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Ring Life Buoys & Buoyant Cushions (TYPE IV PFDs)
PAGE INDEX:
- Approval Guidance for Ring Life Buoys &
Buoyant Cushions
- Retro-reflective Materials
- Self-Ingniting Lights
- Ring Lifebuoy Selection Information
- Accepted Independent Laboratory Search Engine. (This link will take you to anothe USCG website.) Use this link to find the accepted independent laboratories for the equipment approval category listed below.
APPROVAL GUIDANCE
|
APPROVAL
CATEGORY |
EQUIPMENT | MRA APPROVAL |
|---|---|---|
| 160.009 | RING LIFE BUOY (CORK/BALSA WOOD) (OBSOLETE) | NO |
| 160.048 | KAPOK OR FIBROUS GLASS BUOYANT CUSHION | NO |
| 160.049 | PLASTIC FOAM BUOYANT CUSHION | NO |
| 160.050 | UNICELLULAR PLASTIC LIFE RING BUOY | NO |
| 160.150 | RING LIFE BUOY (SOLAS) | NO |
RING LIFE BUOY (CORK or BALSA WOOD)
APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.009
APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: THIS ITEM IS NO LONGER APPROVED.
KAPOK OR FIBROUS GLASS BUOYANT CUSHION
APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.048
APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See 46 CFR 160.048. The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.
SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: Please submit the follow information in the Submittal Package:
- A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
- Required information and the test report from the Accepted Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 160.048.
- Evidence that an acceptable follow-up factory inspection program with the Accepted Independent Laboratory is in place.
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.
PLASTIC FOAM BUOYANT CUSHION
APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.049
APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See 46 CFR 160.049. The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.
SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: Please submit the follow information in the Submittal Package:
- A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
- Required information and the test report from the Accepted Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 160.049.
- Evidence that an acceptable follow-up factory inspection program with the Accepted Independent Laboratory is in place.
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.
UNICELLULAR PLASTIC LIFE RING BUOY
APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.050
APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See 46 CFR 160.050. The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. Product testing must be performed 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 the test report from the Accepted Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 160.050.
- Evidence that an acceptable follow-up factory inspection program with the Accepted Independent Laboratory is in place
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.
RING LIFE BUOY (SOLAS)
APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.150
APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION: See the links provided below. The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.
LINKS:
GUIDELINE 160.150--SPECIFICATION FOR LIFEBUOYS, SOLAS
IMO RESOLUTION A.689(17) TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
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 Guideline 160.150.
- Evidence that an
acceptable follow-up factory inspection program with the Accepted
Independent Laboratory is in place.
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.
RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIALS
Retro-reflective materials of a sufficient width (approximately 5 cm) should be applied around or on both sides of the body of the lifebuoy (ring life buoy) at four evenly-spaced points/
SELF IGNITING LIGHT
| Floating Electric Water light –
These Coast Guard approved lights are
attached to some of the ring lifebuoys on commercial vessels. They must
float and have an all-around light output 2 cd for at least 15 hours.
These are described in Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
Subpart 161.010 and Underwriters Laboratories Standard ANSI/UL 1196. SOLAS Self-Igniting Lights for Lifebuoys – Lights used on ships engaged in international voyages must meet the standards of an international treaty, the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, as described in the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Lifesaving Appliances Code and Recommendation on Testing of Lifesaving Appliances. The Coast Guard approves these lights if they meet the requirements for floating electric waterlights (preceding paragraph), and the additional tests in section 10.4 of the IMO Recommendation on Testing of Lifesaving Appliances. These lights will have approval numbers in the 161.110 series. IMO publications can be purchased from IMO distributors around the world |
 |
RING LIFE BUOY SELECTION INFORMATION
TYPE IV PFDS (RING BUOYS) / THROWABLE DEVICES: To aid persons who have fallen overboard. May be used with a lanyard, "Man-overboard" pole, locator light, or smoke signal
SOLAS RING LIFEBUOY (TYPE IV PFD) - Slightly larger than other ring lifebuoys for commercial vessels -- Those intended for use with self-activating smoke signals weigh at least 4 kg (8.8 lb).
Intended Uses
- Required to be used on commercial vessels engaged on international voyages.
- For use on larger boats to aid persons who have fallen overboard. May be used with a lanyard, "man-overboard" pole, locator light, or smoke signal.
- Intended to be thrown or dropped to someone who falls overboard.
- Designed to be grasped and held by the user until rescued.
- Provides enough buoyancy for users to hold their heads out of the water.
- Can be thrown to someone within 40 feet (12 meters).
- Can be placed in a bracket mounted above deck, where they are immediately available.
- Good back-up buoyancy for use with a wearable PFD.
- Not for an unconscious or exhausted person.
DOMESTIC RING LIFEBUOY (TYPE IV PFD)
Intended Uses
- Intended to be thrown or dropped to someone who falls overboard.
- Designed to be grasped and held by the user until rescued.
- For use on commercial vessels and larger boats to aid persons who have fallen overboard. May be used with a lanyard, "man-overboard" pole, locator light, or smoke signal.
- Provides enough buoyancy for users to hold their heads out of the water.
- Can be thrown to someone within 40 feet (12 meters).
- Can be placed in a bracket mounted above deck, where they are immediately available.
- Good back-up buoyancy for use with a wearable PFD.
- Not for an unconscious or exhausted person
Intended Uses
- Designed to be grasped and held by the user until rescued.
- Provides enough buoyancy for users to hold their heads out of the water.
- For use on small boats in calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic where help is always nearby.
- For use on larger boats as an extra device to aid persons who have fallen overboard. May be used with a lanyard, "man-overboard" pole, locator light, or smoke signal.
- Can be thrown to someone within 40 feet (12 meters).
- Can be used as a seat cushion, or some types can be placed in a bracket mounted above deck, where they are immediately available.
- Good back-up buoyancy for use with a wearable PFD.
- Not for an unconscious or exhausted person.
- Not for non-swimmers or children.
- Not for rough water survival.
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Last Modified 5/9/2012