Life Saving Appliance Standards

Scope: life-saving appliances on ships

Section I governs general requirements for life-saving appliances prescribed in the part.
The standards apply to personal life-saving appliances, including lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, and thermal protective aids under Regulations 2 to 5.
The standards apply to visual signals, including rocket parachute flares, hand flares, and buoyant smoke signals under Regulations 6 to 8.
The standards apply to survival craft, including liferafts under Regulations 9 to 11.
The technical requirements depend on the environment of use (temperature ranges, immersion, sunlight, and sea conditions) and on the ship type (passenger versus cargo) where expressly specified.

General construction and performance rules

Life-saving appliances must be constructed with proper workmanship and materials (Section I, Regulation 1).
Life-saving appliances must not be damaged in stowage throughout the air temperature range - 30 degree C to +65 degree C (Section I, Regulation 1).
If likely to be immersed in seawater during use, life-saving appliances must operate throughout the seawater temperature range 1 degree C to +30 degree C (Section I, Regulation 1).
Where applicable, appliances must be rot-proof, corrosion-resistant, and not be unduly affected by seawater, oil or fungal attack (Section I, Regulation 1).
Where exposed to sunlight, appliances must be resistant to deterioration (Section I, Regulation 1).
Appliances must be of highly visible color on all parts where this assists detection (Section I, Regulation 1).
Where applicable, appliances must be fitted with retro-reflective material where it assists detection (Section I, Regulation 1).
If used in a seaway, appliances must be capable of satisfactory operation in that environment (Section I, Regulation 1).

Life-saving appliance: acceptability and marking

The Administration determines the period of acceptability of life-saving appliances subject to deterioration with age (Section I, Regulation 1).
Deterioration-prone life-saving appliances must be marked with a means for determining their age or the date by which they must be replaced (Section I, Regulation 1).

