Lifejackets and buoyancy aids

Transcription

1 Lifejackets and buoyancy aids Lifejackets and buoyancy aids used in recreational or professional activities must comply with the specifications of the European Directive 89/686/CE on Personal Protective Equipment. The CE mark of approval must be printed on the garment s label and testifies that the lifejacket complies with the European Directive. Lifejackets are ranked in 4 categories according to their use, performance and buoyancy level. B.Leglatin Use Type of vessel Performance Buoyancy aid 50 Newton Coastal sailing, beach/shore activities. Canoe-kayak, windsurf, dinghy, water ski, jet ski. Not self-righting. Keeps the airway out of the water, wearer being conscious. Lifejacket 100 Newton Inshore, coastal sailing. Sail and power crafts. Self-righting : turns wearer safely on his back within 10 seconds. Lifejacket 150 Newton Open sea/blue water sailing. Sail and power crafts. Self-righting : turns wearer safely on his back within 10 seconds. Lifejacket 275 Newton Open sea/blue water sailing. Extreme conditions and professional use. Sail and power crafts Professional vessels*. Self-righting : turns wearer safely on his back within 5 seconds, user wearing heavy protective clothing. Supports the head all around : on both sides of the head and at the back. Colour One or several. Bright colour imposed. Bright colour imposed. Bright colour imposed. Reflecting material Not required 100 cm cm cm 2 Whistle Not required Required Required Required Grab handle Not required Not required Required Required Crutch strap Not required Recommended Recommended Recommended * Lifejackets used on board commercial or passenger vessels must meet the requirements of Marine Equipment Directive 96/98 and SOLAS specifications. How to choose your jacket? The primary function of a lifejacket is to keep the victim s airways out of the water and to allow an efficient spotting in order to facilitate the rescueing manoeuvres. A lifejacket keeps the wearer safely on his back and provides enough buoyancy for use in different open and rough sea conditions. It provides self-righting capacity A buoyancy aid provides sufficient buoyancy for use in sheltered waters and does not offer self-righting capacity. In addition, the type of sports or activity defines the level of performance expected from a PFD (personal floatation device) : in some cases, comfort and softness are critical, while other activities require durability and buoyancy first. Dinghy & multisports Inflatables & RIB's Water ski & jet ski Canoe & kayak Military, civil and industrial applications Clubs & sailing schools Fishing, river & sea Cruising, coastal and high sea navigation Professional vessels

2 Read the label and understand your purchase 50N 100N 150N You have selected a 100 Newton category lifejacket. The CE mark of approval testifies that this lifejacket is fully approved. Within the 100 N category which you selected, it is your own body weight (hence the lifejacket size) which determines the actual buoyancy of the garment. In this example, the wearer weighs between 50 and 70 kg. (It is only in the case of a wearer weighing 70 kg or more that the required buoyancy is 100 N). For a wearer from 50 to 70 kg, within the 100 N category, the buoyancy required by CE standards is 80 N. In a given category, a smaller size features less buoyancy. While the basic rule stipulates that, within a given category, smaller sizes will have proportionally less buoyancy, children s lifejackets are a specific case on their own : lifejackets designed for wearers below 30 kg body weight systematically belong to the 100 Newton category. Whether sailing in the open sea or by the shore, the CE standard recognises the absolute necessity to equip very young children with self-righting lifejackets, fitted with reflective material and hoisting loops or handles. For some specific applications, national bodies or federations may recommend a buoyancy rating superior to standard. Example of Canoe-Kayak buoyancy aids : Plastimo developed 50 N category buoyancy aids, with an actual buoyancy upgraded to 70 N. The primary function of a lifejacket is to keep the victim s airways out of the water and to allow an efficient spotting in order to facilitate the rescueing manoeuvres. Lifejacket with permanent floatation (foam technology) Designed to be used either in the water/ water surface or in case of accidental fall into the water. Also provides a good protection against knocks and contributes to thermal protection. The child s weight is considered by the regulation as the criteria serving as a basis for buoyancy per size. Therefore, we indicate the age as a guide only ; it is imperative that the child tries the lifejacket on before purchase. Inflatable lifejacket (air bladder technology) Designed specifically to be used in case of accidental fall into the water. Extremely compact when non inflated, the inflatable lifejacket provides optimum freedom of movement. In the event of a man over board, the inflatable lifejacket (automatic or manual) provides ample floatation capacity.

