(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 (Regulation III/38.5.1). 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 §160.1517(b) and Regulation III/38.5.1, 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. Two buoyant safety knives ready for use near the painter attachment;

(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 § 160.15121(m);

(vii) Signaling mirror. One signaling mirror as described in § 160.151-21(0);

(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 (Regulations III/39.7.3.4, III/39.7.3.5, and III/39.8.6). Marking and labeling of inflatable buoyant apparatus must be in accordance with the requirements of § 160.15133, 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 regulation III/ 39.8.6 must be applied to the top of each buoyancy tube.

(14) Drop test. The drop test required under paragraph 1/5.1 of IMO Resolution A.689(17) 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 Resolution A.689(17) 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 Resolution A.689(17) 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" under the IMO International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code). To be approved as meeting the

requirements for open reversible liferafts in Annex 10 to the HSC Code, 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 approved by the Commandant under approval series 160.054;

(iii) Whistle. A ball-type or multitone 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". [CGD 85-205, 62 FR 25545, May 9, 1997]

§ 160.010-4 General requirements for buoyant apparatus.

(a) Each buoyant apparatus must be capable of passing the tests in § 160.0107.

(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 (3⁄4% 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.).

(1) 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 the "Color Names Dictionary."

(0)

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).

[CGD 79-167, 47 FR 41372, Sept. 20, 1982. Redesignated by CGD 85-205, 62 FR 25545, May 9, 1997]

apparatus with

$160.010-5 Buoyant plastic foam buoyancy.

(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 (G-MSE) as meeting one of the following:

(1) Subpart 164.015 of this chapter.
(2) MIL-P-19644.
(3) MIL-P-21929.
(4) MIL-P-40619.

(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-21607, or accepted by the Commandant (G-MSE) as meeting MIL-P-21607;

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

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

[CGD 79-167, 47 FR 41372, Sept. 20, 1982, as amended by CGD 95-072, 60 FR 50466, Sept. 29, 1995; CGD 96-041, 61 FR 50733, Sept. 27, 1996. Redesignated by CGD 85-205, 62 FR 25545, May 9, 1997]

§ 160.010-6 Capacity of buoyant 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]

§ 160.010-7 Methods of sampling, inspections and tests.

(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 (G-MSE).

(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) 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 160.0107(d)(2). If the buoyant apparatus is not one of the sizes listed in the table, the loads must be determined by linear interpolation.

is