(d) Tie tapes. The tie tapes at the neck shall finish not less than 12 inches in length for both adult and child size buoyant vests. They shall be arranged and attached to the envelope as shown by the drawings, and the free ends shall be doubled over and stitched in accordance with section H-H.

(e) Body strap, hardware, and reinforcing tape. The body strap, hardware, and reinforcing tape shall be arranged as shown on the drawings and attached to the envelope with the seams and stitching indicated.

(f) Stitching. All stitching shall be a short lock stitch conforming to Stitch Type 301 of Federal Standard No. 751, and there shall be not less than 7 nor more than 9 stitches to the inch. Both ends of the stitching forming the shoulder hinge seams and the top and bottom closing seams of the envelope shall be backstitched approximately 2 inch.

(g) Workmanship. Buoyant vests shall be of first-class workmanship and shall be free from any defects materially affecting their appearance or serviceability.

[CGFR 65-37, 30 FR 11581, Sept. 10, 1965]

§ 160.047-5 Inspections and tests.1 (a) General. Manufacturers of listed and labeled buoyant vests shall—

(1) Maintain quality control of the materials used, the manufacturing methods and the finished product to meet the requirements of this subpart by conducting sufficient inspections and tests of representative samples and components produced;

(2) Make available to the recognized laboratory inspector and to the Coast Guard inspector, upon request, records of tests conducted by the manufacturer and records of materials used during production of the device including affidavits from suppliers; and

(3) Permit any examination, inspection, and test required by the recognized laboratory or the Coast Guard for a listed and labeled device, either at the place of manufacture, or some other location.

(b) Lot size and sampling. (1) A lot consists of 500 buoyant vests or fewer. (2) A new lot begins after any change or modification in materials used or manufacturing methods employed;

1 The manufacturer of a personal flotation device must meet 33 CFR 181.701 through 33 CFR 181.705 which require an instruction pamphlet for each device that is sold or offered for sale for use on recreational boats.

(5) The recognized laboratory must assign an inspector to a plant when notified that a lot is ready for inspection, to conduct tests and inspections on samples selected in accordance with paragraph (b)(4) of this section.

(6) If a vest fails the buoyancy test, the sample from the next succeeding lot must consist of 10 specimen vests or more to be tested for buoyancy in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.

(c) Additional tests. An inspector from the recognized laboratory or the Coast Guard may conduct an examination, test, and inspection of a listed and labeled buoyant device that is obtained from the manufacturer or through commercial channels to determine its conformance to the applicable requirements.

(d) Test facilities. The manufacturer shall admit the laboratory inspector and the Coast Guard inspector to any part of the premises at the place of manufacture of a listed and labeled device to

(1) Examine, inspect, or test a sample of a part or a material that is included in the construction of the device; and (2) Conduct any necessary examination, inspection, or test in a suitable place and with appropriate apparatus provided by the manufacturer.

(e) Buoyancy-(1) Buoyancy test method. Remove the buoyant pad inserts from the vest and cut three slits each not less than 2 inches in length and not less than 2 inches apart on both sides

of each pad. Securely attach the spring scale in a position directly over the test tank. Suspend the weighted wire basket from the scale in such a manner that the basket is weighed while it is completely under water. In order to measure the actual buoyancy provided by the pads, proceed as follows:

(i) Weigh the empty wire basket under water.

(ii) Place the pads inside the basket and submerge it so that the top of the basket is at least 2 inches below the surface of the water for 24 hours. The tank shall be locked or sealed during this 24-hour submergence period. It is important that after the pads have once been submerged they shall remain submerged for the duration of the test, and at no time during the course of the test shall they be removed from the tank or otherwise exposed to air.

(iii) After the 24-hour submergence period unlock or unseal the tank and weigh the weighted wire basket with the pads inside while both are still under water.

(iv) The buoyancy is computed as (i) minus (iii).

