ISO/DIS 12402-6

Personal flotation devices

Dispositifs flottants individuels

Standards Content (sample)

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 12402-6
ISO/TC 188 Secretariat: SIS
Voting begins on Voting terminates on
2002-09-26 2003-02-26

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION • МЕЖДУНАРОДНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ПО СТАНДАРТИЗАЦИИ • ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE NORMALISATION

Personal flotation devices —
Part 6:
Special purpose lifejackets and additional test methods
Dispositifs flottants individuels —

Partie 6: Dispositifs flottants spéciaux — Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai complémentaires

ICS 13.340.10
ISO/CEN PARALLEL ENQUIRY

This draft International Standard is a draft European Standard developed within the European

Committee for Standardization (CEN) and processed under the CEN-lead mode of collaboration as

defined in the Vienna Agreement. The document has been transmitted by CEN to ISO for circulation

for ISO member body voting in parallel with CEN enquiry. Comments received from ISO member

bodies, including those from non-CEN members, will be considered by the appropriate CEN

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send a copy of their comments on this DIS directly to CEN/TC 162 (DIN, Burggrafenstraße, 6,

D-10787 Berlin) as well as returning their vote and comments in the normal way to the ISO

Central Secretariat. Should this DIS be accepted, a final draft, established on the basis of

comments received, will be submitted to a parallel two-month FDIS vote in ISO and formal vote in

CEN.

In accordance with the provisions of Council Resolution 15/1993 this document is circulated

in the English language only.

Conformément aux dispositions de la Résolution du Conseil 15/1993, ce document est

distribué en version anglaise seulement.

THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO

AS AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.

IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO WHICH

REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
© International Organization for Standardization, 2002
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DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN ISO 12402-6
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2002
ICS
English version
Personal flotation devices - Part 6: Special purpose lifejackets
and buoyancy aids - Safety requirements and additional test
methods (ISO/DIS 12402-6:2002)
Persönliche Auftriebsmittel - Teil 6: Rettungswesten und
Schwimmhilfen für besondere Einsatzzwecke -
Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und zusätzliche
Prüfverfahren (ISO/DIS 12402-6:2002)

This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for parallel enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee

CEN/TC 162.

If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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 Management Centre has the same

status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,

Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and

shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

© 2002 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 E

worldwide for CEN national Members.
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
Foreword

This document (prEN ISO 12402-6:2002) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 162, "Protective

clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets", the secretariat of which is held by DIN, in collaboration

with Technical Committee ISO/TC 188 "Small craft".
This document is currently submitted to the parallel Enquiry.

For relationship with EU Directive(s), see informative annex ZA, which is an integral part of this document.

This Standard is the sixth part of a series covering personal flotation devices. The series consists of:

Part 1: Lifejackets for seagoing ships — Safety requirements

Part 2: Lifejackets for extreme offshore conditions (level 275) — Safety requirements

Part 3: Lifejackets for offshore conditions (level 150) — Safety requirements

Part 4: Lifejackets for inland/close to shore conditions (level 100) — Safety requirements

Part 5: Buoyancy aids (level 50) — Safety requirements

Part 6: Special purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids — Safety requirements and additional test methods

Part 7: Materials and components — Safety requirements and test methods
Part 8: Accessories — Safety requirements and test methods
Part 9: Test methods

Part 10: Selection and application of personal flotation and other relevant devices

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European

Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................4

1 Scope ..............................................................................................................................................................5

2 Normative references ....................................................................................................................................5

3 Terms and definitions....................................................................................................................................6

4 Classification..................................................................................................................................................8

4.1 Classes ...........................................................................................................................................................8

4.2 Performance levels........................................................................................................................................8

5 Requirements.................................................................................................................................................9

5.1 General............................................................................................................................................................9

5.2 Devices recommended canoeing, kayaking, raft guides and other sports in white water ..................12

5.3 Devices with impact protectors such as used for water skiing, personal water craft-riding or

similar ...........................................................................................................................................................16

5.4 PFDs for firefighter application..................................................................................................................16

6 Marking .........................................................................................................................................................16

6.1 Information on the special purpose device ..............................................................................................16

6.2 Gas cylinders ...............................................................................................................................................17

6.3 PFD for commercial use in white water.....................................................................................................17

6.4 Identification and information ....................................................................................................................18

7 Information supplied by the manufacturer................................................................................................18

8 Information at point of sale.........................................................................................................................18

8.1 Plain text version .........................................................................................................................................19

8.2 Data list .........................................................................................................................................................21

8.3 Pictograms ...................................................................................................................................................22

8.4 Colour-code..................................................................................................................................................22

Annex ZA (informative) Clauses of this European Standard addressing essential requirements or other

provisions of EU Directives ........................................................................................................................23

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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
Introduction

This series of prEN ISO 12402 has been prepared to give guidance on the design and application of personal flota-

tion devices (hereafter referred to as 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 standard should give a reason-

able assurance of safety from drowning to a person who is immersed in water.

