GB/T 32234.9-2023 Personal flotation devices - Part 9 : Evaluation
1 Scope
This document specifies the processes for evaluation of personal flotation devices for fulfilment of the requirements in GB/T 32234.2-2023, ISO 12402-3 : 2020 to ISO 12402-6 : 2020.
This document applies to the evaluation of personal flotation devices.
The classification of PFDs used in the ISO 12402:2020 series is given in Annex A for information.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T18942.1-2003 Flexible cellular polymeric materials - Determination of stree-strain characteristics in compression-Part 1:Low-density materials (ISO 3386-1 : 1986, IDT)
GB/T32234.2-2023 Personal flotation devices - Part 2 : Lifejackets, performance level 275 - Safety requirements (ISO12402-2 : 2020, IDT)
GB/T34423-2017 Small craft - Deck safety harness and safety line - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12401 : 2009, IDT)
ISO 139 : 2005 Textiles - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
Note: GB/T 6529-2008 Textiles - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (ISO139 : 2005, MOD)
ISO 2768-1 : 1989 General tolerances - Part 1 : Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications
Note: GB/T1804-2000 General tolerances - Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications (ISO 2768-1 : 1989, eqv)
ISO 12402-2 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 2 : Lifejackets, performance level 275 - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-3 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 3 : Lifejackets, performance level 150 - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-4 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 4 : Lifejackets, performance level 100 - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-5 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 5 : Buoyancy aids (level 50) - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-6 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 6 : Special purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids - Safety requirements and additional test methods
ISO12402-7 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 7 : Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods
Note: GB/T 32234.7-2015 Personal flotation devices - Part 7 : Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7 : 2007, IDT)
ISO 12402-8 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 8 : Accessories - Safety requirements and test methods
Note: GB/T 32234.8-2015 Personal flotation devices - Part 8 : Accessories - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO12402-8 : 2006, IDT)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
personal flotation device; PFD
garment or device which, when correctly worn and used in water, provides the user with a specific amount of buoyancy which increases the likelihood of survival
3.2
inherently buoyant
permanently less dense than water
3.3
automatic inflation
inflation of the PFD (3.1) without the user carrying out any action at the time of water immersion
3.4
manual inflation
inflation of the PFD (3.1) resulting from the user operating a mechanism
3.5
oral inflation
inflation resulting from the user blowing air into the PFD (3.1) by mouth
3.6
PFD with secondary donning
PFD (3.1) for which additional donning or adjustment is needed to place the PFD in its functioning position from the position it is normally worn
3.7
vest-type PFD
PFD (3.1) covering the upper trunk of the user like a vest
3.8
yoke-type PFD
PFD (3.1) in a style worn around the back of the neck and secured by a waist strap
3.9
buddy line
length of cord which can be tied or otherwise fixed to another person or to that person's PFD (3.1) or other objects, so as to keep a user in the vicinity of that person or object with a view to making location and thus rescue easier
3.10
lifting loop
device which facilitates manual recovery of a person from water
3.11
whistle
device which, when blown by mouth, produces an audible sound which can aid in the location of the user
3.12
hybrid PFD
PFD (3.1) of combined buoyancy types, i.e. inherent and inflatable
3.13
sheltered waters
water with protection from significant breaking waves, current, or strong winds, where the possibility of being blown or carried away from shore or place of safety is minimal
3.14
offshore
water that is unprotected and influenced by threat conditions such as waves, tide, currents, or wind, at sea or on inland waters
3.15
primary means of inflation
means of inflating an inflation chamber that meets the applicable PFD performance requirements and that requires the least amount of intervention by the user
Note: generally according to the following order of precedence: automatic (easiest), manual (second), and oral (most difficult)
3.16
primary chamber
inflation chamber associated with the primary means of inflation (3.15) that alone meets the applicable PFD (3.1) performance requirements
3.17
back-up chamber
inflation chamber other than the primary chamber(s) (3.16) or supplemental chamber (3.18) that, when used alone, provides performance in case the primary chamber fails to function
3.18
supplemental chamber
inflation chamber other than a primary chamber (3.16) or back-up chamber (3.17) that is intended for deployment after stabilization in the water, and provides enhanced performance such as higher freeboard, improved head support, additional stability, splash protection, location, detection
3.19
status indicator
part or parts of an inflation system which provide user feedback to assist in keeping an inflatable PFD in an armed and ready condition
3.20
adult lifejacket
PFD (3.1) intended for users with a body mass greater than 40 kg
3.21
infant lifejacket
lifejacket intended for users with a body mass less than or equal to 15 kg
3.22
child lifejacket
lifejacket intended for users with a body mass greater than 15 kg and less than or equal to 40 kg
3.23
child buoyancy aid
buoyancy aid intended for users with a body mass greater than 25 kg and less than or equal to 40 kg
3.24
collar handle
device on the upper back of a PFD (3.1) which facilitates getting hold of the wearer
3.25
test panel
group of persons, experienced in testing PFDs (3.1), who observes the test subjects (3.26) undergoing the tests
3.26
test subject
human selected to be an integral part of a test
Standard
GB/T 32234.9-2023 Personal flotation devices—Part 9：Evaluation (English Version)
GB/T 32234.9-2023 Personal flotation devices - Part 9 : Evaluation
1 Scope
This document specifies the processes for evaluation of personal flotation devices for fulfilment of the requirements in GB/T 32234.2-2023, ISO 12402-3 : 2020 to ISO 12402-6 : 2020.