(2) Buoyancy required. The pad inserts from adult buoyant vests shall provide not less than 16 pounds buoyancy; the pad inserts from child medium vests shall provide not less than 11 pounds buoyancy; and the pad inserts from child small vests shall provide not less than 74 pounds buoyancy.

(f) Body strap test. The complete body strap assembly, including hardware, shall be tested for strength by attaching the dee ring to a suitable support such that the assembly hangs vertically its full length. A weight as specified in §160.047-3(f) shall be attached to the other end on the snap hook for 10 minutes. The specified weight shall not break or excessively distort the body strap assembly.

[CGFR 65-37; 30 FR 11581, Sept. 10, 1965, as amended by CGD 72-90R, 37 FR 10836, May 31, 1972; CGD 75-008, 43 FR 9772, Mar. 9, 1978]

§ 160.047-6 Marking.

(a) Each buoyant vest must have the following information clearly marked in waterproof lettering that can be read at a distance of 2 feet:

Type II Personal Flotation Device.

Inspected and tested in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

(Kapok or Fibrous glass) buoyant material provides a minimum buoyant force of (16 lb., 11 lb., or 71⁄4 lb.).

Dry out thoroughly when wet.

Do not snag or puncture inner plastic cover. If pads become waterlogged, replace device. Approved for use on all recreational boats

and on uninspected commercial vessels less than 40 feet in length not carrying passengers for hire by persons weighing (over 90 lb., 50 to 90 lb., or less than 50 lb.). U.S. Coast Guard Approval No. 160.047/(assigned manufacturer's No.)/(Revision No.); (Model No.).

(Name and address of manufacturer or distributor.).

(Lot No.).

(b) Waterproof marking tags. Marking for buoyant vests shall be sufficiently waterproof so that after 72 hours submergence in water, it will withstand vigorous rubbing by hand while wet without the printed matter becoming illegible.

[CGD 72-163R, 38 FR 8119, Mar. 28, 1973, as amended by CGD 75-008, 43 FR 9770, Mar. 9, 1978]

$160.047-7 Recognized laboratory.

(a) A manufacturer seeking Coast Guard approval of a product under this subpart shall follow the approval procedures of subpart 159.005 of this chapter, and shall apply for approval directly to a recognized independent laboratory. The following laboratories are recognized under § 159.010-7 of this part, to perform testing and approval functions under this subpart:

Underwriters Laboratories, 12 Laboratory Drive, P.O. Box 13995, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3995, (919) 549-1400.

(b) Production oversight must be performed by the same laboratory that performs the approval tests unless, as determined by the Commandant, the employees of the laboratory performing production oversight receive training and support equal to that of the laboratory that performed the approval testing.

[CGD 93-055, 61 FR 13930, Mar. 28, 1996]

(3) Federal standard:

No. 751-Stitches, Seams, and Stitchings. (4) Coast Guard specification: 164.003 Kapok, Processed.

(b) Plan. The following plan, of the issue in effect on the date kapok or fibrous glass buoyant cushions are manufactured, form a part of this subpart: (1) Coast Guard Dwg. No. 160.048-1.

(c) Copies on File. Copies of the specifications and plan referred to in this section shall be kept on file by the manufacturer, together with the approved plans and certificate of approval. The Coast Guard specification and plan may be obtained upon request from the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or recognized laboratory. The Federal Specifications and the Federal Standard may be purchased from the Business Service Center, General Services Administration, Washington; DC 20407. The Military Specification may be obtained from the Commanding Officer, Naval Supply Depot, 5801 Tabor Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19120.

[CGFR 65-37, 30 FR 11583, Sept. 10, 1965, as amended by CGFR 70-143, 35 FR 19962, Dec. 30, 1970; CGD 78-012, 43 FR 27153, 27154, June 22, 1978; USCG-1999-6216, 64 FR 53227, Oct. 1, 1999]

$160.048-2 Types and sizes.

(a) Types. Buoyant cushions shall be of the box type, i.e., have top, bottom and gusset. Pillow type cushions without a gusset are not acceptable.