This series of standard allows for the buoyancy of a PFD to be provided by a wide variety of materials or designs,

some of which may require preparation before entering the water (e.g. inflation of chambers by gas from a cylinder

or blown in orally). However, PFDs can be divided into the following two main classes:

a) those which provide face up in-water support to the user regardless of physical conditions (lifejackets), and

b) those which require the user to be conscious to either orient the user with the face out of the water or to deploy

the device to achieve face up flotation (buoyancy aids).

Within these main two classes there are a number of levels of support, types of buoyancy media, activation meth-

ods for inflatable types, and auxiliary items (such as location aids), all of which will affect the user‘s probability of

survival. Within the types of buoyancy mediums 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

buoyancy provision. Hybrid PFDs always provide some buoyancy but rely on these same methods as inflatables to

achieve full buoyancy. With inherently buoyant PFDs, the user only needs to put the PFD on to achieve the per-

formance of its class.

PFDs that do not require intervention (self-acting 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, benign conditions, or help 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 standard 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.

This series of standard 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 stowed in a locker for emergency use. Throwable devices

and flotation cushions are not covered by this standard. The primary function of a PFD is to support the user in rea-

sonable 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

allowed by the standards are:

a) to provide higher levels of support (levels 100, 150, or 275) that generally float the user with greater water

clearance, enabling the user’s efforts to be expended in recovery rather than avoiding waves; or to provide

lighter or less bulky PFDs (levels 50 to 100)

b) to provide the kinds of flotation media (inherently buoyant foam, hybrid, and inflatable) that will accommodate

the sometimes conflicting needs of reliability and durability, in-water performance, and continuous wear;

c) to provide self-acting (inherently buoyant or automatically inflated) PFDs that float users without any interven-

tion 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;

d) 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 will need to be secure when worn, providing positive support in the water,

allowing the user to swim or actively assist herself/himself or others. The PFD selected shall ensure 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.
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)

In certain circumstances of the environment (such as waves), the wearing of garments which provide (intentionally

or otherwise) additional buoyancy, (such as immersion suits) or the use of equipment with additional weight, (such

as tool belts) will likely alter the performance of the PFD. Users, owners and employers need to ensure that this is

taken into account when selecting a PFD. Similarly, PFDs may not perform as well in extremes of temperature,

although fully approved under this standard. PFDs may also be affected by other conditions of use, such as chemi-

cal exposure and welding, and may require additional protection to meet the specific requirements of use. If the

user intends taking a PFD into such conditions, she/he has to be assumed that the PFD will not be adversely

affected. The standard also allows a PFD to be an integral part of a safety harness designed to conform to

ISO/DIS 12401, 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 required to conform to this standard.

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 which conforms to the specification 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 are not necessarily accurate simulations of it. For

example, the fact that a device passes the self-righting tests described herein does not guarantee that it will self-

right an unconscious user wearing waterproof clothing, neither can it be expected to completely protect the airway

of an unconscious person in rough water.

It is essential that owners, users and employers choose those PFDs that meet the correct standards for the circum-

stances in which they will be used. Manufacturers and those selling PFDs have to make clear to prospective pur-

chasers the product properties and alternative choices and the limitations to normal use, prior to the purchase.

Similarly, those framing legislation regarding the wearing of these garments should consider carefully which class

and performance level is most appropriate for the foreseeable conditions of use, allowing for the more severe

circumstances which often pertain in emergencies. More information for the selection and application is given in

prEN ISO 12402-10.
1 Scope

This part of prEN ISO 12402 specifies the safety requirements and additional test methods for special purpose life-

jackets and buoyancy aids (hereafter referred to as special purpose devices) in combination with the requirements

specified in prEN ISO 12402-1 to –5.
2 Normative references

This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated references, provision from other publications. These

normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed hereafter. For

dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this European

Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the latest edition of the

publication referred to applies (including amendments).

EN 532, Protective clothing — Protection against heat and flame — Test method of test for limited flame spread.

EN 533, Protective clothing — Protection against heat and flame — Limited flame spread materials assemblies.