Personal life-saving appliances standards

Lifebuoys must:
- Have an outer diameter of not more than 800 m and an inner diameter of not less than 400mm (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.1).
- Be constructed of inherently buoyant material and not depend on rushes, cork shavings or granulated cork, other loose granulated material, or any air compartment that depends on inflation for buoyancy (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.2).
- Be capable of supporting not less than 14.5 kg. of iron in fresh water for a period of 24th (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.3).
- Have a mass of not less than 2.5 kg (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.4).
- Not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a period of 2 s (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.5).
- Withstand a drop into the water from the height stowed above the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 30 m, whichever is greater, without impairing operating capability or attached components (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.6).
- If intended to operate a quick-release arrangement for self-activated smoke signals and self-igniting lights, have mass sufficient to operate the quick-release arrangements or 4 kg, whichever is greater (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.7).
- Be fitted with a grabline not less than 9.5 mm in diameter and not less than four times the outside diameter of the body of the buoy in length, with the grabline secured at four equidistant points forming four equal loops (Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.8).
Lifebuoy self-igniting lights must:
- Cannot be extinguished by water (Regulation 2, Paragraph 2.1).
- Provide continuous luminous intensity not less than 2 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere or flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes per minute with at least the corresponding effective luminous intensity (Regulation 2, Paragraph 2.2).
- Have a source of energy meeting the period requirement for at least 2h (Regulation 2, Paragraph 2.3).
- Withstand the drop test required by Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.6 (Regulation 2, Paragraph 2.4).
Lifebuoy self-activating smoke signals must:
- Emit smoke of highly visible colour at a uniform rate for at least 15 min in calm water (Regulation 2, Paragraph 3.1).
- Not ignite explosively or emit flame during the entire smoke emission time (Regulation 2, Paragraph 3.2).
- Not be swamped in a seaway (Regulation 2, Paragraph 3.3).
- Continue to emit smoke when fully submerged for at least 10s (Regulation 2, Paragraph 3.4).
- Withstand the drop test required by Regulation 2, Paragraph 1.6 (Regulation 2, Paragraph 3.5).
Buoyant lifelines must:
- Be non-kinking (Regulation 2, Paragraph 4.1).
- Have diameter of not less than 8 mm (Regulation 2, Paragraph 4.2).
- Have breaking strength of not less than 5 kn (Regulation 2, Paragraph 4.3).
Lifejackets must:
- Not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in fire for a period of s (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.1).
- Be constructed so that a person can correctly don within 1 min without assistance after demonstrated (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.2.1).
- Be capable of being worn inside-out or be clearly capable of being worn in only way and not be donned incorrectly (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.2.2).
- Be comfortable to wear (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.2.3).
- Allow a wearer to jump from height of at least 4.5 m into water without injury and without dislodging or damaging the lifejacket (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.2.4).
- Provide buoyancy and stability in calm fresh water to:
  - Lift the mouth of an exhausted or unconscious person not less than 120 mm clear of the water with body inclined from vertical (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.3.1).
  - Turn an unconscious person to one where the mouth is clear of water in not more than 5 s (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.3.2).
- Have buoyancy reduced by no more than 5% after 24 h submersion in fresh water (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.4).
- Allow swimming a short distance and boarding a survival craft (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.5).
- Be fitted with a waistline firmly secured by a cord (Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.6).
Inflatable lifejackets must:
- Have not less than two separate compartments and comply with the requirements of Regulation 3, Paragraph 1 (Regulation 3, Paragraph 2).
- Inflate automatically on immersion, have a device to permit inflation by a single manual motion, and be capable of inflation by mouth (Regulation 3, Paragraph 2.1).
- In event of loss of buoyancy in any one compartment, still comply with Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.2, 1.3 and 1.5 (Regulation 3, Paragraph 2.2).
- Comply with Regulation 3, Paragraph 1.4 after inflation by the automatic mechanism (Regulation 3, Paragraph 2.3).
Lifejacket lights must:
- Have luminous intensity not less than 0.75 cd (Regulation 3, Paragraph 3.1.1).
- Have a source of energy providing luminous intensity 0.75 cd for at least 8 h (Regulation 3, Paragraph 3.1.2).
- Be visible over as great a segment of the upper hemisphere as practicable when attached to a lifejacket (Regulation 3, Paragraph 3.1.3).
- If flashing, be provided with a manually operated switch (Regulation 3, Paragraph 3.2.1), not be fitted with a lens or curved reflector to concentrate the beam (Regulation 3, Paragraph 3.2.2), and flash at not less than 50 flashes per minute with effective luminous intensity at least 0.75 cd (Regulation 3, Paragraph 3.2.3).
Immersion suits must:
- Use waterproof materials so the suit can be unpacked and donned without assistance within 2 min, considering associated clothing and a lifejacket if worn with one (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.1.1).
- Not sustain burning or continue melting after total fire enveloping for 2 s (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.1.2).
- Cover the whole body except the face, and hands must be covered unless permanently attached gloves are provided (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.1.3).
- Include arrangements to minimize or reduce free air in the legs (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.1.4).
- After a jump from at least 4.5 m into water, have no undue water ingress into the suit (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.1.5).
- Permit climbing a vertical ladder at least 5 m in length (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.3.1).
- Allow normal duties during abandonment (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.3.2).
- Allow jumping at least 4.5 m into water without damaging or dislodging the suit or causing injury (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.3.3).
- Allow swimming a short distance and boarding a survival craft (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.3.4).
- If designed to be worn without a lifejacket, be fitted with a light complying with Regulation 3.3 and the whistle prescribed by Regulation 3.1.6 (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.4).
- If worn with a lifejacket, require the lifejacket to be worn over the immersion suit, and a person must be able to don the lifejacket without assistance (Regulation 4, Paragraph 1.5).
Immersion suits must meet thermal performance limits:
- If made of material with no inherent insulation, they must be marked with instructions that they must be worn with warm clothing (Regulation 4, Paragraph 2.1.1).
- With warm clothing and a lifejacket if applicable, an immersion suit must maintain sufficient thermal protection after one jump from 4.5 m so that when worn for 1 h in calm circulating water at 5 degree C, the body core temperature does not fall more than 2 degree C (Regulation 4, Paragraph 2.1.2).
- If made with inherent insulation, it must, when worn on its own or with a lifejacket if applicable, ensure body core temperature does not fall more than 2 degree C after 6 h immersion in calm circulating water at between 0 degree and 2 degree C (Regulation 4, Paragraph 2.2).
- An immersion suit with hands covered must permit picking up a pencil and writing after being immersed in water at 5 degree C for 1 h (Regulation 4, Paragraph 2.3).
Buoyancy and turning performance of immersion suits:
- A person in fresh water wearing an immersion suit complying with the requirements of Regulation 3, or an immersion suit with a lifejacket, must turn from face-down to face-up in not more than 5s (Regulation 4, Paragraph 3).
Thermal protective aids must:
- Be made of water proof material with thermal conductivity not more than 0.25 W (m.K) and be constructed so that, when enclosing a person, they reduce both convective and evaporative heat loss (Regulation 5, Paragraph 1).
- Cover the whole body except the face when used with a lifejacket, and cover hands unless permanently attached gloves are provided (Regulation 5, Paragraph 2.1).
- Be capable of being unpacked and easily donned without assistance in a survival craft or rescue boat (Regulation 5, Paragraph 2.2).
- Be removable in water in not more than 2 min if it impairs ability to swim (Regulation 5, Paragraph 2.3).
- Function properly throughout an air temperature range 30-degree C to 20 degree C (Regulation 5, Paragraph 3).

