwise, parallel to the selvage (3.14), in a woven fabric
Note 1 to entry: For knitted fabrics see 4.3.2.3.
4 Materials and components
4.1 General
4.1.1 Principles
All structural materials and components of personal flotation devices shall meet the requirements
specified in this document.
The human subject performance tests shall be witnessed by a test panel of at least 2 experts familiar
with testing and with the products specified in the relevant parts of ISO 12402.
The human subject performance tests shall be carried out under the direction of a test house’s test
panel that is experienced in these specific test procedures. These tests shall be observed by at least
2 experienced observers from the test panel and repeated with 3 experienced observers from the
4 © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
panel if there is any question about the performance observed. An observer is to be qualified by having
experience of observing (or conducting under the supervision of a qualified observer) the specific test
on at least 3 occasions.
4.1.2 Sampling
Two samples (one from each end of the range) of materials and components common to a range of
products may be submitted and the results used to cover the full range of products.
Unless otherwise specified by the test method, the sampling of components shall be representative of
the production.
4.1.3 Pass or fail criteria
4.1.3.1 All required samples shall pass all objective tests for the component or material to meet the
requirements of this document.
4.1.3.2 For any test identified as subjective or which uses human test subjects, because of the high
variability between subjects and the difficulty in assessing some subjective measures, a component may
be accepted on the basis of the following additional testing. If a component does not completely meet the
requirements of a test for a particular measurement or does so but with only one test subject, another
two samples or subjects (with similar physical characteristics, if applicable) shall be subjected to the
same test and before the same test personnel. Such subjective tests shall be witnessed by a test panel
of at least two experts familiar with testing the products specified in the ISO 12402:2020 series and
repeated with three experts if there is any question about the performance observed. If this additional
test is still not clearly passed in accordance with this document, then the component or material shall be
deemed to have failed. The test panel should deem that the component or material has passed the test
only if it has now fulfilled the test requirements completely.
4.1.4 Units of measurement
Units of measurement shall be in accordance with ISO 80000-1:2009, ISO 80000-2:2019,
ISO 80000-3:2019 and ISO 80000-4:2019.
4.1.5 Material
4.1.5.1 Non-metallic components and fabrics
Non-metallic components and fabrics shall not be damaged when tested in accordance with the relevant
Tables of this document.
4.1.5.2 Corrosion of metal components
When tested in accordance with ISO 9227:2017 for a minimum of 160 h, metal components shall not be
significantly affected by corrosion as specified in the relevant Tables of this document.
4.1.5.3 Magnetic properties
No metallic component shall affect a magnetic compass of a type commonly used in small boats by more
than 1° when placed 500 mm from the compass according to ISO 12402-9:2020, 5.4.
4.1.5.4 Innocuousness
Innocuousness material shall comply with ISO 13688:2013, 4.2.
ISO 12402-7:2020(E)
4.1.6 Sample conditioning
4.1.6.1 General
Materials and components common to a range of products may be presented as one sample of each item.
Prior to testing, materials and components shall be conditioned.
4.1.6.2 Standard conditioning
a) Except for textile products (i.e., fabric, webbing, thread, tie tape), the applicable number of samples
specified in each section shall be conditioned at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5) % relative humidity for not
less than 24 h prior to the tests.
b) For textile products, the samples shall be conditioned according to ISO 139:2005/Amd 1:2011 for
not less than 24 h.
c) If it is specified that the sample is to be tested under “wet conditions”, the sample shall be soaked
+02,
for 6 h in fresh water, or as specified by the test procedure itself.
4.1.6.3 Temperature cycling
Where required by the test method, the component or sample of fabric shall be conditioned, in its
normal storage state, and then immediately exposed for (24 ± 0,5) h at a temperature of (–30 ± 2) °C,
then for (24 ± 0,5) h at a temperature of (60 ± 2) °C. Any damage shall be assessed by visual examination
and be reported. The component or sample shall undergo ten cycles.
4.1.6.4 Accelerated weathering
Laboratory exposure of components and fabrics for lifejackets to conditions representative of elements
found in a severe outdoor environment, including light and water, shall be conducted b
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