EN 1621-1, Motorcyclist' protective clothing against mechanical impact — Part 1: Requirements and test methods

for impact protectors.

prEN 1621-2, Motorcyclists' protective clothing against mechanical impact — Part 2: Requirements and test

methods for back protectors.

prEN ISO 12402-1, Personal flotation devices — Part 1: Lifejackets for seagoing ships — Safety requirements.

prEN ISO 12402-2, Personal flotation devices — Part 2: Lifejacket for extreme offshore conditions (level 275) —

Safety requirements.

prEN ISO 12402-3, Personal flotation devices — Part 3: Lifejackets for offshore conditions (level 150) — Safety

requirements.
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)

prEN ISO 12402-4, Personal flotation devices — Part 4: Lifejackets for inland/close to shore conditions

(level 100) — Safety requirements.

prEN ISO 12402-5, Personal flotation devices — Part 5: Buoyancy aids (level 50) — Safety requirements.

prEN ISO 12402-7, Personal flotation devices — Part 7: Materials and components — Safety requirements and test

methods.

prEN ISO 12402-8, Personal flotation devices — Part 8: Accessories — Safety requirements and test methods.

prEN ISO 12402-9, Personal flotation devices — Part 9: Test methods.

prEN ISO 12402-10, Personal flotation devices, Part 10: Selection and application of personal flotation and other

relevant devices.

ISO/DIS 12401, Small craft — Deck safety harness and safety line for use on recreational craft — Safety require-

ments and test methods.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
personal flotation device (PFD)

garment or device which, when correctly worn and used in water, will provide the user with a specific amount of

buoyancy which will increase the likelihood of survival
3.2
inherently buoyant material
material which is permanently less dense than water
3.3
self-acting PFD

device in which, buoyancy is provided by permanent means (inherently buoyant material) or by suitable means

(gas inflation) effected by a system which automatically activates upon immersion and which, except for the

inspection and rearming of inflatable types, when correctly donned requires no further action by the user

3.4
automatically inflated PFD

device in which inflation is effected as a result of immersion without the user carrying out any action at the time of

immersion
3.5
manually inflated PFD

device in which inflation is effected as a result of the user operating a mechanism

3.6
orally inflated PFD
device inflated by mouth to produce buoyancy
3.7
PFD with secondary donning

additional donning or adjustment that is needed to place the PFD in its functioning position from the position it is

normally worn

NOTE Pouch-type devices are examples of the type of PFDs which usually require such additional positioning.

3.8
vest-type PFD
device covering the upper trunk of the user like a vest
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
3.9
yoke-type PFD
device worn around the neck secured by a waist strap
3.10
emergency light
device which emits light so as to increase the chances of a user being located
3.11
multi-chamber buoyancy system

system that divides the buoyancy provided by an inflatable lifejacket into two or more separate compartments, such

that if mechanical damage occurs to one, others can still operate and provide buoyancy so as to aid the user when

immersed
3.12
deck safety harness and safety line

device that allows a user to be securely attached to a strong point on a vessel or on shore, so as to prevent the

user from falling into the water, or, if he does fall into the water, to prevent him from being separated from the ves-

sel or shore
3.13
buddy line

length of cord which can be tied or otherwise fixed to another person or to that person's lifejacket or buoyancy aids,

liferafts, or other objects, so as to keep a user in the vicinity of that person or object with a view to making location

and thus rescue easier
3.14
lifting loop
device, which is suitable to facilitate manual recovery of a person from water
3.15
sprayhood

cover brought or placed in front of the airways of a user in order to reduce or eliminate the splashing of water from

waves or the like onto the airways and thereby to promote the survival of the user in rough water conditions

3.16
protective cover

cover that is normally in place over the functional elements of a PFD in order to protect them from physical

damage, or snagging on external objects. The protective cover may be designed to provide additional physical

properties i.e. to make the PFDs suitable for use when the subject is exposed to additional hazards

NOTE 1 Such hazards may be significant abrasion, molten metal splash, flame and fire and other hazards.

NOTE 2 The inflatable chamber of an inflatable PFD is an example of a functional element.

3.17
overpressure relief valve

valve which may be used in an inflatable system, to avoid the likelihood of destruction caused by overpressure

3.18
whistle

device which, when blown by mouth, produce an audible sound which can aid in the location of the user

3.19
hybrid type PFD
a device of combined buoyancy types, i.e. inherent and inflatable
3.20
HELP position

body posture to reduce heatloss to a minimum, legs and arms as close to the body as possible

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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
3.21
chin support

the device is in direct contact with the jaw while the subject is either in the vertical upright or relaxed face-up posi-

tion, or the device prevents the subject from touching the chin to the chest when starting from the relaxed face-up

position of static balance
3.22
decorative D ring

D shaped loop or other free-hanging tabor open loop that is a potential attachment point designed to pull free of the

PFD at a force of ‡ 220 N
3.23
universal size
size range which includes 760 mm to 1 320 mm chest sizes
4 Classification
4.1 Classes
4.1.1 Lifejackets

These devices provide face-up flotation with levels of support sufficient for various open and rough water uses.