3 B. Y. Leglatin Your safety is our mission Lifejackets, safety harnesses and tethers. Plastimo s commitment to safety has been at the core of our business for over 40 years Today, Plastimo is offering a full range of 40 models of lifejackets and buoyancy aids in a variety of vibrant colours and comfortable shapes. This comprehensive range serves all water-sports and incorporates individual preferences such as traditional foam or inflatables. Material selection and quality tests Plastimo pays particular attention to the selection of materials involved in lifejackets production, according to the final use the garment is intended for. Materials are selected after stringent tests conducted in situ and in our laboratories : Buoyancy watertightness, lightweight) or in polyester with polyurethane self-righting capacity, pull ) with a large selection of people, to account for different bodyweight and stoutness. Outer shell Zips YKK injected Polyacetal : impervious do not jam with seawater. Straps/belts Polypropylene on standard lifejackets ; polyester on models with integrated harness. Buckles Polyacetal plastic or 316 L stainless steel : impervious to corrosion. Every lifejacket goes through a complete check-up procedure at every stage of production. For example, every air chamber is tested fully inflated for 12 hours to check seam tightness. Our 3-year warranty on inflatable lifejackets reflects our confidence in our quality procedures. B. Y. Leglatin

4 Inflatable lifejackets Manual or automatic inflation? Some hints to help you choose. Inflation can be triggered in 3 ways : possible on all lifejacket models. The oral inflation tube allows you to pump up. gas cylinder is done by pulling an the lifejacket inflates automatically on immersion in the water. Recommended for cruising, an absolute must for non-swimmers and for single-handed sailors, as the lifejacket inflates even if the wearer is unconscious. 2 automatic inflation principles : a chemical product dissolves when in contact with water, which activates the inflation head and releases the gas. when the lifejacket is fully immersed in the water, the hydrostatic pressure acts on a diaphragm. As the pressure and the inflation head is automatically activated. This system offers a better guarantee stowed in a damp locker. When wearing foul weather clothing a lifejacket has to overcome the fact that air is often trapped in the clothing causing the user to both surface quickly and float on their back. This may cause slow or non-activation of the inflator, as this will place the valve uppermost, preventing it from being sufficiently submerged. An unchanged parallell position of the body to the water surface with the hydrostatic valve uppermost other ways, will immediately activate the hydrostatic valve and the lifejacket will inflate. Cruising & blue water sailing Accessories Rearming kit (45 g CO 2 bottle, salt capsule and safety clip) (45 g CO 2 bottle, hydrostatic release mechanism and opener). EN 396 EN ISO Pilot IOR lifejacket Unique safety equipment combining an inflatable lifejacket and an inflatable dan buoy. The lifejacket air chamber incorporates the inflatable dan buoy. In the event of a man overboard, lifejacket and dan buoy inflate automatically and simultaneously. lifejacket with integrated safety harness. Dan buoy in neon yellow nylon, polyurethane coated. - retro-reflective tapes, - lanyard. PILOT IOR with harness Reference Automatic Hydrostatic 53258

5 Optisafe inflatable lifejacket Cruising & blue water sailing 150 Newton inflatable lifejacket ; self-righting capacity. Independent neon yellow air chamber, protected by a very resistant outer cover. Inflation with 33 g CO 2 gas cylinder. Tube for oral inflation with non-return valve. Also allows pressure adjustment. Patented design Sam Davies, skipper Savéol, Vendée Globe Team Sam Davies. Pocket with flap and Velcro closure, designed for an individual distress beacon (size 155 x 72 x 37 mm max.). Beacon not supplied with lifejacket. Dye marker : 80 g sachet. Flashlight (flash, steady and SOS). Illustrated model features the hydrostatic (Hammar) inflation system. CE approved integrated harness. Adjustable waist belt, 46 mm wide, resistance 2500 dan. Anti-magnetic 316 L stainless steel buckles. Whistle. 300 cm 2 retro-reflecting tapes. ISAF elastic tether with overload indicator : 2 double action safety hooks. Extends to 2 m. Complies with ISAF/ORC. When the tether is submitted to a heavy load (ex. Man over board), the overload indicator exposes a label indicating that tether should be replaced. Grab handle. All the add-on accessories (light, dye marker...) are secured to the harness belt with a lanyard. Wide shoulder straps (46 mm), adjustable for a perfect body fit. Back strap prevents the lifejacket from riding up (when inflated). Back patch holds the shoulder straps in the correct position and contributes to comfort. Lifejacket with integrated harness, red cover OPTISAFE, complete with accessories OPTISAFE without accessories* Manual inflation Automatic inflation, with water-dissolving capsule Automatic inflation, with hydrostatic firing system (Hammar) * without tether, flashlight and dye marker.

