IEC 61097-2:2021
(Main)Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 2: Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB - Emergency position indicating radio beacon operating on 406 MHz - Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results
Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) - Part 2: Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB - Emergency position indicating radio beacon operating on 406 MHz - Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results
IEC 61097-2:2021(E) specifies the minimum performance requirements, technical characteristics and type-testing requirements of the emergency position-indicating radio beacon used in the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system (EPIRB), as required by the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as amended, and which is associated with IEC 60945. When a requirement in this document is different from the requirements in IEC 60945 or other standards, the requirement in this document takes precedence.
This document incorporates the performance standards of IMO Resolution MSC.471(101), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations as well as the technical characteristics for such transmitters contained in Recommendation ITU-R M.633, and takes account of the general requirements contained in IMO Resolution A.694(17).
This document also includes minimum performance standards for a non-float-free EPIRB without float-free release mechanism (see Annex C).
The contents of the corrigendum of December 2021 have been included in this copy.
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
IEC 61097-2 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) –
Part 2: Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB – Emergency position indicating radio beacon
operating on 406 MHz – Operational and performance requirements, methods of
testing and required test results
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.
IEC Central Office Tel.: +41 22 919 02 11
3, rue de Varembé info@iec.ch
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.
IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC online collection - oc.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews. With a subscription you will always
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced have access to up to date content tailored to your needs.
and withdrawn publications.
Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
containing more than 22 000 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and
and French, with equivalent terms in 18 additional languages.
once a month by email.
Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary
(IEV) online.
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or
need further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: sales@iec.ch.
IEC 61097-2 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) –
Part 2: Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB – Emergency position indicating radio beacon
operating on 406 MHz – Operational and performance requirements, methods of
testing and required test results
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 47.020.70 ISBN 978-2-8322-9925-8
– 2 – IEC 61097-2:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 11
3.1 Terms and definitions . 11
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 11
4 Performance requirements. 11
4.1 Compliance . 11
4.2 General . 12
4.3 Operational . 14
4.3.1 Prevention of inadvertent activation . 14
4.3.2 Immersion, buoyancy and drop into water . 14
4.3.3 Activation . 14
4.3.4 Self-test . 14
4.3.5 Colour and retro-reflecting material. 16
4.3.6 Lanyard . 16
4.3.7 Exposure to the marine environment . 17
4.3.8 Ergonomics . 17
4.3.9 Indication of insufficient battery energy . 18
4.4 Control and indicator functions . 18
4.4.1 Control functions . 18
4.4.2 Indicator functions . 18
4.5 Float-free arrangements . 19
4.5.1 General . 19
4.5.2 External power or data connection . 19
4.5.3 Ability to check the automatic release . 19
4.5.4 Manual release . 20
4.6 Environment for EPIRB . 20
4.6.1 General . 20
4.6.2 Temperature and icing . 20
4.6.3 Wind speed . 20
4.6.4 Stowage . 20
4.6.5 Shock, vibration and other environmental conditions. 20
4.7 Environment for float-free arrangement . 20
4.8 Interference – Electromagnetic compatibility . 21
4.9 Maintenance . 21
4.10 Safety precautions . 21
4.11 Equipment manuals . 22
4.12 Labelling . 23
4.12.1 Equipment labelling . 23
4.12.2 Float-free arrangement labelling . 24
4.12.3 Battery labelling . 24
4.13 Installation . 24
5 Technical characteristics . 24
5.1 Transmitted frequency . 24
5.2 Signal and message format . 24
5.3 Distress message memory . 25
5.4 Beacon identification code . 25
5.5 121,5 MHz homing signal . 25
5.6 AIS locating signal . 26
5.7 GNSS receiver and position reporting . 27
5.8 RLS . 27
5.8.1 RLS capability . 27
5.8.2 RLS self-test . 27
5.9 Power source . 28
5.9.1 General . 28
5.9.2 Battery life and expiry date . 28
5.9.3 Expiry date indication . 28
5.9.4 Reverse polarity protection . 28
5.10 Antenna characteristics . 29
6 Methods of testing and required test results . 29
6.1 General . 29
6.1.1 Purpose . 29
6.1.2 Type approval of EPIRBs operating in the Cospas-Sarsat system . 29
6.1.3 Power supply . 30
6.1.4 Warm-up period . 30
6.1.5 Instructions . 30
6.1.6 Additional facilities . 30
6.1.7 Audible and visual indications . 30
6.1.8 Preparation of EPIRB for type-approval testing . 30
6.1.9 Test conditions . 30
6.1.10 Test sequence . 31
6.1.11 Performance check . 31
6.1.12 Performance test . 31
6.2 General tests . 32
6.2.1 EPIRB . 32
6.2.2 Float-free arrangements . 32
6.3 Operational tests . 33
6.3.1 Prevention of inadvertent activation . 33
6.3.2 Immersion, buoyancy and drop into water . 33
6.3.3 Activation . 34
6.3.4 Self-test . 36
6.3.5 Exterior, colour and retro-reflecting material . 37
6.3.6 Lanyard . 37
6.3.7 Exposure to marine environment . 37
6.3.8 Ergonomics . 38
6.3.9 Indication of insufficient battery energy . 38
6.4 Control and indicator functions . 38
6.5 Float-free arrangements . 39
6.5.1 Release . 39
6.5.2 Test to prevent release when sea water washes over the unit . 39
6.5.3 Construction materials . 39
6.5.4 External power or data connection . 39
6.5.5 Ability to check the automatic release . 39
6.5.6 Manual release .
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.