This document applies to the evaluation of personal flotation devices.
The classification of PFDs used in the ISO 12402:2020 series is given in Annex A for information.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T18942.1-2003 Flexible cellular polymeric materials - Determination of stree-strain characteristics in compression-Part 1:Low-density materials (ISO 3386-1 : 1986, IDT)
GB/T32234.2-2023 Personal flotation devices - Part 2 : Lifejackets, performance level 275 - Safety requirements (ISO12402-2 : 2020, IDT)
GB/T34423-2017 Small craft - Deck safety harness and safety line - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12401 : 2009, IDT)
ISO 139 : 2005 Textiles - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
Note: GB/T 6529-2008 Textiles - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (ISO139 : 2005, MOD)
ISO 2768-1 : 1989 General tolerances - Part 1 : Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications
Note: GB/T1804-2000 General tolerances - Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual tolerance indications (ISO 2768-1 : 1989, eqv)
ISO 12402-2 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 2 : Lifejackets, performance level 275 - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-3 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 3 : Lifejackets, performance level 150 - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-4 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 4 : Lifejackets, performance level 100 - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-5 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 5 : Buoyancy aids (level 50) - Safety requirements
ISO 12402-6 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 6 : Special purpose lifejackets and buoyancy aids - Safety requirements and additional test methods
ISO12402-7 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 7 : Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods
Note: GB/T 32234.7-2015 Personal flotation devices - Part 7 : Materials and components - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO 12402-7 : 2007, IDT)
ISO 12402-8 : 2020 Personal flotation devices - Part 8 : Accessories - Safety requirements and test methods
Note: GB/T 32234.8-2015 Personal flotation devices - Part 8 : Accessories - Safety requirements and test methods (ISO12402-8 : 2006, IDT)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
personal flotation device; PFD
garment or device which, when correctly worn and used in water, provides the user with a specific amount of buoyancy which increases the likelihood of survival
3.2
inherently buoyant
permanently less dense than water
3.3
automatic inflation
inflation of the PFD (3.1) without the user carrying out any action at the time of water immersion
3.4
manual inflation
inflation of the PFD (3.1) resulting from the user operating a mechanism
3.5
oral inflation
inflation resulting from the user blowing air into the PFD (3.1) by mouth
3.6
PFD with secondary donning
PFD (3.1) for which additional donning or adjustment is needed to place the PFD in its functioning position from the position it is normally worn
3.7
vest-type PFD
PFD (3.1) covering the upper trunk of the user like a vest
3.8
yoke-type PFD
PFD (3.1) in a style worn around the back of the neck and secured by a waist strap
3.9
buddy line
length of cord which can be tied or otherwise fixed to another person or to that person's PFD (3.1) or other objects, so as to keep a user in the vicinity of that person or object with a view to making location and thus rescue easier
3.10
lifting loop
device which facilitates manual recovery of a person from water
3.11
whistle
device which, when blown by mouth, produces an audible sound which can aid in the location of the user
3.12
hybrid PFD
PFD (3.1) of combined buoyancy types, i.e. inherent and inflatable
3.13
sheltered waters
water with protection from significant breaking waves, current, or strong winds, where the possibility of being blown or carried away from shore or place of safety is minimal
3.14
offshore
water that is unprotected and influenced by threat conditions such as waves, tide, currents, or wind, at sea or on inland waters
3.15
primary means of inflation
means of inflating an inflation chamber that meets the applicable PFD performance requirements and that requires the least amount of intervention by the user
Note: generally according to the following order of precedence: automatic (easiest), manual (second), and oral (most difficult)
3.16
primary chamber
inflation chamber associated with the primary means of inflation (3.15) that alone meets the applicable PFD (3.1) performance requirements
3.17
back-up chamber
inflation chamber other than the primary chamber(s) (3.16) or supplemental chamber (3.18) that, when used alone, provides performance in case the primary chamber fails to function
3.18
supplemental chamber
inflation chamber other than a primary chamber (3.16) or back-up chamber (3.17) that is intended for deployment after stabilization in the water, and provides enhanced performance such as higher freeboard, improved head support, additional stability, splash protection, location, detection
3.19
status indicator
part or parts of an inflation system which provide user feedback to assist in keeping an inflatable PFD in an armed and ready condition
3.20
adult lifejacket
PFD (3.1) intended for users with a body mass greater than 40 kg
3.21
infant lifejacket
lifejacket intended for users with a body mass less than or equal to 15 kg
3.22
child lifejacket
lifejacket intended for users with a body mass greater than 15 kg and less than or equal to 40 kg
3.23
child buoyancy aid
buoyancy aid intended for users with a body mass greater than 25 kg and less than or equal to 40 kg
3.24
collar handle
device on the upper back of a PFD (3.1) which facilitates getting hold of the wearer
3.25
test panel
group of persons, experienced in testing PFDs (3.1), who observes the test subjects (3.26) undergoing the tests
3.26
test subject
human selected to be an integral part of a test