(b) Sizes. Buoyant cushions shall have not less than 225 square inches top surface area; widths and lengths which fall within the dimensions shown in Tables 160.048-4(c)(1)(i) and 160.048-4(c)(1)(ii); and thickness not less than 2 nor more than 3 inches, the thickness to be considered as the finished width of the gusset between seams.

[CGFR 65-37, 30 FR 11583, Sept. 10, 1965]

§ 160.048-3 Materials.

(a) General. All components used in the construction of buoyant cushions must meet the applicable requirements of subpart 164.019 of this chapter.

(b) Kapok. The kapok shall be all new material complying with Specification subpart 164.003 of this subchapter and shall be properly processed.

(c) Fibrous glass. The fibrous glass shall comply with the requirements of specification MIL-B-2766.

(d) Cover. Cotton fabrics and coated upholstery cloth meeting the minimum requirements set forth in paragraphs (d) (1) and (2) of this section are acceptable for use as covers for buoyant cushions, but alternate materials will be given special consideration. Pro rata widths of like construction will be acceptable.

(1) Cotton fabrics. Cotton fabrics shall comply with the requirements of Federal Specification CCC-C-426 for Type I, Class 3 material.

(2) Coated upholstery cloth. Coated upholstery cloth shall comply with the requirements of Federal Specification CCC-A-700.

(e) Pad covering. The covering for the buoyant pad inserts shall be flexible vinyl film not less than 0.008 inch in thickness meeting the requirements of Federal Specification L-P-375 for Type I or II, Class 1, film.

(f) Grab straps. The grab straps shall be of materials permitted for the cover, or approved equivalent.

(g) Thread. Each thread must meet the requirements of subpart 164.023 of this chapter. Only one kind of thread may be used in each seam.

(h) Welting. The welting where used may be any fiber or plastic material suitable for the purpose.

[CG FR 65-37, 30 FR 11583, Sept. 10, 1965, as amended by CGD 78-012, 43 FR 27154, June 22, 1978; CGD 84-068, 58 FR 29493, May 20, 1993]

(a) General. This specification covers buoyant cushions of the box type filled with kapok or fibrous glass contained in heat-sealed vinyl film pad covers which are inserted in an outer cover fitted with grab straps. The primary purpose of such cushions is to provide buoyancy to aid a person in keeping afloat in the water. No hooks, snaps, or other means shall be included which might facilitate fastening the cushion to a boat. Buoyant cushions shall be of such size and volume as to provide not less than 20 pounds buoyancy when tested in the manner described in § 160.048-5(e), but no cushion providing less than 225 square inches of top surface area or measuring less than 2

inches or more than 3 inches in thickness will be acceptable.

(b) Cover. One piece of material each for the top and bottom shall be stitched together to form the cover except that piecing of the cover material will be allowed provided it is for decorative purposes only. Gusset or boxing materials shall be of not more than two pieces. If more than one piece of material is used for the top, bottom, boxing or gusset, they shall be attached by a double row of stitching of the type shown in Federal Standard No. 751, for seam types SSw-2 or LS(b)– 2. The top and bottom may be of any of the materials permitted for the cover, but the boxing or gusset shall be a cotton fabric as specified by $160.0483(c)(1) or other equivalent material of a porous nature. Nonporous materials will not be permitted for the boxing or gusset, but coated upholstery cloth specified by §160.048-3(d)(2), perforated to permit adequate draining and drying will be acceptable.

(c) Buoyant material. Buoyant cushions shall be filled with the minimum amounts of kapok or fibrous glass determined as follows:

(1) Rectangular buoyant cushions 2 inches thick shall be filled with the amounts of kapok or fibrous glass indicated for the various widths and lengths of such cushions by Table 160.048-4(c)(1)(i) or 160.048–4(c)(1)(ii), as applicable. Trapezoidal buoyant cushions 2 inches thick shall be filled with the amounts of kapok or fibrous glass