kSIST FprEN 4862:2022

Rotorcraft - Constant Wear Lifejackets - Requirements, testing and marking

This document specifies requirements for constant wear lifejackets for use by helicopter crew members and passengers in the event of a ditching or water impact, to ensure minimum levels of performance. It only applies to constant wear lifejackets for use by adults and that are intended to be manually inflated after leaving the helicopter.
Helicopter constant wear lifejackets are designed to be worn with or without a helicopter immersion suit and/or emergency breathing system.

Luft und Raumfahrt - Drehflüglerrettungswesten für dauerhaftes Tragen - Anforderungen, Prüfung und Kennzeichnung

Série aérospatiale - Gilets de sauvetage de port permanent de giravion - Exigences, essais et marquage

Le présent document spécifie les exigences relatives aux gilets de sauvetage de port constant destinés à être utilisés par les membres d'équipage et par les passagers des hélicoptères en cas d'amerrissage forcé ou d'impact avec un plan d'eau, afin de garantir des niveaux minimaux de performance. Il s'applique uniquement aux gilets de sauvetage de port constant destinés à être utilisés par des adultes et conçus pour être gonflés manuellement à la sortie de l'hélicoptère.
Les gilets de sauvetage de port constant pour hélicoptères sont conçus pour être portés avec ou sans combinaison de protection thermique en cas d'immersion d'hélicoptère et/ou système de ventilation d'urgence.

Rotoplani - Stalno nošeni rešilni jopiči - Zahteve, preskušanje in označevanje

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 14-Jul-2021
• ICS: 13.340.10 - Protective clothing
• Technical Committee: I13 - Imaginarni 13
• Current Stage: 5020 - Formal vote (FV) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 20-Jun-2022
• Due Date: 08-Aug-2022
• Completion Date: 23-Jun-2022
• Ref Project: FprEN 4862 - Aerospace series - Rotorcraft constant wear lifejackets - Requirements, testing and marking

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 4862:2021
01-julij-2021
Rotoplani - Stalno nošeni rešilni jopiči - Zahteve, preskušanje in označevanje
Rotorcraft - Constant Wear Lifejackets - Requirements, testing and marking
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 4862
ICS:
13.340.10 Varovalna obleka Protective clothing
oSIST prEN 4862:2021 en,fr,de

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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oSIST prEN 4862:2021
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oSIST prEN 4862:2021
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 4862
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2021
ICS 13.340.10
English Version
Rotorcraft - Constant Wear Lifejackets - Requirements,
testing and marking

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

STAN.

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 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.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are

aware and to provide supporting documentation.

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
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels

© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 4862:2021 E

worldwide for CEN national Members.
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Contents Page

European foreword ...................................................................................................................................................... 5

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 6

1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

2 Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 7

3 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 8

4 Description ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

5 Requirements ................................................................................................................................................. 12

5.1 General.............................................................................................................................................................. 12

5.2 Design ................................................................................................................................................................ 12

5.3 Materials and components ........................................................................................................................ 12

5.3.1 Metallic components .................................................................................................................................... 12

5.3.2 Sewing thread ................................................................................................................................................. 12

5.3.3 Fabric ................................................................................................................................................................. 13

5.3.4 Structural webbing and tie tapes ............................................................................................................ 14

5.3.5 Structural lacing ............................................................................................................................................ 15

5.3.6 Structural zippers ......................................................................................................................................... 15

5.3.7 Hardware ......................................................................................................................................................... 15

5.3.8 Inflation system components ................................................................................................................... 15

5.3.9 Inflation chamber materials ..................................................................................................................... 15

5.3.10 Overpressure relief valve .......................................................................................................................... 15

5.3.11 Gas cylinders ................................................................................................................................................... 15

5.4 Accessories ...................................................................................................................................................... 15

5.4.1 General.............................................................................................................................................................. 15

5.4.2 Sprayhood ........................................................................................................................................................ 16

