(a) Red aerial pyrotechnic distress signals specified by this subpart must be either self-contained or pistol launched, and either meteor or parachute assisted type.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) Each signal must be either:

(1) A self-contained unit with all necessary components for firing the signal, or

(2) A cartridge intended for firing from a signal pistol that is approved under Subpart 160.028 of this chapter.

(b) Each signal unit must have an interior chamber which contains the main propulsion charge and which is constructed so that it is capable of withstanding the forces generated by ignition without rupture, crack, or deformation of any kind.

(c) Signals must be constructed in lots numbered serially by the manufacturer. A new lot must be started when:

(1) Any change in construction details occurs;

(2) Any change in sources of raw materials occurs;

(3) Production is started on a new production line or on a previously discontinued production line; or

(4) A lot exceeds 30,000 units.

(a) Each signal must:

(1) Burn “vivid red” when tested as specified in § 160.021-4(d)(7) for at least 5.5 seconds.

(2) Have a peak luminous intensity of at least 10,000 candela.

(3) Burn a total of not less than 1,000 candleminutes (Cm) using the formula

(4) Burn out completely before falling back to the level of launch.

(5) Function in a manner that would not cause burns or injury to an unprotected person firing the signal in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(6) Not malfunction in a manner that would cause burns or injury to an unprotected person firing the signal in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(b) Each signal must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) after:

(1) Submersion in water for 24 hours, or

(2) If protected by a sealed container, submersion in water for 24 hours inside the sealed container immediately followed by submersion for 10 minutes without the container, and

(3) Being exposed to the Elevated Temperature, Humidity, and Storage Test in § 160.066-13(b).

(c) Testing for burn time and luminous intensity pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2), respectively, shall be conducted in conformity with the following requirements and procedures:

(1) The chart speed of the light measuring equipment shall not be slower than 5 seconds per inch;

(2) The chart sweep of the light measuring equipment shall not be slower than .5 seconds for full scale;

(3) The first and last seconds of the burn shall be eliminated in measuring luminous intensity;

(4) The time during which the candle burns (excluding first and last seconds of burn) is to be used to determine the luminous intensity by averaging the readings taken during the burning; and

(5) Burn time is to be measured from first light of the signal to dark.

(a) Each signal must be legibly and indelibly marked with the following information:

(1) The manufacturer's name,

(2) The designed burning time of the pyrotechnic candle(s),

(3) The specific signal pistol for which the signal is designed, if any,

(4) The lot number,

(5) The Coast Guard approval number,

(6) Operation and storage instructions,

(7) The month and year of expiration determined by § 160.066-10, and

(8) The words:

“Aerial Flare. Acceptable as a Day and Night Visual Distress Signal for boats as required by 33 CFR 175.110. For Emergency Use Only”.

(b) If the signal is too small to contain all of the information required by paragraph (a) and any labeling which may be required by paragraph (d), the information required by paragraphs (a) (2), (6), and (8) may be printed on a separate piece of paper packed with each signal or with the smallest container in which several signals are packed.

(c) The largest carton or box in which the manufacturer ships signals must be marked with the following or equivalent words: “Keep under cover in a dry place.”

(d) Compliance with the labeling requirements of this section does not relieve the manufacturer of the responsibility of complying with the label requirements of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. 1263.

Each approved signal must have an expiration date marked on it. That date must not be more than forty-two months from date of manufacture.

(a) Red aerial pyrotechnic flare distress signals are approved under the procedures of subpart 159.005 of this chapter.

(b) The manufacturer must produce a lot of at least 100 signals from which samples for approval testing must be drawn. Approval testing must be conducted in accordance with the operational tests in § 160.066-12 and the technical tests in § 160.066-13. In order for the signal to be approved, the samples must pass both the operational and the technical tests.

(c) The approval tests must be performed by an independent laboratory accepted by the Commandant under Subpart 159.010 of this chapter.

(a) The procedure for conducting operational tests is described in figure (1).

(1) An “accept lot” decision must be reached in order to pass the operational tests.

(2) If a “reject lot” decision is reached, the entire lot is rejected.

(3) Signals from “reject lots” may be reworked by the manufacturer to correct the deficiency for which they were rejected and be resubmitted for inspection. Records shall be kept of the reasons for rejection, the reworking performed on the “reject lot”, and the result of the second test. Signals from “reject lots” may not, unless subsequently accepted, be sold or offered for sale as being in compliance with this specification.

(b) Each signal selected for the operational tests must be conditioned by:

(1) Being submerged under at least 25 mm (1 in.) of water for 24 hours without any protection other than its waterproofing; or

(2) If waterproofing is provided by a sealed plastic bag or other waterproof packaging, submersion under 25 mm (1 in.) of water for 24 hours in the packaging, followed immediately by submersion under 25 mm (1 in.) of water for 10 minutes with the signal removed from the packaging.

