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Personal Flotation Devices & Lights

PAGE INDEX:

Approval Guidance: Commercial PFDs, Recreational PFDs, Lights
Accepted Independent Laboratory Search Engine. Use this link to find the accepted independent laboratories for the equipment approval listed below. (This link will take you to anothe USCG website.)
Throwable PFDs (Ring Buoys, Cushions, etc.)
PFD Selection, Use, Wear & Care

NOTE: Vessel operators are required to carry USCG Approved PFDs, but unapproved PFDs may be carried and used as additional equipment on recreational boats (and some commercial vessels). Therefore, unapproved flotation devices may be sold and used unless prohibited on your class of inspected vessel.

APPROVAL GUIDANCE FOR COMMERCIAL PFDs:

APPROVAL CATEGORY	EQUIPMENT	MRA APPROVED
160.002	KAPOK LIFE PRESERVER	NO
160.003	CORK LIFE PRESERVER (OBSOLETE)	NO
160.004	BALSA WOOD PFD (OBSOLETE)	NO
160.005	FIBROUS GLASS PFD	NO
160.053	UNICELLULAR PLASTIC FOAM WORK VEST	NO
160.055	UNICELLULAR PLASTIC FOAM PFD	NO
160.077	HYBRID INFLATABLE PFD	NO
160.155	LIFEJACKET (SOLAS)	NO
160.176	INFLATABLE LIFEJACKET (SOLAS)	NO

APPROVAL GUIDANCE FOR RECREATIONAL PFDs:

APPROVAL CATEGORY	EQUIPMENT	MRA APPROVED
160.047	KAPOK BUOYANT VEST	NO
160.052	UNICELLULAR PLASTIC FOAM BUOYANT VEST	NO
160.060	UNICELLULAR POLYETHYLENE FOAM BUOYANT VEST	NO
160.064	MARINE BUOYANT DEVICE	NO
160.076	RECREATIONAL INFLATABLE PFD	NO
160.077	HYBRID INFLATABLE PFD	NO

APPROVAL GUIDANCE FOR LIGHTS:

APPROVAL CATEGORY	EQUIPMENT	MRA APPROVED
161.012	LIFEJACKET LIGHT	NO
161.112	LIFEJACKET LIGHT (SOLAS)	NO
161.101	POSITION INDICATING LIGHT (SOLAS)	NO

KAPOK LIFE PRESERVER

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.002

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type I PFD is approved by the Coast Guard. See COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

CORK LIFE PRESERVER

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.003

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: THIS ITEM IS NO LONGER APPROVED.

BALSA WOOD LIFE PRESERVER

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.004

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: THIS ITEM IS NO LONGER APPROVED.

FIBROUS GLASS LIFE PRESERVER, JACKET TYPE

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.005

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type I PFD is approved by the Coast Guard. See COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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UNICELLULAR PLASTIC FOAM WORK VEST

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.053

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: Type V Buoyant Work Vest PFDs are approved either by the Coast Guard or a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standard UL 1123. See COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

Follow-up Inspection: Unless also listed by the laboratory, work vests are not subject to the same production oversight procedures as either commercial or recreational PFDs.

Frequency of Inspection: Random inspections are conducted by Coast Guard representatives. Any of these inspections must show that the inspections and tests employed by the manufacturer are maintaining the quality of the product.

LINKS: INFLATABLE WORKVEST GUIDANCE

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UNICELLULAR PLASTIC FOAM LIFE PRESERVER

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.055

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type I PFD is approved by the Coast Guard. See COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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HYBRID INFLATABLE PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (Commercial)

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.077

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: Type I, II, III, & V Hybrid PFDs are approved in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standard UL 1517 and USCG subpart. (Note: UL 1517 is not current with the latest revision of the USCG subpart 160.077. The primary difference is that the subpart was updated to include child and youth size hybrid PFDs, which the UL standard has not yet included.) See COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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LIFEJACKET (SOLAS)

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.155

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type I PFD is approved by the Coast Guard per its interpretation of the IMO SOLAS requirements in the Life Saving Appliance (LSA) Code. See the LSA Code and COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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INFLATABLE LIFEJACKET (SOLAS)

