(a) Specifications and Standards. This subpart makes reference to the following documents:

(1) Federal Specification:

L-P-375C—Plastic Film, Flexible, Vinyl Chloride.

(2) Military specifications:

MIL-W-530—Webbing, Textile, Cotton, General Purpose, Natural or in Colors. MIL-B-2766—Batt, Fibrous Glass, Lifesaving Equipment.

(3) Federal Standards:

No. 191—Textile Test Methods. 751A—Stitches, Seams, and Stitchings.

(4) Coast Guard specification:

164.003—Kapok, Processed.

(b) Plans. The following plans, of the issue in effect on the date buoyant vests are manufactured, form a part of this subpart:

Dwg. No. 160.047-1: Sheet 1, Rev. 2—Cutting Pattern and General Arrangement, Models AK-1, and AF-1. Sheet 2, Rev. 2—Cutting Pattern and General Arrangement, Models CKM-1 and CFM-1. Sheet 3, Rev. 2—Cutting Pattern and General Arrangement, Models CKS-1 and CFS-1. Sheet 4, Rev. 1—Pad Patterns.

(c) Copies on file. The manufacturer shall keep a copy of each specification and plan required by this section on file together with the certificate of approval. Plans and specifications may be obtained as follows:

(1) The Coast Guard plans and specifications may be obtained from the Commandant (CG-ENG), Attn: Office of Design and Engineering Systems, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7509 or a recognized laboratory listed in § 160.047-6b.

(2) The Federal Specifications and Standard may be purchased from the Business Service Center, General Services Administration, Washington, DC 20407;

(3) The military specifications may be obtained from the Military Specifications and Standards, Standardization Documents Order Desk, Building 4D, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/.

[CGD 65-37, 30 FR 11581, Sept. 10, 1965, as amended by CGD 72-90R, 37 FR 10836, May 31, 1972; CGD 78-012, 43 FR 27153, 27154, June 22, 1978; CGD 82-063b, 48 FR 4782, Feb. 3, 1983; CGD 88-070, 53 FR 34535, Sept. 7, 1988; CGD 95-072, 60 FR 50467, Sept. 29, 1995; CGD 96-041, 61 FR 50733, Sept. 27, 1996; USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49237, Sept. 25, 2009; USCG-2013-0671, 78 FR 60157, Sept. 30, 2013]

Each buoyant vest specified in this subpart is a:

(a) Model AK-1, adult, kapok (for persons weighing more than 90 pounds);

(b) Model AF-1, adult, fibrous glass (for persons weighing more than 90 pounds);

(c) Model CKM-1, child medium, kapok (for children weighing from 50 to 90 pounds);

(d) Model CFM-1, child medium, fibrous glass (for children weighing from 50 to 90 pounds);

(e) Model CKS-1, child small, kapok (for children weighing less than 50 pounds); or

(f) Model CFS-1, child small, fibrous glass (for children weighing less than 50 pounds).

[CGD 72-163R, 38 FR 8119, Mar. 23, 1973]

(a) General. All components used in the construction of buoyant vests must meet the applicable requirements of subpart 164.019 of this chapter. The requirements for materials specified in this section are minimum requirements, and consideration will be given to the use of alternate materials in lieu of those specified. Detailed technical data and samples of all proposed alternate materials must be submitted for approval before those materials are incorporated in the finished product.

(b) Kapok. The kapok shall be all new material complying with 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) Envelope. The buoyant vest envelope, or cover, shall be made from 39″, 2.85 cotton jeans cloth, with a thread count of approximately 96 × 64. The finished goods shall weigh not less than 4.2 ounces per square yard, shall have a thread count of not less than 94 × 60, and shall have a breaking strength of not less than 85 pounds in the warp and 50 pounds in the filling. Other cotton fabrics having a weight and breaking strength not less than the above will be acceptable. There are no restrictions as to color, but the fastness of the color to laundering, water, crocking and light shall be rated “good” when tested in accordance with Federal Test Method Standard No. 191, Methods 5610, 5630, 5650, and 5660.

(e) Pad covering. The covering for the buoyant pad inserts shall be flexible vinyl film not less than 0.006″ in thickness meeting the requirements of Federal Specification L-P-375 for Type I or II, class 1, film.

(f) Tie tapes and body strap loops. The tie tapes and body strap loops for an adult or child size buoyant vest specified by this subpart must be 3/4-inch cotton webbing meeting the requirements in military specification MIL-T-43566 (Class I) for Type I webbing.

(f-1) Body straps. The complete body strap assembly, including hardware, must have a breaking strength of 150 pounds for an adult size and 115 pounds for a child size. The specifications for the webbing are as follows:

(1) For an adult size vest, the webbing must be 1 inch.

(2) For a child size vest, the webbing must be three-fourth inch and meet the requirements of military specification MIL-W-530 for Type IIa webbing.

