Lifebuoy and Lifebuoy accessories

LIFEBUOYS

Every lifebuoy shall:

have an outer diameter of not more than 800 mm and an inner diameter of not less than 400 mm;
be constructed of inherently buoyant material; it shall not depend upon rushes, cork shavings or granulated cork, any other loose granulated material or any air compartment which depends on inflation for buoyancy;
be capable of supporting not less than 14.5 kg of iron in fresh water for a period of 24 hours;
have a mass of not less than 2.5 kg;
not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a period of 2 seconds;
be constructed to withstand a drop into the water from the height at which it is stowed above the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 30 m, whichever is the greater, without impairing either its operating capability or that of its attached components;
If it is intended to operate the quick release arrangement provided for the self-activated smoke signals and self-igniting lights, have a mass sufficient to operate the quick release arrangement;
be fitted with a grab line not less than 9.5 mm in diameter and not less than 4 times the outside diameter of the body of the buoy in length. The grab line shall be secured at four equidistant points around the circumference of the buoy to form four equal loops.

Self-Igniting Lamp

Self-igniting lamp shall:

be such that they cannot be extinguished by water;
be of white colour and capable of either burning continuously with a luminous intensity of not less than 2 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere or flashing (discharge flashing) at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per min with at least the corresponding effective luminous intensity;
be provided with a source of energy capable of meeting the requirement of previous paragraph for a period of at least 2 hours;
be capable of withstanding the drop test into the water from the height at which it is stowed above the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 30 m, whichever is the greater, without impairing either its operating capability or that of its attached components.

Self activating smoke signals shall:

emit smoke of a highly visible color at a uniform rate for a period of at least 15 min when floating in calm water;
not ignite explosively or emit any flame during the entire smoke emission time of the signal not be swamped in a seaway;
continue to emit smoke when fully submerged in water for a period of at least 10 seconds;
be capable of withstanding the drop test into the water from the height at which it is stowed above the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 30m, whichever is the greater, without impairing either its operating capability or that of its attached components.

Buoyant lifelines shall:

Life Jackets are fitted with whistles to grab the attention of rescue people.