(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any edition other than that specified in this section, the Coast Guard must publish notice of change in the Federal Register and the material must be available to the public. All approved material is available for inspection at Coast Guard Headquarters. Contact Commandant (CG-ENG-4), Attn: Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7509. You may also inspect this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030 or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. You may obtain copies of the material from the sources specified in the following paragraphs.

(b) General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service, Office of the FAS Commissioner, 2200 Crystal Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-605-5400.

(1) Federal Standard 595C, Colors Used in Government Procurement, (January 16, 2008), IBR approved for § 160.010-4 (“FED-STD-595C”).

(2) [Reserved]

(c) International Maritime Organization (IMO), Publications Section, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom, + 44 (0)20 7735 7611, http://www.imo.org/.

(1) Life-Saving Appliances, including LSA Code, 2010 Edition, (2010), pages 7-71 (“IMO LSA Code”), IBR approved for § 160.010-3.

(2) Life-Saving Appliances, including LSA Code, 2010 Edition, (2010), Revised recommendation on testing of live-saving appliances, pages 79-254 (“IMO Revised recommendation on testing”), IBR approved for § 160.010-3.

(d) Military Specifications and Standards, Standardization Documents Order Desk, Building 4D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/.

(1) MIL-P-19644C, Military Specification, Plastic Molding Material (Polystyrene Foam, Expanded Bead), (July 10, 1970), IBR approved for § 160.010-5 (“MIL-P-19644C”).

(2) MIL-P-21929B, Military Specification, Plastic Material, Cellular Polyurethane, Foam-In-Place, Rigid (2 and 4 Pounds per Cubic Foot), (August 11, 1969), IBR approved for § 160.010-5 (“MIL-P-21929B”).

(3) MIL-P-40619A, Military Specification, Plastic Material, Cellular, Polystyrene (For Buoyancy Applications), (December 9, 1968), IBR approved for § 160.010-5 (“MIL-P-40619A”).

(4) MIL-R-21607E(SH), Military Specification, Resins, Polyester, Low Pressure Laminating, Fire-Retardant, (May 25, 1990), IBR approved for § 160.010-5 (“MIL-R-21607E(SH)”).

Buoyant apparatus. Buoyant apparatus is flotation equipment (other than lifeboats, liferafts, and personal flotation devices) designed to support a specified number of persons in the water, and of such construction that it retains its shape and properties and requires no adjustment or preparation for use. The types of buoyant apparatus generally in use are the box-float type and the peripheral-body type defined in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

Box-float. Box-float is buoyant apparatus of a box-like shape.

Commandant means the Commandant (CG-ENG-4), Attn: Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7509.

Peripheral-body. Peripheral body is buoyant apparatus with a continuous body in the shape of either an ellipse or rectangle with a circular, elliptical, or rectangular body cross-section.

Inflatable buoyant apparatus. An inflatable buoyant apparatus is flotation equipment that depends on inflated compartments for buoyancy and is designed to support a specified number of persons completely out of the water.

(a) Design and performance. To obtain Coast Guard approval, an inflatable buoyant apparatus must comply with subpart 160.151, with the following exceptions:

(1) Canopy requirements (IMO LSA Code, Chapter IV/4.1.1.5 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart)). It does not need a canopy.

(2) Capacity (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.1.2.1). The carrying capacity must be not less than four persons.

(3) Floor insulation (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.2.2). The floor may be uninsulated.

(4) Stability (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.5.4). It does not need stability pockets.

(5) Righting (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.5.2). A reversible one does not need arrangements for righting.

(6) One with a capacity of 13 or more persons must be reversible, with the floor arranged between the buoyancy chambers so that the apparatus can, floating either side up, accommodate the number of persons for which it is approved. One with a capacity of 12 or fewer persons must either be reversible in the same manner, or be designed so that it can be readily righted by one person.

(7) One with a capacity of 25 or more persons must be provided with self-bailing floor drains. If the floor of a reversible one includes one or more drains, each drain must be arranged to completely drain the floor of water when the device is fully loaded, and must prevent water from flowing back onto the floor.

(8) If the buoyancy tubes are not vivid reddish orange, vivid yellow, or a fluorescent color of a similar hue, panels of such hue must be secured to the buoyancy chambers so that a minimum of 1 m 2 (11 ft 2) is visible from above the apparatus when it is floating either side up.