6 Pilot Race 150 N lifejacket Hardwearing and comfortable, particularly suitable for intensive use. Inflation : Hammar or Pro-Sensor automatic inflation systems incorporating the latest technology. An indicator system confirms the status of the firing mechanism : green indicates if lifejacket is operational. Air chamber : independent and protected by the outer cover. 33 g CO 2 gas bottle. Tube for oral inflation with anti-return valve. Visibility of inflated jacket : bright yellow air chamber cm 2 retro-reflecting tapes. Black outer cover : Hardwearing and comfortable, with detachable neck fleece for optimum comfort. Reflective piping and D plastic ring. EN ISO J.M. Liot Adjustable harness, waist strap in 46 mm wide polyester webbing. Back strap contributes to a better body fit. 40 mm wide polypropylene webbing. 316 L stainless steel buckles, non magnetic. Grab loop : facilitates grabbing the victim and hoisting out of the water. 25 mm wide polypropylene webbing. Whistle with lanyard. Weight : 940 g. Nicolas Lunven, Skipper of Figaro Generali. Reflective piping. PILOT RACE with harness With crutch strap Without crutch strap Automatic Pro-Sensor Hydrostatic Hammar Plastic ring to secure accessories. Zipped pocket for personal safety equipment. Options & Accessories : Hydrostatic Hammar. Velcro retainer holds the stainless steel harness ring in place fleece collars of different colours. Customises every lifejacket and helps crewmembers identify their own. Very useful once lifejacket has been adjusted to fit your own bodysize. Viewing window Both Pro-Sensor and Hammar inflation systems indicate visually the status of the firing mechanism. If the gas bottle is pierced or not properly tightened, the indicator turns red automatically (33 g CO 2 bottle + Hammar mechanism and specific tool) (33 g CO 2 bottle and dissolving cartridge) Features a loop for attachment to the oral inflation tube (on the air chamber). Reflective piping and detachable neck fleece.

7 Pilot 150 N lifejacket EN ISO B.Leglatin Suitable for all navigation types, from family cruising to active racing. Auto with harness Manual without harness Black models : with crutch strap. (crutch strap optional on other colours) Pro-Sensor with harness Pro-Sensor with harness PILOT 150 N without harness (EN ISO ) Inflation system BLACK* NAVY BLUE RED Manual Automatic XXL : Automatic Pro-Sensor with viewing window 60851* Hydrostatic Hammar with viewing window 60852* PILOT 150 N with harness (EN ISO / 12401) Manual Automatic Automatic Pro-Sensor with viewing window 60646* XXL : Hydrostatic Hammar with viewing window 60647* XXL : *with crutch strap Hydrostatic Hammar, with harness Standard model fits a waistline from 60 to 130 cm. XXL size fits a waistline from 130 to 170 cm.

8 Compliant with the European standards currently in force : Whistle. Independent yellow air chamber, protected by a very resistant outer cover. Inflation with 33 g CO 2 gas cylinder. 150 Newton inflatable lifejacket ; self-righting capacity. Tube for oral inflation with non-return valve. Also allows pressure adjustment. 300 cm 2 retro-reflecting tapes. Grab handle. Cruising & blue water sailing Recommended use Performance Inflation/firing mechanism Air chamber Visibility when inflated Outer cover Back strap Waist strap Buckles Grab loop Whistle Weight of lifejacket PILOT 150 N Intensive use (skipper, regular cruising or racing). Comfortable and hard-wearing lifejacket. Self-righting capacity : turns most wearers face up within 5 seconds, even unconcious (equipped with a regular foul weather gear). or hydrostatic Hammar. red/green indicator shows clearly the firing mechanism status. Totally independent air chamber, efficiently protected by the outer cover. Yellow chamber. 300 cm² retro-reflecting tapes, sewn on the jacket for added resistance and perfect adherence. Rounded comfortable neck. Reflective piping on shoulders. Improved comfort and better body fit. 25 mm wide polypropylene webbing. XXL size : for cm waistline. Facilitates grabbing the casualty and hoisting him/her out of the water. 25 mm wide polypropylene webbing. Secured with lanyard inside the lifejacket. As from 720 grammes (manual, no harness model). Full range of optional accessories : tethers, spray hood, lightsticks, dye marker, PLBs... See following pages. Options Crutch strap : (supplied as standard feature with black lifejackets).

9 Specialist of safety at sea for 50 years Designer and manufacturer of lifejackets for 50 years, Plastimo gives you some extra clues to understand the lifejacket differences and operation and thus select the best model for your application. B.Leglatin Features common to Pilot 150 & 275 N Pro-Sensor automatic inflation system (water-dissolving cartridge) Viewing window to monitor the status of the firing head : Pro-Sensor inflation system indicates visually the status of the firing head (green = lifejacket is operational). If the gas bottle is pierced or not properly tightened, the indicator turns red automatically. Hammar inflation system (hydrostatic) Viewing window to check the firing head status (green = lifejacket is operational). A mesh patch built into the outer cover accelerates the water entry to trigger the firing head quicker. With or without harness? Lifejacket without a harness 40 mm polypropylene webbing and composite material buckles. Lifejacket with EN ISO harness 46 mm polyester webbing and stainless steel buckles. Suitable for use with a tether. Reflective piping Drain holes to evacuate the air caught up in the outer cover : contribute to a quicker deployment of the air chamber.

