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1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 of this Part of this Schedule, every life-jacket for use by a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more shall provide a minimum of 15·8 kilogrammes buoyancy in fresh water for 24 hours.
2. Every such lifejacket shall be marked indelibly on both sides in letters not less than 12 millimetres in size with the words “PERSON OF 32 KILOGRAMMES OR MORE” and on one side only with the maker's name or other identification mark.
3. Every such lifejacket shall also comply with the following requirements:—
(a)it shall be so constructed as to eliminate as far as possible all risk of its being put on incorrectly and it shall be capable of being worn inside out;
(b)it shall turn the wearer on entering still water to a safe floating position within 5 seconds with the body inclined backwards from its vertical floating position and shall support the head of the conscious or unconscious wearer so that the mouth shall not be less than 150 millimetres above the water;
(c)it shall not be adversely affected by oil or oil products;
(d)it shall be of a highly visible colour;
(e)it shall be fitted with a ring or loop or similar device of adequate strength to facilitate rescue;
(f)it shall be made of materials of low flammability and the fabric with which it is covered and its tapes shall be rotproof;
(g)it shall be fitted with an approved whistle firmly attached by a lanyard;
(h)it shall have fastening tapes securely attached to the lifejacket cover and capable of taking a load of 140 kilogrammes. The method of fastening the tapes shall be such as to be easily understood and capable of being readily carried out. Metal fastening when used shall be of a size and strength consistent with the fastening tapes and of corrosion resistant material; and
(i)it shall allow the wearer to jump a vertical distance of 6 metres into the water without injury and without dislodgment of the lifejacket.
4. The buoyancy of every such lifejacket shall be provided by kapok or other equally effective buoyant material.
5. Every such kapok lifejacket shall, in addition to complying with the requirements of paragraph 1 to 4 of this Part of this Schedule, comply with the following requirements:—
(a)it shall contain not less than 1 kilogramme of kapok;
(b)the kapok shall be of good flotation quality, well teased, evenly packed and free from seeds and other foreign matter;
(c)the kapok shall be protected from the effects of oil or oil products so that the loss of buoyancy in the lifejacket, after floating in disturbed water containing a layer of not less than 3 millimetres in depth of a mixture of gas oil for a period of 48 hours, shall not exceed 2 per cent of the initial buoyancy and for the purpose of this test the lifejacket shall be loaded with weights equal to half its initial buoyancy; and
(d)the covering shall be of pre-shrunk cotton material or a suitable synthetic material the weight of which in loom state per linear yard shall be not less than 170 grammes for a width of 685 millimetres and in proportion for other widths. The fabric shall be free from admixture of sizing or other foreign matter. The threads per inch in loomstate shall be warp 44 two-fold threads and weft 34 two-fold threads. The sewing shall be carried out with linen thread of not less quality than 25a fine cord Whittemore Cord.
6. Every such lifejacket using a buoyant material other than kapok shall, in addition to complying with the requirements of paragraphs 1 to 4 and 5(d) of this Part of this Schedule, comply with the following requirements:—
(a)the material shall not weigh more than 190 kilogrammes per cubic metre, and shall be of good quality and clean. If the material is in pieces, the size of each piece shall be not less than 165 cubic centimetres, unless such pieces are in layer form and are fastened together with an approved adhesive; and
(b)the material shall be chemically stable.
7. Every lifejacket the buoyancy of which depends on inflation, which may be carried for use by members of the crew shall comply with the requirements of paragraph 3 of this Part of this Schedule and in addition shall comply with the following requirements:—
(a)it shall have two separate buoyancy compartments in either of the following forms:—
(i)one compartment of inherent buoyancy equal to at least 9 kilogrammes and one air compartment of at least 6 kilogrammes; or
(ii)two separate air compartments each of at least 9 kilogrammes buoyancy;
(b)it shall be marked indelibly on both sides in letters not less than 25 millimetres in size the words “CREW ONLY” and on one side only with the maker's name or other identification mark in smaller letters; and
(c)it shall be capable of being inflated both mechanically and by mouth.