(c) After each signal selected has undergone the conditioning required by paragraph (b) of this section it must be fired as described by the manufacturer's operating instructions. The following data as observed must be recorded for each signal:

(1) Burning time of the pyrotechnic candle;

(2) Color;

(3) Whether the pyrotechnic candle burns out above, at, or below the level of launch.

(d) A signal fails the operational tests if:

(1) It fails to fire,

(2) The pyrotechnic candle fails to ignite,

(3) The pyrotechnic candle continues to burn after it falls back to the level of launch,

(4) The observed color is other than vivid red, or

(5) The burning time is less than 5.5 seconds.

(e) A lot is rejected if a “reject lot” decision is reached using Figure (1) and Table 1 after completion of the operational tests.

(a) The following conditions apply to technical tests as described in this section:

(1) A total of nine signals must be selected at random from the lot being tested;

(2) If the signals are protected by sealed packaging, then the conditioning for the technical tests must be conducted with the signal in the sealed packaging;

(3) If signals in the test sample fail to pass one of the technical tests, the entire lot is rejected;

(4) Signals from “reject lots” may be reworked by the manufacturer to correct the deficiency for which they were rejected and be resubmitted for inspection. Records shall be kept of the reasons for rejection, the reworking performed on the “reject lot”, and the result of the second test. Signals from “reject lots” may not, unless subsequently accepted, be sold or offered for sale as being in compliance with this specification.

(b) The Elevated Temperature, Humidity, and Storage Test must be conducted in the following manner:

(1) Select three signals from the nine;

(2) Place each signal in a thermostatically controlled even-temperature oven held at 55 Degrees C (131 Degrees F), and at not less than 90% relative humidity, for at least 72 hours (If for any reason it is not possible to operate the oven continuously for the 72 hour period, it may be operated at the required temperature and humidity for 8 hours of each 24 during the 72 hour conditioning period.);

(3) After removal from the oven immediately place each signal in a chamber:

(i) At a temperature of at least 20 degrees C (68 degrees F) but not more than 25 degrees C (77 degrees F);

(ii) At not less than 65% relative humidity;

(iii) For ten days;

(4) Then remove each signal from any sealed packaging and fire it.

(5) The test sample fails the test if:

(i) Any signal ignites or decomposes before firing;

(ii) Any signal when fired malfunctions in a manner that would cause burns or injury to an unprotected person firing the signal, or;

(iii) Two or more of the signals fail to project and ignite the pyrotechnic candle.

(c) The Spontaneous Combustion Test must be performed in the following manner:

(1) Select three signals from the remaining six signals and place them in a thermostatically controlled even temperature over for 48 hours at a temperature of 75 degrees C (167 degrees F).

(2) The test sample fails the test if any signal ignites or decomposes during the test.

(d) The Luminous Intensity and Chromaticity Test must be performed in the following manner:

(1) Remove the pyrotechnic candle from the remaining three signals.

(2) Ignite, measure, and record the intensity of the burning candle with a visual photometer or equivalent photometric device or automatic recorder:

(i) While the specimen is supported in a horizontal position and the photometer is at right angles to the axis of the specimen,

(ii) At a distance of at least 3 m (10 ft.).

(3) Calculate the intensity of the candle as in § 160.066-7(c).

(4) Measure and record the chromaticity of the burning candle as specified in § 160.021-4(d)(4).

(5) The test sample fails the test if more than one signal has a luminous intensity of less than 10,000 candela, or more than one signal is not “vivid red”.

(a) Production tests must be performed under the procedures in Subpart 159.007 of this chapter.

(b) The operational tests in § 160.066-12 must be performed for every lot of signals produced.

(c) The technical tests in § 160.066-13 must be performed at least once every twelve months, or at least once every 10 lots, whichever occurs first.

(d) If a lot is rejected on the basis of the technical tests, then each subsequent lot produced must be tested according to the technical tests until samples from a lot pass these tests.

(e) An independent laboratory acceptable to the Commandant must perform or directly supervise:

(1) Each technical test, and

(2) All operational tests for at least four lots in a 12 month period, unless fewer than four lots are produced in a 12 month period. If less than four lots are produced in a 12 month period, each operational test must be performed or directly supervised by the independent laboratory.

(f) If a lot selected by the independent laboratory for an operational test is rejected, then the operational tests for the next lot produced, and the rejected lot, if reworked, must be performed or directly supervised by the independent laboratory. The tests required by this paragraph must not be counted for the purpose of meeting the requirements of paragraph (e).

(g) The independent laboratory selects the lots upon which technical tests are performed.

(h) If the manufacturer produces more than four lots within a 12 month period, the independent laboratory selects the lots for which it performs or directly supervises the operational tests.

(i) The operational test performed or directly supervised by the independent laboratory must occur at least once during each quarterly period, unless no lots are produced during that period.

(j) The independent laboratory, when it performs or directly supervises the technical tests required by paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, must inspect the signals selected for testing and compare them with the approved plans. Each signal inspected must conform to the plans.