5.4.3 Survivor locator light ................................................................................................................................... 17

5.4.4 Whistle .............................................................................................................................................................. 17

5.4.5 Lifting loop ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

5.4.6 Buddy line ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

5.4.7 EBS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18

5.4.8 Other optional accessories ........................................................................................................................ 18

5.5 Physical performance of device ............................................................................................................... 19

5.5.1 Resistance to temperature variation ..................................................................................................... 19

5.5.2 Wear and tear ................................................................................................................................................. 19

5.5.3 Inflation ............................................................................................................................................................ 19

5.5.4 Strength ............................................................................................................................................................ 20

5.5.5 Buoyancy .......................................................................................................................................................... 20

5.5.6 Overpressure .................................................................................................................................................. 20

5.5.7 Flammability ................................................................................................................................................... 20

5.5.8 Resistance to fuel .......................................................................................................................................... 21

5.5.9 Torque............................................................................................................................................................... 21

5.6 Conspicuity ...................................................................................................................................................... 21

5.6.1 General.............................................................................................................................................................. 21

5.6.2 Retroreflective material ............................................................................................................................. 21

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5.7 Ergonomic performance ............................................................................................................................ 22

5.7.1 Donning and fit .............................................................................................................................................. 22

5.7.2 Ride-up ............................................................................................................................................................. 22

5.7.3 Helicopter escape ......................................................................................................................................... 22

5.7.4 Jump into water ............................................................................................................................................. 22

5.7.5 Flotation angles and freeboard ............................................................................................................... 22

5.7.6 Self-righting .................................................................................................................................................... 23

5.7.7 In-water stability .......................................................................................................................................... 23

5.7.8 Field of vision ................................................................................................................................................. 23

5.7.9 Freedom of movement and use of accessories ................................................................................... 23

5.7.10 Life raft boarding .......................................................................................................................................... 23

5.7.11 Rescue and recovery .................................................................................................................................... 23

5.8 Compatibility .................................................................................................................................................. 23

5.8.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 23

5.8.2 Combined lifejacket, EBS and/or immersion suit ergonomic performance ........................... 24

6 Testing .............................................................................................................................................................. 26

6.1 Visual inspection ........................................................................................................................................... 26

6.2 Nominal values and tolerances ................................................................................................................ 26

6.3 Order of testing ............................................................................................................................................. 27

6.4 Magnetic properties testing ...................................................................................................................... 27

6.5 Temperature cycling ................................................................................................................................... 27

6.6 Wear and tear ................................................................................................................................................ 27

6.7 Retroreflective material application ..................................................................................................... 29

6.8 Inflation ............................................................................................................................................................ 29

6.9 Strength tests ................................................................................................................................................. 30

6.9.1 Horizontal and vertical load ..................................................................................................................... 30

6.9.2 Lifting loop test .............................................................................................................................................. 34

6.9.3 Buddy line ....................................................................................................................................................... 35

6.9.4 Strength test of attachment points ......................................................................................................... 36

6.10 Buoyancy of device ....................................................................................................................................... 36

6.11 Overpressure test ......................................................................................................................................... 37

6.12 Flammability .................................................................................................................................................. 37

6.13 Resistance to fuel .......................................................................................................................................... 38

6.14 Sprayhood gas exchange test .................................................................................................................... 39

6.15 Torque test ...................................................................................................................................................... 39

6.16 Ergonomic performance ............................................................................................................................ 42

6.16.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 42

6.16.2 Test subjects ................................................................................................................................................... 43

6.16.3 Donning and fit .............................................................................................................................................. 44

6.16.4 Ride-up assessment ..................................................................................................................................... 44

6.16.5 Helicopter underwater escape ................................................................................................................ 45

6.16.6 Jump into water ............................................................................................................................................. 45

6.16.7 Flotation angles ............................................................................................................................................. 46

6.16.8 Freeboard ........................................................................................................................................................ 46

6.16.9 Turning ............................................................................................................................................................. 47

