The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Passenger Ships of Classes III to VI (A)) Regulations 1992

Schedule 4, Parts I, II and III

PART VII LIFERAFT LIGHTS

General

1.1  Internal and External Lights

1.1.1 The lights shall be arranged with manual control and shall operate automatically when the liferaft inflates in the case of an inflatable liferaft and when the canopy is set in place in the case of a rigid liferaft.

1.1.2 Each light shall be connected independently to its own power source.

1.1.3 The external light may be of a flashing type.

Construction

2.  Internal and External Lights

2.1    The complete light unit shall be constructed with proper workmanship and materials.

2.2    It shall be capable of withstanding the drop-test on a liferaft without damage to the light or the liferaft.

2.3    It shall be capable of withstanding a drop of 2 metres on to a rigidly mounted steel plate or concrete surface.

2.4    It shall be rot-proof, corrosion-resistant, and not be unduly affected by seawater, oil or fungal growth.

2.5    It shall not deteriorate due to damp or humidity when stowed with a liferaft in its container.

2.6    The power source shall be a sea activated or dry chemical cell battery.

2.7    The power source shall be proofed against leakage of any chemicals which could damage or cause deterioration of any fabrics used in the construction of the liferaft.

2.8    The connection between light and power source shall be suitably protected.

2.9    The power source in the inactive condition with the terminals covered shall be capable of being immersed for 30 days in salt water without deterioration or loss of power.

2.10  The lamp holder, and lens shall be so constructed to prevent the ingress of water.

2.11  A flashing light shall not be fitted with a lens or curved reflector to concentrate the beam.

Performance

3.1  Internal and External Lights

3.1.1 The lights shall have an operational endurance of not less than 12 hours.

3.1.2 They shall not be damaged in storage and shall operate in a satisfactory manner throughout the air temperature range −30°C to +65°C.

3.1.3 They shall operate in a satisfactory manner throughout a seawater temperature of −1°C to +30°C.

3.1.4 They shall have a shelf life of not less than 3 years.

3.2  Internal Light

3.2.1 The light shall be of sufficient luminous intensity to enable survival and equipment instructions to be read.

3.3  External Light

3.3.1 The light shall be visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least 2 miles.

3.3.2 It shall be visible through 360 degrees in a horizontal direction and over as great a segment of the upper hemisphere as is practical, when attached to a liferaft.

3.3.3 In the case of a flashing light it shall flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes per minute for the first 2 hours of operation.

3.3.4 Markings

Internal and External Lights

4.1.  The power source shall be marked externally with:

4.1.1 the manufacturer’s name or trade mark;

4.1.2 the type and batch number;

4.1.3 date of manufacture and expiry;

4.1.4 The words “DOT (UK) APPROVED”.

4.2  If the power source is a chemical pressurised cell it shall be clearly marked with a suitable warning notice.