Lifejackets have a buoyancy distribution sufficient to turn all users when tested according to this standard to a posi-

tion where the mouth has a defined freeboard above the water’s surface, even when unconscious.

4.1.2 Buoyancy aids

These devices provide lift without significant face-up turning ability, to float the conscious user with levels of support

suitable for sheltered waters and should be comfortable for continuous wear.
4.1.3 Special purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids

These devices perform in the above definitions with different levels of support, but have modifications related to

special applications for use, which do not relate to essential requirements such as in water-performance, stability

and safety in use, or may have use conditions stated on their label to maintain essential requirements.

4.2 Performance levels
4.2.1 Level 275

This level is intended primarily for offshore use and by people who are carrying significant weights and thus require

additional buoyancy. It is also of value to those who are wearing clothing which traps air and which may adversely

affect the self-righting capacity of the lifejacket. It is designed to ensure that the user is floating in the correct

position with his mouth and nose clear of the surface.
See prEN ISO 12402-2.
4.2.2 Level 150

This level is intended for general offshore and rough weather use where a high standard of performance is required. It

will turn an unconscious person into a safe position and requires no subsequent action by the user to maintain this

position.
See prEN ISO 12402-3.
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
4.2.3 Level 100

This level is intended for those who may have to wait for rescue, but are likely to do so in sheltered water. The

devices should not be used in rough conditions.
See prEN ISO 12402-4.
4.2.4 Level 50

This level is intended for use by those who are competent swimmers and who are near to bank or shore, or who have

help and a means of rescue close at hand. These garments have minimal bulk, but they are of limited use in disturbed

water, and cannot be expected to keep the user safe for a long period of time. They do not have sufficient buoyancy

to protect people who are unable to help themselves. They require active participation by the user.

See prEN ISO 12402-5.
5 Requirements
5.1 General
5.1.1 Principles

There are special purpose devices which have additional features for specific needs going beyond the require-

ments for the average user and those that rely on the skill, knowledge, special training and participation of the user.

This has to be spelled out clearly by the information supplied by the manufacturer.

The requirements specified in prEN ISO 12402-1 to -5 are also the basic requirements for special purpose devices.

If any modification change such basic performance of the PFD, this will require a down grade of the product to the

next suitable performance level of PFD.

A special purpose device shall be tested in accordance with prEN ISO 12402-9. The tests of prEN ISO 12402-9 have

to be considered as test sequence, whereas temperature cycling and rotating shock bin test shall be considered as

reliability against wear and tear.

A combination of a special purpose device and accessories shall not impair the performance of each of it. This shall be

proved during the test required for the special purpose device as well as the additional item. If necessary the test se-

quence has to be arranged accordingly, i.e. a special purpose device is provided with a deck safety harness, the har-

ness tests shall be performed first.

An inflatable special purpose device shall have auto or manual inflation that allows providing full compliance with all

performance requirements of this standard and at least manual and oral inflation. It shall be tested against inadvertent

inflation.
5.1.2 Accessories
5.1.2.1 General

Special purpose devices shall be equipped with accessories complying with prEN ISO 12402-8, as specified in

Table 1.
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prEN ISO 12402-6:2002 (E)
Table 1 — PFD and accessories required
PFDs according to
Accessories

prEN ISO 12402-1 prEN ISO 12402-2 prEN ISO 12402-3 prEN ISO 12402-4 prEN ISO 12402-5

Emergency light OO O O
Whistle M M M M M
Lifting loop O MM O O
Buddy line O O O O O
Retroreflective MM M M M
material
Deck safety OO O O O
harness
Overpressure OO O O O
relief valve
Multi-chamber M OO O O
system
Protective covers O O O O O
Sprayhood O O O O O
O = optional
M = mandatory
only mandatory for operator, emergency light according to SOLAS specification
see MSC, but lifting loop recommended
only for inflatables
5.1.2.2 Lifting loop

A special purpose device shall be provided with a lifting loop. Testing according to prEN ISO 12402-9.

The lifting loop shall be affixed to the special purpose device in front of the chest anterior to lines from each axial to

midway between lower end of sternum and the umbilicus and within no more than 100 mm from the midline.

The minimum length of the loop shall be 150 mm, measured from attachment to end of the loop.

The lifting loop shall have a minimum width of 20 mm and shall have a colour to be distinctive from that of the spe-

cial purpose device.

The lifting loop shall be conspicuous when the user is floating normally, but may be enclosed to the cover when the

special purpose device is worn but not deployed to floatation.
5.1.2.3 Whistle
The lifejacket sh
...