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.176

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type I PFD is approved by the Coast Guard per its interpretation of the IMO SOLAS requirements in the LSA Code. See the LSA Code and COMMERCIAL PFD/LIFEJACKET APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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KAPOK BUOYANT VEST

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.047

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type II PFD is approved by a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standards UL 1177 and UL 1123.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: The initial submittal is usually made directly to the Recognized Laboratory. See RECREATIONAL PFD APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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UNICELLULAR PLASTIC FOAM BUOYANT VEST

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.052

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type II PFD is approved by a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standards UL 1177 and UL 1123.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: The initial submittal is usually made directly to the Recognized Laboratory. See RECREATIONAL PFD APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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UNICELLULAR POLYETHYLENE FOAM BUOYANT VEST

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.060

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: This Type II PFD is approved by a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standards UL 1177 and UL 1123.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: The initial submittal is usually made directly to the Recognized Laboratory. See RECREATIONAL PFD APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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MARINE BUOYANT DEVICE

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.064

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: Type II, III, IV, & V Marine Buoyant Device PFDs are approved by a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standard UL 1123.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: The initial submittal is usually made directly to the Recognized Laboratory. See RECREATIONAL PFD APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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RECREATIONAL INFLATABLE PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.076

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: Type I, II, III, & V Inflatable Recreational PFDs are approved by a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standard UL 1180.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: The initial submittal is usually made directly to the Recognized Laboratory. See RECREATIONAL PFD APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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HYBRID INFLATABLE PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (Recreational)

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.077

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: Type I, II, III, & V Hybrid PFDs are approved by a Recognized Laboratory in accordance with Underwriters Laboratory Standard UL 1517.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: The initial submittal is usually made directly to the Recognized Laboratory. See RECREATIONAL PFD APPROVAL for the information on the approval process.

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LIFEJACKET LIGHT

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 161.012

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See 46 CFR 161.012. The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. The testing must be performed on the product by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: Please submit the following information in the Submittal Package:

A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
Required information and test report from the Accepted Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 161.012-5.

Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to the following address:

Commandant(CG-ENG-4)
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W. Stop 7126
Washington, DC 20593-7126

Once the equipment has been approved by this office, it will receive Coast Guard Type Approval and a Certificate of Approval (COA). The COA will be issued for 5 years and will remain valid during that time period if the product meets the testing of the Quality Control Program.

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LIFEJACKET LIGHT (SOLAS)

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 161.112

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See the below link on approval guidance. The Coast Guard will review approval applications for lifejacket light (SOLAS) complying with IMO Lifesaving Appliance Code and IMO Res. MSC. 81(70). The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. The testing must be performed on the product by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.

LINKS: LIFEJACKET LIGHT APPROVAL GUIDANCE (SOLAS )

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: Please submit the following information in the Submittal Package:

A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
Information required in SOLAS LIFEJACKET LIGHT APPROVAL GUIDANCE.

Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to the following address:

Commandant (CG-ENG-4)
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W. Stop 7126
Washington, DC 20593-7126

Once the equipment has been approved by this office, it will receive Coast Guard Type Approval and a Certificate of Approval (COA). The COA will be issued for 5 years and will remain valid during that time period if the product meets the testing of the Quality Control Program.

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POSITION-INDICATING LIGHT FOR SURVIVAL CRAFT

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 161.101

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See the below link on approval guidance. The Coast Guard will review approval applications for Position-Indicating Light for Survival Craft complying with SOLAS-IMO LSA Code (Res. MSC.48(66), and IMO Res.A.689 (as amended through Res. MSC.81(70)).

The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. The testing must be performed on the product by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.

LINKS: POSITION-INDICATING LIGHT FOR SURVIVAL CRAFT

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: Please submit the following information in the Submittal Package:

A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
Information required in POSITION-INDICATING LIGHT FOR SURVIVAL CRAFT.

Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to the following address:

Commandant (CG-ENG-4)
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W. Stop 7126
Washington , DC 20593-7126

Once the equipment has been approved by this office, it will receive Coast Guard Type Approval and a Certificate of Approval (COA). The COA will be issued for 5 years and will remain valid during that time period if the product meets the testing of the Quality Control Program.

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Last Modified 5/9/2012