6.16.10 Self-righting ............................................................................................................................................. 47

6.16.11 In-water stability test for lifejackets .............................................................................................. 47

6.16.12 Field of vision.......................................................................................................................................... 48

6.16.13 Freedom of movement and use of accessories ........................................................................... 48

6.16.14 Colour ........................................................................................................................................................ 49

6.16.15 Life raft boarding .................................................................................................................................. 49

6.16.16 Rescue and recovery ............................................................................................................................ 50

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6.16.17 Escape buoyancy .................................................................................................................................... 50

6.17 Lifejacket, immersion suit and EBS compatibility ............................................................................ 50

6.17.1 General.............................................................................................................................................................. 50

6.17.2 Test subjects ................................................................................................................................................... 51

6.17.3 Clothing............................................................................................................................................................. 51

6.17.4 Compatibility testing ................................................................................................................................... 51

6.18 Crew equipment compatibility ................................................................................................................ 51

6.19 Reporting ......................................................................................................................................................... 53

7 Marking ............................................................................................................................................................ 53

8 Information supplied by the manufacturer ........................................................................................ 54

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................. 55

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European foreword

This document (prEN 4862:2021) has been prepared by the Aerospace and Defence Industries

Association of Europe – Standardization (ASD-STAN).

After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this Standard has

received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of

ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
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Introduction

This technical document prescribes the minimum standards of design and performance for rotorcraft

constant wear lifejackets, used to reduce the risks of drowning following evacuation or escape from a

rotorcraft. Lifejackets are designed to support the user in water, keep the head above the water, protect

the airways from wave splash and provide some stability in the face-up position. Depending upon the

conditions of use a lifejacket may turn the user from a face-down to a face-up position in the water.

Lifejackets are also equipped with items intended to aid in the location of a survivor in the water. These

include a survivor locator light, whistle and retroreflective material.

The technical document aims to ensure that the equipment user is able to carry out the necessary

emergency procedures whilst being provided with an appropriate level of protection under foreseeable

conditions of use. It aims to ensure that the equipment presents a minimal hazard in relation to escape

from the rotorcraft, and that the equipment has no detrimental effect on the health and safety of the

user or on the performance of other equipment. There is also a need to ensure that the lifejacket does

not prevent or hinder crew members from carrying out all normal operating procedures and allows

them to access all flight controls.

This document is applicable to all rotorcraft. Rotorcraft include helicopters, tilt rotor/wing and

gyroplanes. For the purpose of this document the term helicopter is used generically hereinafter.

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1 Scope

This document specifies requirements for constant wear lifejackets for use by helicopter crew members

and passengers in the event of a ditching or water impact, to ensure minimum levels of performance. It

only applies to constant wear lifejackets for use by adults and that are intended to be manually inflated

after leaving the helicopter.

Helicopter constant wear lifejackets are sometimes designed to be worn with or without a helicopter

immersion suit and/or emergency breathing system.
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.

EN 4856, Rotorcraft - Emergency Breathing Systems (EBS) - Requirements, testing and marking

prEN 4863, Rotorcraft — Immersion Suits — Requirements, testing and marking

prEN 4886, Aerospace series - Rotorcraft - Liferafts for operations in hostile sea areas - Requirements,

testing and marking

EN ISO 9227, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres - Salt spray tests (ISO 9227)

EN ISO 12401, Small craft - Deck safety harness and safety line - Safety requirements and test methods

(ISO 12401)

EN ISO 12402-7, Personal flotation devices - Part 7: Materials and components - Safety requirements and

test methods (ISO 12402-7)

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

(ISO 12402-8)

ISO 105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour

ISO 105-E02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part E02: Colour fastness to sea water

ISO 105-X12, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part X12: Colour fastness to rubbing

ISO 2768-1, General tolerances — Part 1: Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual

tolerance indications

EASA, Certification Specifications and Acceptable Means of Compliance for Large Aeroplanes, CS-25,

