INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 12402-1

First edition
2005-09-01

Personal flotation devices —

Part 1:
Lifejackets for seagoing ships —
Safety requirements
Équipements individuels de flottabilité —
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
Partie 1: Gilets de sauvetage pour navires de haute mer — Exigences
(standards.iteh.ai)
de sécurité

ISO 12402-1:2005
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Reference number
ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

© ISO 2005
ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

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ISO 12402-1:2005
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© ISO 2005
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 ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

Contents Page

Foreword............................................................................................................................................................ iv
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ v
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................1
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................1
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................2
4 Classification..........................................................................................................................................3
4.1 Classes ...................................................................................................................................................3
4.2 Performance levels ................................................................................................................................4
5 Requirements .........................................................................................................................................5
5.1 General....................................................................................................................................................5
5.2 Combination of lifejackets and accessories.......................................................................................5
5.3 Types of buoyancy ................................................................................................................................6
5.4 Conspicuousness ..................................................................................................................................7
5.5 Strength ..................................................................................................................................................8
5.6 Performance ...........................................................................................................................................8
5.7 iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
Multi-chamber buoyancy systems .....................................................................................................10
6 Marking .................................................................................................................................................10
(standards.iteh.ai)
6.1 General..................................................................................................................................................10
6.2 Information on the lifejacket...............................................................................................................10
6.3 Additional information on devices ISO to12402-1:2005
be used for crew and other trained personnel..................10
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7 Information supplied by the65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005
manufacturer .......................................................................................11
8 Information for the operator ...............................................................................................................11
Bibliography ......................................................................................................................................................13

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ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has
been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 12402-1 was prepared by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee
CEN/TC 162, Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets, in collaboration with
Technical Committee ISO/TC 188, Small craft, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
(standards.iteh.ai)
ISO 12402 consists of the following parts, under the general title Personal flotation devices:


ISO 12402-1:2005
Part 1: Lifejackets for seagoing ships — Safety requirements
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65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005
 Part 2: Lifejackets, performance level 275 — Safety requirements

 Part 3: Lifejackets, performance level 150 — Safety requirements

 Part 4: Lifejackets, performance 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 flotation devices and other relevant devices

iv © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

 ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

Introduction
ISO 12402 has been prepared to give guidance on the design and application of personal flotation 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
reasonable assurance of safety from drowning to a person who is immersed in water.

Requirements for lifejackets on large, commercial seagoing ships are regulated by the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). ISO 12402-1
addresses lifejackets for seagoing ships.

ISO 12402 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:

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

 those which require the user to make swimming and other postural movements to position the user with
the face out of the water (buoyancy aids).
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
Within these main two classes there are a number of levels of support, types of buoyancy, activation methods
(standards.iteh.ai)
for inflatable devices, and auxiliary items (such as location aids), all of which will affect the user‘s probability of
survival. Within the different types of buoyancy 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
ISO 12402-1:2005
initiate the inflation. Hybrid PFDs always provide some buoyancy but rely on the same methods as inflatable
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PFDs to achieve full buoyancy. With inherently buoyant PFDs, the user only needs to put the PFD on to
achieve the performance of its class. 65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005

PFDs that do not require intervention (automatically operating 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, or help is
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 part of ISO 12402 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.

ISO 12402 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 be stored in a locker for emergency use. Throwable
devices and flotation cushions are not covered by this part of ISO 12402. The primary function of a PFD is to
support the user in reasonable 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 ISO 12402 are the following:

 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);

 to provide the kinds of flotation (inherently buoyant foam, hybrid, and inflatable) that will accommodate
the sometimes conflicting needs of reliability and durability, in-water performance, and continuous wear;

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ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

 to provide self-acting (inherently buoyant or automatically inflated) PFDs that float users without any
intervention 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 PFD’s buoyancy by manual and oral operation;
and

 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, in order to provide
positive support in the water and to allow 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.

Under certain conditions (such as rough water and waves), the use of watertight and multilayer clothing, which
provide (intentionally or otherwise) additional buoyancy, 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 part of ISO 12402. PFDs may also be affected by other
conditions of use, such as chemical 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 assured
that the PFD will not be adversely affected. This part of ISO 12402 also allows a PFD to be an integral part of
a safety harness designed to conform to ISO 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 part of ISO 12402.

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW

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 needs to be of substantial construction and material, its
(standards.iteh.ai)
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, ISO they12402-1:2005
do not accurately simulate all conditions of this. For
example, the fact that a device passes the self-righting tests in swimming attire, as described herein, does not
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/5c6d78eb-1748-416e-9e43-
guarantee that it will self-right an unconscious user wearing waterproof clothing; neither can it be expected to
65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005
completely protect the airway of an unconscious person in rough water. Waterproof clothing can trap air and
further impede the self-righting action of a lifejacket.

It is essential that owners, users and employers choose those PFDs that meet the correct standards for the
circumstances in which they will be used. Manufacturers and those selling PFDs have to make clear to
prospective purchasers the product properties, alternative choices and the limitations to normal use, prior to
the purchase.

Similarly, those framing legislation regarding the use of these garments should consider carefully which class
and performance levels are most appropriate for the foreseeable conditions of use, allowing for the higher risk
circumstances. These higher risk circumstances should account for the highest probabilities of occurrence of
accidental immersion and the expected consequences in such emergencies. More information on the
selection and application is given in ISO 12402-10.

vi © ISO 2005 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

Personal flotation devices —

Part 1:
Lifejackets for seagoing ships — Safety requirements

1 Scope
This part of ISO 12402 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 (SOLAS).

NOTE This part of ISO 12402 also takes account of Maritime Safety Committee Resolutions MSC.48 (66) and
MSC.81 (70) so far as they are applicable to lifejackets.

