Resolution
MSC.81(70)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
(adopted on 11 December 1998)
THE
MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,
RECALLING
Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING
ALSO that the Assembly, when adopting resolution A.689(17) on Testing of
life-saving appliances, authorized the Committee to keep the Recommendation on
testing of life-saving appliances under review and to adopt, when appropriate,
amendments thereto,
RECALLING
FURTHER that, since the adoption of resolution A.689(17), the Committee has
amended the Recommendation annexed thereto in five occasions, i.e. by
resolution MSC.54(66), by circulars MSC/Circ.596, MSC/Circ.615 and MSC/Circ.809
and through the present resolution,
NOTING
that the 1995 SOLAS Conference, in adopting amendments to the 1974 SOLAS
Convention concerning the safety of ro-ro passenger ships, also adopted
resolution 7 on Development of requirements, guidelines and performance
standards, whereby the Committee was requested to develop relevant
requirements, guidelines and performance standards to assist in the
implementation of the amendments adopted by the Conference,
NOTING
ALSO that the requirements of the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA)
Code came into force on 1 July 1998 under the provisions of new chapter III of
the 1974 SOLAS Convention,
RECOGNIZING
the need to introduce more precise requirements in the testing of life-saving
appliances,
HAVING
CONSIDERED the recommendation made by the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and
Equipment at its forty-first session,
1.
ADOPTS the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances, set out
in the Annex to the present resolution;
2.
RECOMMENDS Governments to ensure that life-saving appliances are subjected to:
.1 the tests recommended in the
Annex to the present resolution; or
.2 such tests as the
Administration is satisfied are substantially equivalent to those recommended
in the Annex to the present resolution.
Annex.
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
The
tests in this Recommendation have been developed on the basis of the
requirements of the International Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code.
Life-saving
appliances which are installed on board on or after 1 July 1999 should meet the
applicable requirements of this Recommendation or substantially equivalent
ones, as may be specified by the Administration. Where there has been a
substantial change in the equipment performance requirements or the test
procedures in this recommendation, an item of equipment previously tested to
resolution A.521(13), or previous versions of resolution A.689(17), need only
be subjected to tests affected by such changes.
Life-saving
appliances which were installed on board before 1 July 1999 may meet the
applicable requirements of the Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving
Appliances adopted by resolution A.521(13), previous versions of resolution
A.689(17), or substantially equivalent ones, as may be specified by the
Administration, and may continue in use on the ship on which they are presently
installed, as long as they remain suitable for service.
Tests
for requirements referred to in the LSA Code, which are not included in this
Recommendation, should be to the satisfaction of the Administration.
It
should be verified that life-saving appliances not covered by tests referred to
in this Recommendation meet the applicable requirements of the LSA Code.
PART 1.
PROTOTYPE TEST FOR LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
It
should be established by measurement, weighing and inspection that:
.1 the lifebuoy has an outer
diameter of not more than 800 mm and an inner diameter of not less than 400 mm;
.2 the lifebuoy has a mass of
not less than 2.5 kg;
.3 if it is intended to operate
the quick-release arrangement provided for a self-activated smoke signal and
self-igniting light, the lifebuoy has a mass sufficient to operate such
quick-release arrangement or 4 kg, whichever is greater (see 1.8); and
.4 the lifebuoy is fitted with
a grabline of not less than 9.5 mm in diameter and of not less than four times
the outside diameter of the body of the buoy in length and secured in four
equal loops.
The
following test should be carried out on two lifebuoys.
1.2.1
The lifebuoys should be alternately subjected to surrounding temperatures of
-30C and +65C. These alternating cycles need not follow immediately after
each other and the following procedure, repeated for a total of 10 cycles, is
acceptable:
.1 an 8 h cycle at +65C to be
completed in one day; and
.2 the specimens removed from
the warm chamber that same day and left exposed under ordinary room conditions
until the next day;
.3 an 8 h cycle at -30C to be
completed the next day; and
.4 the specimens removed from
the cold chamber that same day and left exposed under ordinary room conditions
until the next day.
1.2.2
The lifebuoys should show no sign of loss of rigidity under high temperatures
and, after the tests, should show no sign of damage such as shrinking,
cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.
The
two lifebuoys should be dropped into the water from the height at which they
are intended to be stowed on ships in their lightest seagoing condition, or 30
m, whichever is the greater, without suffering damage. In addition, one
lifebuoy should be dropped three times from a height of 2 m on to a concrete
floor.
One
of the lifebuoys should be immersed horizontally for a period of 24 h under a
100 mm head of diesel oil at normal room temperature. After this test the
lifebuoy should show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling,
dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.
The
other lifebuoy should be subjected to a fire test. A test pan 30 cm x 35 cm x 6
cm should be placed in an essentially draught-free area. Water should be put in
the bottom of the test pan to a depth of 1 cm followed by enough petrol to make
a minimum total depth of 4 cm. The petrol should then be ignited and allowed to
burn freely for 30 s. The lifebuoy should then be moved through flames in an
upright, forward, free-hanging position, with the bottom of the lifebuoy 25 cm
above the top edge of the test pan so that the duration of exposure to the
flames is 2 s. The lifebuoy should not sustain burning or continue melting
after being removed from the flames.
The
two lifebuoys subjected to the above tests should be floated in fresh water
with not less than 14.5 kg of iron suspended from each of them and should
remain floating for a period of 24 h.
A
lifebuoy body should be suspended by a 50 mm wide strap. A similar strap should
be passed around the opposite side of the body with a 90 kg mass suspended from
it. After 30 min, the lifebuoy body should be examined. There should be no
breaks, cracks or permanent deformation.