Book 1 – Appendix F
EASA, ETSO-C85b, Survivor Locator Lights
ASTM D1655, Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
CIE publication No. 15, Colorimetry

DEF STAN 91-091, Turbine Fuel, Kerosine Type, JET A-1; NATO Code: F-35; JSD: AVTUR

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IATA Guidance Material (Kerosene Type), NATO Code F-35

IMO, Resolution A.658(16), Use and Fitting of Retro-Reflective Materials on Life-Saving Appliances

IMO, International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, adopted by Resolution MSC.48(66), (as amended)

IMO, Resolution MSC.81(70) (adopted on 11 December 1998) Revised recommendation on testing of life-

saving appliances
MIL-STD-3009, Lighting, aircraft, night vision imaging system (NVIS) compatible

SAE ARP5825, Design Requirements and Test Procedures for Dual Mode Exterior Lights

SAE AS4492, Survivor Locator Lights
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/
3.1
lifejacket

garment or device which, when correctly worn and used in water will provide the user with buoyancy

positioned to provide protection from drowning and increase the likelihood of survival and rescue

3.2
helicopter constant wear lifejacket

lifejacket worn on the body throughout a helicopter flight, provided to protect the user in the event of a

ditching or water impact
3.3
buoyancy chamber
inflatable component of a lifejacket or integrated immersion suit
3.4
immersion suit

garment designed to protect the user’s body from the cooling effects of unintended immersion in water

Note 1 to entry: Cooling effects include cold shock and hypothermia.

Note 2 to entry: An immersion suit may be integrated or worn with a separate constant wear lifejacket.

3.5
integrated immersion suit
immersion suit that incorporates the functionality of a lifejacket
3.6
inflatable element

buoyancy chamber incorporated into an integrated immersion suit that, when inflated, provides the suit

with the functionality of a lifejacket
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3.7
helicopter immersion suit

immersion suit worn on the body throughout a helicopter flight, provided to protect the user in the

event of a ditching or water impact
3.8
suit system

helicopter immersion suit (with or without thermal liner) and its components and accessories including

either a constant wear lifejacket or inflatable element and/or emergency breathing system, as

applicable
3.9
hood

covering for the head and neck with an opening for the face, worn for protection against cold

3.10
glove

covering for the hand which may have separate parts for each finger and the thumb, worn for

protection against cold
3.11
emergency breathing system
EBS

system that allows a person to breathe underwater, overcoming the need to breath-hold for the

complete duration of an underwater escape from a helicopter, that can be deployed under emergency

conditions
3.12
rotorcraft

heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or

more rotors
3.13
helicopter

rotorcraft that, for its horizontal motion, depends principally on its engine-driven rotors

3.14
ditching

controlled emergency landing on water, deliberately executed in accordance with Rotorcraft Flight

Manual procedures, with the intent of abandoning the rotorcraft as soon as practical

3.15
water impact

helicopter contact with water that is unintentional or exceeds the ditching capability of the helicopter

for water entry
3.16
crew member
person assigned by an operator to perform duties on board an aircraft
3.17
hardware

lifejacket components such as structural closures and adjusters and multi-eyelet guides used with

lacing
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3.18
manual inflation system

means of inflation achieved by a person operating a mechanism that actively releases stored gas into

the buoyancy chamber(s)
3.19
fully inflated

inflation achieved by using the manual inflation system (stored gas) with no subsequent deflation

3.20
oral inflation system

means of inflation achieved by a person blowing expired air into the buoyancy chamber(s)

3.21
overpressure relief valve

safety device used to limit the pressure in an inflatable system, to avoid the likelihood of destruction

caused by excessive pressure
3.22
sprayhood

cover that can be brought in front of the face, incorporating an area of transparent material, used to

protect the airways from water and wave splash, intended to increase the likelihood of survival in

rough water conditions
3.23
survivor locator light
device which emits light intended to aid in the location
...