Clarification on thermal protective aids

Thermal protective aids should be of highly visible color, but other colors are accepted when the thermal protective aid is unlikely to be used in the water (Clarification, Paragraph 1).
Thermal protective aids should be capable of being worn by persons regardless of their use (Clarification, Paragraph 2).

Visual signals: performance and packaging

Rocket parachute flares must:
- Be contained in a water-resistant casing (Regulation 6, Paragraph 1.1).
- Have brief instructions or diagrams on use printed on the casing (Regulation 6, Paragraph 1.2).
- Have integral means of ignition (Regulation 6, Paragraph 1.3).
- Be designed so they do not cause discomfort to persons holding the casing when used in accordance with manufacturer’s operating instructions (Regulation 6, Paragraph 1.4).
When fired vertically, a rocket parachute flare must:
- Reach an altitude of not less than 300 m (Regulation 6, Paragraph 2).
- Eject a parachute flare at or near the top of its trajectory that:
  - Burns with bright red colour (Regulation 6, Paragraph 2.1).
  - Burns uniformly with average luminous intensity not less than 30,000 cd (Regulation 6, Paragraph 2.2).
  - Has burning period not less than 40 s (Regulation 6, Paragraph 2.3).
  - Has rate of descent not more than 5 m/s (Regulation 6, Paragraph 2.4).
  - Does not damage its parachute or attachment while burning (Regulation 6, Paragraph 2.5).
Hand flares must:
- Be contained in a water-resistant casing (Regulation 7, Paragraph 1.1).
- Have brief instructions or diagrams printed on the casing (Regulation 7, Paragraph 1.2).
- Have a self-contained means of ignition (Regulation 7, Paragraph 1.3).
- Be designed so they do not cause discomfort to the person holding the casing and do not endanger the survival craft by burning or glowing residues when used per manufacturer’s operating instructions (Regulation 7, Paragraph 1.4).
Hand flares must:
- Burn with bright red colour (Regulation 7, Paragraph 2.1).
- Burn uniformly with average intensity not less than 15,000 cd (Regulation 7, Paragraph 2.2).
- Have a burning period not less than 1 min (Regulation 7, Paragraph 2.3).
- Continue to burn after immersion for 10s under 100 mm of water (Regulation 7, Paragraph 2.4).
Buoyant smoke signals must:
- Be contained in a water-resistant casing (Regulation 8, Paragraph 1.1).
- Not ignite explosively when used per manufacturer’s operating instructions (Regulation 8, Paragraph 1.2).
- Have brief instructions or diagrams printed on the casing (Regulation 8, Paragraph 1.3).
- Emit smoke of highly visible colour at a uniform rate for not less than 3 min when floating in calm water (Regulation 8, Paragraph 2.1).
- Not emit any flame during the entire emission time (Regulation 8, Paragraph 2.2).
- Not be swamped in a seaway (Regulation 8, Paragraph 2.3).
- Continue to emit smoke when submerged for 10s under 100 mm of water (Regulation 8, Paragraph 2.4).