(9) Boarding ramp (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.4.1). Boarding ramps are not required if the combined cross-section diameter of the buoyancy chambers is 500 millimeters (mm) (19.5 in.) or less. An apparatus with a combined cross-section diameter greater than 500 mm (19.5 in.) requires boarding ramps as follows:

(i) For an apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons, at least one ramp must be provided;

(ii) For an apparatus with a capacity of 25 or more persons, at least two ramps must be provided; and

(iii) The boarding ramps required by this paragraph must allow persons to board with either side of a reversible apparatus floating up, or the full number of ramps required must be installed on each side.

(10) Boarding ladder (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.4.2). Boarding ladders must be provided on each inflatable buoyant apparatus as follows:

(i) One ladder must be provided on each apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons, except that, for an apparatus with a capacity of 13 or more persons that is not equipped with a boarding ramp, two ladders must be provided.

(ii) Two ladders must be provided on each apparatus with a capacity of 25 or more persons.

(iii) The ladders required by this paragraph must allow persons to board with either side of a reversible apparatus floating up, or the full number of ladders required must be installed on each side.

(11) One or more exterior canopy lamps meeting the requirements of 46 CFR 160.151-15(n) must be provided such that—

(i) On a non-reversible inflatable buoyant apparatus, one lamp is mounted so that it is on the uppermost surface of the floating apparatus; and

(ii) On a reversible apparatus, two lamps are mounted so that one lamp is on the uppermost surface of the apparatus, whichever side is floating up.

(12) Equipment. All equipment required by this paragraph must be either packed in a container accessible to the occupants, or otherwise secured to the apparatus. Duplicate equipment must be provided, for each side of a reversible inflatable buoyant apparatus, if the equipment is not accessible from both sides. In lieu of the equipment specified in § 160.151-7(b) and (IMO LSA Code, Chapter IV/4.1.5), each apparatus must be provided with—

(i) Rescue quoit and heaving line. One rescue quoit and a heaving line as described in § 160.151-21(a) on each apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons; or two on each apparatus for a capacity of 25 or more persons. The heaving line(s) must be mounted adjacent to a boarding ramp (or boarding ladder, if no ramps are installed), and ready for immediate use;

(ii) Knives. One knife, of a type designed to minimize the chance of damage to the inflatable buoyant apparatus and secured with a lanyard ready for use near the painter attachment. Any knife may be replaced with a jackknife meeting the requirements in 46 CFR 199.175(b)(16). In addition, an inflatable buoyant apparatus that is permitted to accommodate 13 persons or more must be provided with a second knife that is of the non-folding type;

(iii) Bailer. One bailer as described in § 160.151-21(c) on each apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons; or two bailers on each apparatus with a capacity of 25 or more persons, except that no bailers are necessary if both sides of the floor of a reversible apparatus are equipped with drains;

(iv) Sponge. One sponge as described in § 160.151-21(d) on each apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons, or two sponges on each apparatus with a capacity of 25 or more persons;

(v) Paddles. Two paddles as described in § 160.151-21(f) on each apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons, or four paddles on each apparatus with a capacity of 25 or more persons;

(vi) Flashlight. One flashlight with spare batteries as described in § 160.151-21(m);

(vii) Signaling mirror. One signaling mirror as described in § 160.151-21(o);

(viii) Repair outfit. One set of sealing clamps or plugs as described in § 160.151-21(y)(1);

(ix) Pump or bellows. One pump or bellows as described in § 160.151-21(z); and

(x) Sea anchor. One sea anchor as described in § 160.151-21(e), attached so as to be readily deployable when the apparatus inflates.

(13) Marking and labeling. Marking and labeling of inflatable buoyant apparatus must be in accordance with the requirements of § 160.151-33, as well as IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.6.3 and 4.2.7.1.6, except that the device must be identified as an “INFLATABLE BUOYANT APPARATUS”, and no “SOLAS” markings shall be placed on the container of the apparatus. The capacity marking specified in IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.7.1.6 must be applied to the top of each buoyancy tube.

(14) Drop test. The drop test required under paragraph 1/5.1 of IMO Revised recommendation on testing (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart) and § 160.151-27(a) may be from a lesser height, if that height is the maximum height of stowage marked on the container.

(15) Loading and seating test. For the loading and seating test required under paragraph 1/5.7 of IMO Revised recommendation on testing and § 160.151-27(a), the loaded freeboard of the apparatus must be not less than 200 mm (8 in.).