(f-2) Reinforcing tape. The reinforcing tape around the neck of a buoyant vest specified by this subpart must be 3/4-inch cotton tape weighing 0.18 ounce or more per linear yard and having a minimum breaking strength of 120 pounds.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) 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.

[CGspan 65-37, 30 span 11581, Sept. 10, 1965, as amended by CGD 72-90R, 37 span 10836, May 31, 1972; CGD 73-130R 39 span 20684, June 13, 1974; CGD 78-012; 43 span 27154, June 22, 1978; CGD 82-063b, 48 span 4782, Feb. 3, 1983; CGD 84-068, 58 span 29493, May 20, 1993]

(a) Specifications. Dee ring and snap lock assemblies and other instruments of closure for buoyant vests may have decorative platings in any thickness and must meet the following specifications:

(1) The device must be constructed of inherently corrosion resistant materials. As used in this section the term inherently corrosion resistant materials includes, but is not limited to, brass, bronze, and stainless steel.

(2) The size of the opening of the device must be consistent with the webbing which will pass through the opening.

(b) Testing requirements. Dee ring and snap hook assemblies and other instruments of closure for buoyant vests must—

(1) Be tested for weathering. The Coast Guard will determine which one or more of the following tests will be used:

(i) Application of a 20 percent sodium-chloride solution spray at a temperature of 95 °F (35 °C) for a period of 240 hours in accordance with the procedures contained in method 811 of the Federal Test Method Standard No. 151.

(ii) Exposure to a carbon-arc weather-ometer for a period of 100 hours.

(iii) Submergence for a period of 100 hours in each of the following:

(a) Leaded gasoline.

(b) Gum turpentine.

(iv) Exposure to a temperature of 0° ±5 °F (−17.6 ±2.775 °C) for 24 hours; and

(2) Within 5 minutes of completion of the weathering test required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the assembly must be attached to a support and bear 150 pounds for an adult size and 115 pounds for a child size for 10 minutes at the ambient temperatures without breaking or distorting.

[CGD 73-130R, 39 FR 20684, June 13, 1974]

(a) General. This specification covers buoyant vests which essentially consist of a vest-cut envelope containing compartments in which are enclosed pads of buoyant material arranged and distributed so as to provide the proper flotation characteristics and buoyancy required to hold the wearer in an upright backward position with head and face out of water. The buoyant vests are also fitted with tapes, webbing, and hardware to provide for proper adjustment and close and comfortable fit to the bodies of various size wearers.

(b) Envelope. The envelope or cover shall be cut to the pattern shown on Dwg. No. 160.047-1, Sheet 1, for adult size, and Sheets 2 and 3 for child sizes, and sewed with seams and stitching as shown on the drawing. Three compartments shall be formed to hold the buoyant pad inserts, two front compartments and one back compartment, and reinforcing strips of the same material as the cover shall be stitched to the inside of the front compartments in way of the strap attachments as shown by the drawings. As alternate construction, the front and/or back cover panels may be made in two pieces, provided that the two pieces are joined by a double stitched seam from the top center of the neck hole to the top of the vest as shown in Section J-J of the drawings.

(c) Pad inserts—(1) Forming and sealing. The buoyant pad inserts shall each be formed from two pieces of film cut to the patterns shown by Dwg. No. 160.047-1, Sheet 4, which shall be heat-sealed tight. The heat-sealed pad seams shall show an adhesion of not less than 8 pounds when 1 inch strips cut across and perpendicular to the seams are pulled apart at a rate of separation of the clamping jaws of the test machine of 12 inches per minute.

(2) Kapok-filled pads for Models AK-1, CKM-1, and CKS-1. The buoyant pad inserts for Models AK-1, CKM-1, and CKS-1 buoyant vests shall be filled with kapok distributed as provided in Table 160.047-4(c)(2).

(3) Fibrous glass-filled pads for Models AF-1, CFM-1, and CFS-1. The buoyant pad inserts for Models AF-1, CFM-1, and CFS-1 buoyant vests shall be filled with fibrous glass distributed as provided in Table 160.047-4(c)(3).

(4) Displacement of buoyant pad inserts. The volume of the finished individual heat-sealed buoyant pad inserts shall be such as to provide buoyancy as set forth in Table 160.047-4(c)(4) when tested in accordance with the method set forth in § 160.047-5(e)(1), except that the pad covers shall not be slit open and the period of submergence shall be only long enough to determine the displacement of the pads.

(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 1/2 inch.

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

[CGspan 65-37, 30 span 11581, Sept. 10, 1965]

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

(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;

(3) The manufacturer of the buoyant vests shall notify the recognized laboratory when a lot is ready for inspection;

(4) The manufacturer shall select samples in accordance with the requirements in Table 160.047-5(b)(4) from each lot of buoyant vests to be tested by the inspector in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section;

(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 7 1/4 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.

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

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

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 7 1/4 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 span 8119, Mar. 28, 1973, as amended by CGD 75-008, 43 span 9770, Mar. 9, 1978; USCG-2013-0263, 79 span 56499, Sept. 22, 2014]

(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]