1.8 Test for operation with
a light and smoke signal
A
lifebuoy intended for quick release with a light and smoke signal should be
given this test. The lifebuoy should be arranged in a manner simulating its
installation on a ship for release from the navigating bridge. A lifebuoy light
and smoke signal should be attached to the lifebuoy in the manner recommended
by the manufacturers. The lifebuoy should be released and should activate both
the light and the smoke signal.
1.9 Lifebuoy self-activating
smoke signal tests
1.9.1
Nine self-activating smoke signals should be subjected to temperature cycling
as prescribed in 1.2.1 and, after the tests, should show no sign of damage such
as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical
qualities.
1.9.2
After at least 10 complete temperature cycles, the first three smoke signals
should be subjected to a temperature of -30C for at least 48 h, then taken
from this stowage temperature and be activated and operated in seawater at a
temperature of -1C and the next three smoke signals should be subjected to a
temperature of +65C for at least 48 h then taken from this stowage temperature
and be activated and operated in seawater at a temperature of +30C. After the
smoke signals have been emitting smoke for 7 min, the smoke-emitting ends of
the smoke signals should be immersed to a depth of 25 mm for 10 s. On being
released the smoke signals should continue operating for a total period of
smoke emission of not less than 15 min. The signals should not ignite
explosively or in a manner dangerous to persons close by.
1.9.3
The last three smoke signals taken from ordinary room conditions and attached
by a line to a lifebuoy should undergo the drop test into water prescribed in
1.3. The lifebuoy should be dropped from a quick-release fitting. The smoke
signals should not be damaged and should function for a period of at least 15
min.
1.9.4
Smoke signals should also be subjected to the tests and examinations prescribed
in 4.2.4, 4.3.1, 4.3.3, 4.5.5, 4.5.6, 4.8.2 and 4.8.3.
1.9.5
A smoke signal should be tested in waves at least 300 mm high. The signal
should function effectively and for not less than 15 min.
A
lifejacket should be subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in
1.2.1 and should then be externally examined. If the buoyancy material has not
been subjected to the tests prescribed in 2.7, the lifejacket should also be
examined internally. The lifejacket materials should show no sign of damage
such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical
qualities.
The
buoyancy of the lifejacket should be measured before and after 24 h complete
submersion to just below the surface in fresh water. The difference between the
initial buoyancy and the final buoyancy should not exceed 5% of the initial
buoyancy.
A
lifejacket should be subjected to the fire test prescribed in 1.5. The
lifejacket should not sustain burning or continue melting after being removed
from the flames.
2.4.1
The lifejacket should be tested for oil resistance as prescribed in 1.4.
2.4.2
If the buoyancy material has not been subjected to the tests prescribed in 2.7,
the lifejacket should also be examined internally and the effect determined.
The material must show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling,
dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.
2.5 Tests of materials for
cover, tapes and seams
The
materials used for the cover, tapes, seams and additional equipment should be
tested to the satisfaction of the Administration to establish that they are
rot-proof, colour-fast and resistant to deterioration from exposure to sunlight
and that they are not unduly affected by seawater, oil or fungal attack.
Body or lifting loop strength tests
2.6.1
The lifejacket should be immersed in water for a period of 2 min. It should
then be removed from the water and closed in the same manner as when it is worn
by a person. A force of not less than 3,200 N (2,400 N in the case of a
child-size lifejacket) should be applied for 30 min to the part of the
lifejacket that secures it to the body of the wearer (see figure 1) or to the
lifting loop of the lifejacket. The lifejacket should not be damaged as a
result of this test.
C - Cylinder
125 mm diameter
for adult sizes
50 mm diameter
for child sizes
L - Test load
Figure 1.
Body strength test arrangement for lifejackets
Shoulder strength test
2.6.2
The lifejacket should be immersed in water for a period of 2 min. It should then
be removed from the water and closed in the same manner as when it is worn by a
person. A force of not less than 900 N (700 N in the case of a child-size
lifejacket) should be applied for 30 min to the shoulder section of the
lifejacket (see figure 2). The lifejacket should not be damaged as a result of
this test.
C - Cylinder
125 mm diameter
for adult sizes
50 mm diameter
for child sizes
L - Test load
Figure 2.
Shoulder strength test arrangement for lifejackets
2.7 Additional tests for
lifejacket buoyancy material other than cork or kapok
The
following tests should be carried out on eight specimens of lifejacket buoyancy
materials other than cork or kapok.
Test for stability under temperature cycling
2.7.1
Six specimens should be alternately subjected for 8 h to surrounding
temperatures of -30C and +65C. These alternating cycles need not follow
immediately after each other and the following procedure, repeated for ten
cycles, is acceptable:
.1 an 8 h cycle at +65C to be
completed in one day; and
.2 the specimens removed from
the warm chamber that same day and left exposed under ordinary room conditions
until the next day;
.3 an 8 h cycle at -30C to be
completed the next day; and
.4 the specimens removed from
the cold chamber that same day and left exposed under ordinary room conditions
until the next day.
2.7.2
The dimensions of the specimens should be recorded at the end of the ten-cycle
period. The specimens should be carefully examined and should not show any sign
of external change of structure or of mechanical qualities.
2.7.3
Two of the specimens should be cut open and should not show any sign of
internal change of structure.
2.7.4
Four of the specimens should be used for water absorption tests, two of which
should be so tested after they have also been subjected to the diesel oil test
as prescribed in 1.4.
Tests for water absorption
2.7.5
The tests should be carried out in fresh water and the specimens should be
immersed for a period of seven days under a 1.25 m head of water.
2.7.6
The tests should be carried out:
.1 on two specimens as
supplied;
.2 on two specimens which have
been subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in 2.7.1; and