(16) Cold-inflation test. The cold-inflation test required under paragraph 1/5.17.3.3.2 of IMO Revised recommendation on testing and § 160.151-27(a) must be conducted at a test temperature of −18 °C (0 °F).

(b) Production inspections and tests. Production inspections and tests for inflatable buoyant apparatus must be performed in accordance with the applicable requirements of § 160.151-31.

(c) Servicing. Inflatable buoyant apparatus must be serviced periodically at approved servicing facilities in accordance with the applicable requirements of §§ 160.151-35 through 160.151-57.

(d) Instruction placard. An instruction placard meeting the requirements of § 160.151-59(c), giving simple procedures and illustrations for inflating, launching, and boarding the inflatable buoyant apparatus, must be made available to the operator or master of each vessel on which the apparatus is to be carried.

(e) Requirements for “open reversible liferafts” Annex 11 to IMO Res. MSC.97(73). To be approved as meeting the requirements for open reversible liferafts in Annex 11 to IMO Res. MSC.97(73), an inflatable buoyant apparatus must meet all of the requirements in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, with the following exceptions:

(1) The apparatus must be reversible regardless of size.

(2) The surface of the buoyancy tubes must be of a non-slip material. At least 25 percent of the surface of the buoyancy tubes must meet the color requirements of § 160.151-15(e).

(3) The length of the painter should be such that the apparatus inflates automatically upon reaching the water.

(4) An additional bowsing-in line must be fitted to an apparatus with a capacity of more than 30 persons.

(5) The apparatus must be fitted with boarding ramps regardless of size.

(6) An apparatus with a capacity of 30 or fewer persons must be fitted with at least one floor drain.

(7) In addition to the equipment specified in § 160.010-3(a)(12), the apparatus must be provided with—

(i) Sponge. One additional sponge as described in § 160.151-21(d) on each apparatus with a capacity of less than 25 persons;

(ii) First-aid kit. A first-aid kit as described in 46 CFR 199.175(b)(10);

(iii) Whistle. A ball-type or multi-tone whistle of corrosion-resistant construction;

(iv) Hand flares. Two hand flares approved by the Commandant under approval series 160.121.

(8) Marking and labeling of the apparatus must be in accordance with § 160.151-33, except that the device must be identified as a “NON-SOLAS REVERSIBLE”, and the equipment pack must be identified as an “HSC Pack”.

(9) Stability. It must be fitted with stability pockets, in accordance with IMO LSA Code Chapter IV/4.2.5.4.

(a) Each buoyant apparatus must be capable of passing the tests in § 160.010-7.

(b) Materials not covered in this subpart must be of good quality and suitable for the purpose intended.

(c) Buoyant apparatus must be effective and stable, floating either side up.

(d) Each buoyant apparatus must be of such size and strength that it can be handled without the use of mechanical appliances, and its weight must not exceed 185 kg (400 lb.).

(e) The buoyant material must be as near as possible to the sides of the apparatus.

(f) Each buoyant apparatus must have a life line securely attached around the outside, festooned in bights no longer than 1 m (3 ft.), with a seine float in each bight, unless the line is of an inherently buoyant material and absorbs little or no water. The life line must be at least 10 mm ( 3/8 in.) diameter and have a breaking strength of at least 5400 N (1215 lb.).

(g) Pendants must be fitted approximately 450 mm (18 in.) apart around the outside of each buoyant apparatus. Each pendant must be at least 6 mm ( 1/4 in.) diameter, at least 3.5 m (12 ft.) long, secured in the middle, and have a breaking strength of at least 2400 N (540 lb.). Each pendant must be made up in a hank, and the hank secured by not more than two turns of light twine.

(h) Each peripheral body type buoyant apparatus without a net or platform on the inside must also have a life line and pendants around the inside.

(i) Synthetic line or webbing must not be used unless it is of a type represented by its manufacturer as ultraviolet light resistant, or it is pigmented in a dark color. A typical method of securing lifelines and pendants to straps of webbing is shown in Figure 160.010-3(i). If webbing is used to secure life lines and pendants, it must be at least 50 mm (2 in.) wide and must have a breaking strength of at least 3.4 kN (750 lb.) for apparatus of under 25 persons capacity, and 6.7 kN (1,500 lb.) for apparatus of 25 persons capacity and higher.