2 Normative references
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
(standards.iteh.ai)
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 12402-1:2005
ISO 12402-4, Personal flotation devices — Part 4: Lifejackets, performance level 100 — Safety requirements
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65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005
ISO 12402-7, Personal flotation devices — Part 7: Materials and components — Safety requirements and test
methods1)

ISO 12402-8, Personal flotation devices — Part 8: Accessories — Safety requirements and test methods1)

ISO 12402-9, Personal flotation devices — Part 9: Test methods1)

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, International Maritime
Organization2)

IMO Resolution A.658 (16), Use and fitting of retro-reflective materials on life-saving appliances, International
Maritime Organization

1) To be published.
2) IMO is an institution with domicile in London issuing regulations which are then published as laws by its Member
States.

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ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, 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
PFD 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 operating PFD
PFD 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
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
(standards.iteh.ai)
PFD in which inflation is effected as a result of the user operating a mechanism

3.6 ISO 12402-1:2005

orally inflated PFD https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/5c6d78eb-1748-416e-9e43-
PFD inflated by mouth to produce buoyancy 65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005

3.7
PFD with secondary donning
PFD for which additional donning or adjustment 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
PFD covering the upper trunk of the user like a vest

3.9
yoke-type PFD
PFD worn around the back of the neck and 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

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 ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

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
him from falling into the water, or, if he does fall into the water, to prevent him from being separated from the
vessel or shore

3.13
buddy line
length of cord which can be tied or otherwise fixed to another person or to that person's PFD 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 facilitates 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
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
damage, or snagging on external objects.

NOTE 1 The protective cover may (standards.iteh.ai)

be designed to provide additional properties, i.e. to make the PFDs suitable for use
when the subject is exposed to additional hazards, e.g. significant abrasion, molten metal splash, flame and fire.

NOTE 2 ISOPFD
The inflatable chamber of an inflatable 12402-1:2005
is an example of a functional element.
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3.17 65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005
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, produces an audible sound which can aid in the location of the user

3.19
hybrid-type PFD
PFD of combined buoyancy types, i.e. inherent and inflatable

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 users, when tested on users wearing swimming
costumes according to ISO 12402, to a position where the mouth has a defined freeboard above the water’s
surface, even when the user is unconscious.

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ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

4.1.2 Buoyancy aids

These devices should be comfortable for continuous wear and provide lift, without significant face-up turning
ability, to float the conscious user with the level of support marked on the device. Buoyancy aids shall at least
be suitable for sheltered waters, but at higher performance levels may be suitable for some users in other
waters.

4.1.3 Special purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids

These devices perform as in 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 with different levels of support, but have modifications related to
special applications for use. These applications shall not relate to essential requirements such as in-water
performance, stability and safety in use. The specific conditions for use shall be 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 under extreme conditions 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 ISO 12402-2.

iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
4.2.2 Level 150
(standards.iteh.ai)
This level is intended for general application or for use with foul weather clothing. It will turn an unconscious
person into a safe position and requires no subsequent
ISO action by the user to maintain this position.
12402-1:2005
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See ISO 12402-3. 65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005

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
device should not be used in rough conditions.

See 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 ISO 12402-5.

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 ISO 12402-1:2005(E)

5 Requirements

5.1 General

A lifejacket for seagoing ships shall meet the requirements specified in 5.2 to 5.7, when tested in accordance
with ISO 12402-9. The temperature cycling and rotating shock bin test shall be considered as reliability
against wear and tear and shall be conducted prior to the appropriate physical properties test.

The MSC/Circ.9803) parts 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 test protocols should be used for recording the test results.

Materials and components used for a lifejacket for seagoing ships shall comply with ISO 12402-7.

An inflatable lifejacket complying with this part of ISO 12402 shall have at least two inflatable buoyancy
chambers. It shall have automatic, manual and oral inflation that allows for full compliance with all
performance requirements of this part of ISO 12402. Additionally, an inflated lifejacket shall have at least
manual and oral inflation on each chamber. The inflatable lifejacket shall meet the performance requirements
of this part of ISO 12402 with any one chamber deflated. Inflatable lifejackets shall be tested against
inadvertent inflation according to ISO 12402-7 and ISO 12402-9.

5.2 Combination of lifejackets and accessories

5.2.1 General

Accessories used on lifejackets for seagoing ships shall comply with ISO 12402-8, as specified in Table 1.
iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
A combination of a lifejacket and accessories shall not impair the performance of either item. This shall be
(standards.iteh.ai)
proved during the test required for the lifejacket as well as accessories. If necessary, the test sequence has to
be arranged accordingly. Requirements and test methods for accessories are specified in ISO 12402-8.
ISO 12402-1:2005
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Table 1 — Accessories required for lifejackets
65aa912aa21f/iso-12402-1-2005
Accessory Mandatory (M) / Optional (O)

Emergency light Ma
Whistle M
Lifting loop O
Buddy line O
Retroreflective material M
Deck safety harness O
Overpressure relief valve O
Multi-chamber system Mb
Protective covers O
Sprayhood O
a Only for operator.
b Only for inflatables.

Lifejackets can be equipped with further accessories. Such accessories shall comply with the requirements
given in 5.1, second paragraph or with ISO 12402-8.

3) Circular 980 of the Maritime Safety Committee.

© ISO 2005 – All rights reserved 5