Liferafts: general requirements and equipment

Liferafts must be constructed to withstand 30 days afloat in all conditions (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.1).
A liferaft must operate satisfactorily when dropped into water from 18 m (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.2).
If a liferaft is stowed more than 18 m above the waterline, it must be of a type satisfactorily drop-tested from at least the applicable height (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.2).
A floating liferaft must withstand repeated jumps on to it from at least 4.5 m above its floor, with and without the canopy erected (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.3).
A liferaft must be towable at 3 knots in calm water when loaded with full complement of persons and equipment and with one sea-anchor streamed (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.4).
Liferaft canopy requirements:
- The liferaft must have a canopy that automatically sets in place when launched and waterborne (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5).
- The canopy must provide insulation against heat and cold by two layers separated by an air gap or other equally efficient means, with means to prevent water accumulation in the air gap (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.1).
- The interior color must not cause discomfort to occupants (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.2).
- Each entrance must be clearly indicated and have efficient adjustable closing arrangements that can be opened quickly from inside and outside for ventilation while excluding seawater, wind, and cold; liferafts accommodating more than eight persons must have at least two diametrically opposite entrances (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.3).
- The canopy must admit sufficient air even with entrances closed (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.4).
- The liferaft must have at least one viewing port (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.5).
- The canopy must include means for collecting rain water (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.6).
- The canopy must provide sufficient headroom for sitting occupants under all parts (Regulation 9, Paragraph 1.5.7).
Minimum carrying capacity and mass limits:
- No liferaft is approved with carrying capacity of less than six persons calculated under Regulation 10.3 or 11.3 as appropriate (Regulation 9, Paragraph 2.1).
- Unless launched by an approved launching appliance complying with Regulation 48 and not required to be portable, the total mass of liferaft, container, and equipment must not be more than 185 kg (Regulation 9, Paragraph 2.2).
Liferaft fittings:
- Lifelines must be securely becketed around the inside and outside of the liferaft (Regulation 9, Paragraph 3.1).
- The liferaft must be fitted with an efficient painter of length equal to not less than twice the distance from stowed position to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 15m whichever is the greater (Regulation 9, Paragraph 3.2).
Davit-launched liferafts:
- A liferaft used with an approved launching appliance must withstand:
  - Lateral impact against ship’s side at an impact velocity of not less than 3.5 m/s and a drop into the water from at least 3 m without damage affecting function, when loaded with full complement (Regulation 9, Paragraph 4.1.1).
  - Means for bringing the liferaft alongside the embarkation deck and holding it securely during embarkation (Regulation 9, Paragraph 4.1.2).
- Passenger ship davit-launched liferafts must be arranged for rapid boarding by full complement (Regulation 9, Paragraph 4.2).
- Cargo ship davit-launched liferafts must be arranged so full complement can board in not more than 3 min from the time instruction to board is given (Regulation 9, Paragraph 4.3).
Normal equipment of every liferaft must include items listed in Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1, including:
- One buoyant rescue quoit attached to at least 30m buoyant line (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.1).
- One non-folding knife with buoyant handle and landyard in a pocket; and a second knife for liferafts permitted to accommodate 13 persons or more (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.2).
- One buoyant bailer for liferafts up to 12 persons; two buoyant bailers for liferafts accommodating 13 persons or more (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.3).
- Two sponges (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.4).
- Two sea-anchors each with shock-resistant hawser and tripping line, one spare and one permanently attached so the liferaft lies oriented to the wind in most stable manner; each sea-anchor with a swivel at each end; sea-anchors must be of a type unlikely to turn inside-out between shroud lines (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.5).
- Two buoyant paddles (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.6).
- Three tin-openers (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.7).
- One first-aid outfit in waterproof case (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.8).
- One whistle or equivalent sound signal (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.9).
- Four rocket parachute flares complying with requirements of regulation 35 (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.10).
- Six hand flares complying with requirements of regulation 36 (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.11).
- Two buoyant smoke signals complying with requirements of regulation 37 (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.12).
- One water electric torch for Morse signalling with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in waterproof container (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.13).
- An efficient radar reflector unless a survival craft radar transponder is stowed in the liferaft (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.14).
- One daylight signalling mirror with instructions (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.15).
- A copy of life-saving signals referred to in regulation V/16 on a waterproof card/container (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.16).
- One set of fishing tackle (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.17).
- Food rations totalling not less than 10,000 kJ each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate, kept in airtight packaging and stowed in a watertight container (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.18).
- A watertight receptacle containing 1.5 L of fresh water per person, with 0.5 L per person optionally replaceable by a de-salting apparatus producing equal amount in 2 days (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.19).
- One rustproof graduated drinking vessel (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.20).
- Six doses of anti-seasickness medicine and one seasickness bag per person (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.21).
- Instructions on how to survive (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.22).
- Instructions for immediate action (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.23).
- Thermal protective aids sufficient for 10% of the number of persons the liferaft is permitted to accommodate or two whichever is greater, complying with requirements of regulation 34 (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.1.24).
Marking for liferafts equipped under Regulation 9.5.1:
- Liferafts equipped in accordance with paragraph 5.1 must be marked “SOLAS A PACK” in block capitals of the Roman alphabet (Regulation 9, Paragraph 5.2).
- For passenger ships on short international voyages where the Administration finds not all specified items necessary, the Administration may allow liferafts to be provided with a reduced set