(j) Buoyant apparatus must have a fitting with an inside diameter of at least 50 mm (2 in.) for the attachment of a painter.

(k) Each edge and exposed corner must be well rounded. Buoyant apparatus with a rectangular cross-section must have corners rounded to a radius of at least 75 mm (3 in.).

(l) Buoyant apparatus must not have any evident defects in workmanship.

(m) Each metal part of a buoyant apparatus must be—

(1) 410 stainless steel or have salt water and salt air corrosion characteristics equal or superior to 410 stainless steel; and

(2) Galvanically compatible with each other metal part in contact with it.

(n) The color of the buoyant apparatus must be primarily vivid reddish orange as defined by sections 13 and 14 of FED-STD-595C (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart).

(o) When fibrous-glass-reinforced plastic is used in the construction of a buoyant apparatus, each cut edge of laminate must be protected from entry of moisture by resin putty or an equivalent method.

(p) Each buoyant apparatus must have Type II retroreflective material meeting subpart 164.018 of this chapter on each side and end. The material must be in strips at least 50 mm (2 in.) wide extending from top to bottom over the side or end and continuing over the top and bottom surfaces of the apparatus. For peripheral body apparatus, each strip must extend completely over the top and bottom surface of the body. For box type apparatus, the strip must extend at least 300 mm (12 in.) inboard from the edge over the top and bottom surface. Each strip must be positioned near the center of the side or end, but so that it is not obscured by any strap. A typical arrangement is shown in Figure 160.010-3(p).

(a) Buoyant apparatus with plastic foam buoyancy must have a plastic foam body with an external protective covering. The body may be reinforced as necessary to meet the tests in § 160.010-7.

(b) Plastic foam used in the construction of buoyant apparatus must be a unicellular type accepted by the Commandant (CG-ENG-4) as meeting one of the following:

(1) Subpart 164.015 of this chapter.

(2) MIL-P-19644C (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart).

(3) MIL-P-21929B (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart).

(4) MIL-P-40619A (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart).

(c) The external protective covering must be—

(1) Fibrous-glass-reinforced plastic, constructed of a polyester resin listed on the current Qualified Products List for MIL-P-21607E(SH) (incorporated by reference, see § 160.010-1 of this subpart), or accepted by the Commandant (CG-ENG-4) as meeting MIL-P-21607;

(2) Elastomeric vinyl accepted by the Commandant (CG-ENG-4) as meeting § 160.055-3(j) of this chapter; or

(3) Any other material accepted by the Commandant (CG-ENG-4) as providing equivalent protection for the body of the apparatus.

(a) The number of persons for which a buoyant apparatus is approved must be the lowest number determined by the following methods:

(1) Final buoyancy of the buoyant apparatus in Newtons after the watertight integrity test as described in § 160.010-7 (e) and (f), divided by 145 (divided by 32 if buoyancy is measured in pounds). The divisor must be changed to 180 (40 if buoyancy is measured in pounds) if the apparatus is designed so that persons supported are only partially immersed or where facilities are provided for climbing on top of the apparatus.

(2) Number of 300 mm (1 ft.) increments in the outside perimeter of the buoyant apparatus. The inside edge of peripheral-body type buoyant apparatus is not considered in determining the capacity.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) General. Production tests must be conducted under the procedures in subpart 159.007 of this chapter. An inspector from the independent laboratory must inspect the place of manufacture, observe the various operations involved in the construction process and determine that buoyant apparatus are made in accordance with this subpart and of materials and parts conforming strictly with the plans and specifications submitted by the manufacturer and approved by the Commandant (CG-ENG-4).

(b) Sampling of production lots. A production lot must consist of not more than 300 buoyant apparatus of the same design and capacity manufactured by one factory. Samples for production tests must be selected at random from each lot. The required sample size for various lot sizes is given in Table 160.010-7(b).

(c) Testing of sample buoyant apparatus from production lots. Each sample buoyant apparatus selected for test from a production lot must be subjected to the tests described in paragraphs (d) through (g) of this section. The stability test in paragraph (h) must be performed whenever a question of stability arises.

(d) Strength tests. The buoyant apparatus tested for approval must be subjected to the drop test. Buoyant apparatus tested for production lot inspections must also be subjected to the drop test except that in the case of peripheral body type apparatus, the beam loading test may be substituted.

