ISO/TC 188/SC 1 - Personal safety equipment

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.

This document specifies the safety requirements for buoyancy aids, performance level 50. It is applicable to buoyancy aids for adults and children with a body mass greater than 25 kg only, used in sheltered waters. Buoyancy aids require active participation by the user where help and rescue are close at hand. One-piece and two-piece inherently buoyant floatation suit PFDs are deemed to qualify as special application devices according to ISO 12402-6:2020.

This document specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 150. It is applicable to lifejackets used by adults, children and infants, for general, offshore or rough water use, or when the users are fully clothed.

This document specifies the safety requirements and test methods for accessories used for personal flotation devices (PFDs).

This document specifies the safety requirements and additional test methods for special application lifejackets and buoyancy aids (hereafter named PFD) for adults, children or infants. It is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 12402‑2:2020, ISO 12402‑3:2020, ISO 12402‑4:2020 and ISO 12402‑5:2020, as applicable.

This document specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 275. It is applicable to lifejackets for adults, children or infants, for offshore use under severe conditions, or when protective clothing is being used or additional loads are being carried.

This document provides requirements and recommendations for the selection and application of both personal flotation devices (PFD) complying with the relevant Parts of the ISO 12402 series:2020, and immersion suits according to ISO 15027 (all parts):2012. It is intended to assist manufacturers, suppliers, users and regulators in the appropriate selection and application of those garments for the circumstances in which they will be used.

This document specifies the processes for evaluation of personal flotation devices for fulfilment of the requirements in ISO 12402‑2:2020 to ISO 12402‑6:2020, with which this document is intended to be used. The classification of PFDs used in the ISO 12402 series:2020 is given in Annex A for information.

This document specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 100. It is applicable to lifejackets used by adults, children and infants, for use in sheltered or calm water, or when the users are fully clothed.

ISO 15027-1:2012 specifies performance and safety requirements for constant wear immersion suits for work and leisure activities to protect the body of a user against the effects of cold water immersion, such as cold shock and hypothermia. It is applicable for dry and wet constant wear immersion suits. Abandonment suits are not covered by ISO 15027-1:2012. Requirements for abandonment suits are given in ISO 15027-2. Test methods for immersion suits are given in ISO 15027-3.

ISO 15027-2:2012 specifies performance and safety requirements for abandonment suits in emergency situations in work and leisure activities to protect the body of a user against the effects of cold water immersion, such as cold shock and hypothermia, including head, hand and feet protection. It is applicable for dry and wet abandonment suits. Constant wear suits are not covered by ISO 15027-2:2012. The requirements of constant wear suits are given in ISO 15027-1. Test methods are given in ISO 15027-3.

ISO 15027-3:2012 specifies the test methods for constant wear suits, including helicopter transit suits, and abandonment suits. Requirements for constant wear suits are given in ISO 15027-1:2012 and requirements for abandonment suits are given in ISO 15027-2:2012.

ISO 12401:2009 specifies the requirements for performance, sizing, marking and test methods for deck safety harnesses and safety lines on recreational craft. It is applicable to harnesses and lines in the following sizes of body mass (multisizing is permitted): size 1: > 50 kg ; size 2: > 20 kg ≤ 50 kg; size 3: ≤ 20 kg; which are intended to be worn by all persons when in the exposed cockpit or on the working deck of a craft afloat. It is not applicable to dinghy 'trapeze' harnesses, windsurfing harnesses, seat harnesses for fast motor boats, and harnesses intended to protect against falls from a height.

ISO 10862:2009 specifies requirements and test methods for quick release devices as a component of the small sailing-craft trapeze system worn whilst afloat. The quick release device is intended to quickly release the wearer from entrapment and minimize the risk of drowning in the event of a failure to release from the sailing-craft trapeze system by other means. The quick release device is intended to be easily accessible and operated in all conditions that might occur whilst in use, including when a craft is capsized or inverted.

ISO 12402-7:2006 specifies the minimum requirements for construction and performance of materials and components of personal flotation devices as well as relevant test methods.

ISO 12402-6:2006 specifies the safety requirements and additional test methods for special purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids (referred to as special purpose devices within ISO 12402-6:2006) in combination with the requirements specified in ISO 12402-2 to ISO 12402-5. It applies to special purpose devices for adults generally and for chidren younger than six years partially.

ISO 12402-2:2006 specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 275. It applies to lifejackets for adults and children for offshore use under extreme conditions.

ISO 12402-3:2006 specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 150. It applies to lifejackets used by adults or children.

ISO 12402-5:2006 specifies the safety requirements for buoyancy aids with a buoyancy of not less than 50 N used in sheltered waters with help and rescue close at hand under such circumstances where more bulky or buoyant devices can impair the user's activity. It applies to buoyancy aids used by adults or children. ISO 12402-5:2006 is not applicable to one-piece suits.

ISO 12402-4:2006 specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 100. It applies to lifejackets used by adults or children.

ISO 12402-9:2006 specifies the test methods for personal flotation devices.

ISO 12402-10:2006 gives guidance for the selection and application of personal flotation devices complying with the other relevant parts of ISO 12402 and immersion suits according to ISO 15027-1 to ISO 15027-3.

ISO 12402-8:2006 specifies the safety requirements and test methods for accessories used for personal flotation devices (PFDs), with regard to the technical provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

ISO 12402-1:2005 specifies the safety requirements for lifejackets intended for use on seagoing ships with regard to the technical provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.