(1) Drop test. Drop the complete sample buoyant apparatus into still water from a height of 18 m (60 ft.) twice, once flat and once endwise. There must be no damage that would render the apparatus unserviceable.

(2) Beam loading test. The buoyant apparatus must be stood on edge on one of its longer sides. A wood block 600 mm (24 in.) long and wide enough to cover the body of the apparatus must be centered on the top edge of the apparatus. A loading beam must be set at right angles to the float at a height so that the beam is in a horizontal position with its center on the center of the wood block. The loading beam must be hinged at one end and a load applied at the other end at a uniform rate of 225 kg (500 lb.) per minute until the load at the end of the beam as shown on Table 160.010-7(d)(2) is reached. The beam is then held stationary for 10 minutes. The device used to apply the load must be a chain fall, hydraulic cylinder or other device that allows the device to unload as the strain on the buoyant apparatus relieves. At the end of the 10 minute period, the drop in the load on the device must not exceed the maximum permissible drop shown in Table 160.010-7(d)(2). If the buoyant apparatus is not one of the sizes listed in the table, the loads must be determined by linear interpolation.

(e) Buoyancy test. Known weights are loaded on the sample buoyant apparatus until it is awash. The buoyancy is the downward force exerted by the weights loaded on the apparatus. A raised platform of known weight having two runners on edge spaced so as to bear on the apparatus may be used to support the weights out of water to avoid the necessity for making allowances for the displacement of submerged weights. This test is not a required production test if the manufacturer—

(1) Uses the same plastic buoyancy foam used in previous production lots,

(2) Determines that the density of each batch of foam used is within a range specified on the approved plans, and

(3) Closely controls the amount of foam used in each apparatus.

(f) Watertight integrity test. The buoyant apparatus is submerged for 24 hours at a depth of 3 m (10 ft.) or equivalent water pressure. The final buoyancy of the buoyant apparatus is determined in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section. The final buoyancy must be at least 145 N (32 lb.) per person capacity of the buoyant apparatus or 180 N (40 lb.) per person capacity if the apparatus is designed so that persons supported are only partially immersed or if facilities are provided for climbing on top of the apparatus. The loss of buoyancy must not exceed 5 percent of the initial buoyancy. This test is not a required production test if the manufacturer uses the plastic buoyancy foam controls permitted as an alternative to the buoyancy test in paragraph (e) of this section.

(g) Painter attachment strength test. The apparatus must be positioned with its painter attachment fitting at the lowest point of the apparatus, directly below the center of buoyancy. The apparatus must be suspended in this position from the highest side. A load equal to twice the buoyancy of the apparatus must be suspended from the painter attachment fitting for 10 minutes. The fitting must remain firmly attached to the buoyant apparatus and the apparatus must not sustain any visible damage.

(h) Stability test. With the sample buoyant apparatus floating in water, a weight of 22.5 kg of iron per meter of length (15 lb. per foot) must be suspended in the water from the life lines along one of the longer edges. The same test must be performed along one of the shorter edges. The minimum weight along any one edge must be 27 kg (60 lb.). The buoyant apparatus must neither capsize nor become partially awash under either of these tests.

(i) Weight test. One buoyant apparatus of the lot submitted for approval must be weighed. The weight of the complete buoyant apparatus must be within the limit required in § 160.010-3(d).

(j) Lot acceptance or rejection. Inability of a sample buoyant apparatus to pass any one or more of the tests required in this section causes rejection of the lot. Each buoyant apparatus in a rejected lot must be reworked by the manufacturer to correct the defects found before the lot is resubmitted for inspection and testing.

(a) A substantial nameplate must be permanently attached to each buoyant apparatus. The nameplate must contain the name of the manufacturer, lot designation or serial number, approval number, dimensions, and number of persons capacity. Space must be provided for the date, and the identification of the independent laboratory.

(b) The nameplates of buoyant apparatus accepted must be marked with the identification of the independent laboratory and the date.

(a) A buoyant apparatus is approved by the Coast Guard under the procedures in subpart 159.005 of this chapter.

(b) The test required for approval are those in § 160.010-7, and must be performed on the first production lot of buoyant apparatus produced by the manufacturer.

(a) The approval and production tests in this subpart must be conducted by an independent laboratory accepted by the Coast Guard under subpart 159.010 of this chapter.

(b) [Reserved]