10 Pilot 275 N lifejacket Equally suitable for recreational navigation and for professional or industrial applications. Lifejackets without a harness : EN ISO , applicable to 275 N lifejackets. Lifejackets with a harness : EN ISO , applicable to 275 N lifejackets, and EN ISO applicable to safety harnesses. EN ISO Y-shaped 25 mm polypropylene straps hold the lifejacket flat on the back and ensure a better weight distribution on the shoulders. Cruising & blue water sailing Recommended use Performance Inflation / firing mechanism Air chamber Visibility when inflated Outer cover Back strap Waist strap Buckles Grab loop Whistle Weight Hydrostatique Hammar, with harness PILOT 275 N Intensive use and extreme weather conditions (skipper, regular cruising or racing). Comfortable and hard-wearing lifejacket. Self-righting capacity : turns most wearers face up within 5 seconds, even unconcious and equipped with heavy clothes or professional gear. 2 gas cylinder, 60 g. or hydrostatic Hammar. indicator shows clearly the firing mechanism status. Yellow chamber. 400 cm 2 retro-reflecting tapes, sewn on the jacket for added resistance and perfect adherence. Rounded comfortable neck. Reflective piping on shoulders. the status of the firing mechanism. Y-strap in the back, for improved comfort and better body fit. 25 mm wide polypropylene webbing. 25 mm wide polypropylene webbing. Secured with lanyard inside the lifejacket. PILOT 275 N without harness Inflation system BLACK* RED Manuel Automatic PILOT 275 N with harness Automatic 62134* Automatic Pro-Sensor with viewing window 62136* Hydrostatic Hammar with 62138* viewing window Crutch strap : (supplied as standard feature with black lifejackets). Option *with crutch strap

11 Cruising & blue water sailing EN 396 EN ISO Family lifejacket Outer cover in flexible coated nylon. Lightweight Other than the textile aspect, technical features are the same as on the Pilot 150 N. FAMILY without harness Inflation system RED Manual Automatic FAMILY with harness Automatic Option : Crutch strap Family & Quickfit : common features Day cruising : occasional crewmembers or family cruise. Quickfit lifejacket. QUICKFIT without harnesss Inflation system RED NAVY BLUE Manual Automatic QUICKFIT with harness Manual Automatic Hydrostatic (Hammar) Without harness With harness Pilot Pocket lifejacket Newton category. Manual inflation lifejacket, in a canvas carry pouch easy to wear around the waist. Definitely the least obstrusive of all PFD's, it is ideal for : a lifejacket permanently.

12 Accessories for lifejackets A W3 compact flashing light Ultra-luminous lifejacket flashing LED light. The light is protected by an ultra low-profile dome ensuring a large light beam thus reducing damage possibilities during rescue operations. The light activates automatically when in water and can be turned off manually. Fits all types of lifejackets. Supplied with fixing clips. Ref. Description A W3 compact flashing light alone W3 compact flashing light with loop for attachment B to oral inflation tube of inflatable jacket W3 compact flashing light with mounts for universal use (inflatable lifejacket, windsurf, kitesurf,...). C Supplied with : Velcro band and attachment plate ; loop for attachment to oral inflation tube of inflatable jacket ; self-adhesive Velcro. B C Crutch strap Strongly recommended : prevents the lifejacket from riding up when in the water, thus making swimming easier. 25 mm wide polyester webbing, with plastic buckle. Sea Flash lifejacket Extremely bright white flashing LED light. Activates automatically when the small sensor on the trailing wire makes contact with water. The light can be activated and switched off manually by simply pressing the button located on the main body of the unit. Fits all types of lifejackets. Adapts on strap 50 mm. Sprayhood Spray hood is folded in a convenient belt pouch with Velcro closure that opens easily and quickly in case of necessity. Fits lifejacket models Pilot 150 & 275 N, Family 150 N and Quickfit 150 N. Type of battery : CR2 Lithium Flash frequency : 50 to 54 per minute Light output : > 1 candela Light duration : 10 hours Weight : 32 g (including clip) Dimensions : 45 x 19 x 31 mm (light), 51 x 9.8 mm (clip) Option Plate for attachment to the lifejacket oral inflation tube : Tethers for inflatable lifejackets : see pages 38-39

13 Inflatable lifejacket inspection & servicing procedure An inflatable lifejacket must be serviced and thoroughly inspected at regular intervals, to make sure it is fully operational. Visual inspection conducted by the skipper or boatowner Before putting off to sea, we strongly recommend that you check visually the general condition of your lifejacket. This consists in checking the major components and making sure that none of them gives evidence of any wear and tear : outside hull, inflation chamber, straps, fastening buckles, whistle, retro-reflective tapes, CO 2 cylinder, firing head. You must pay particular attention to the following : The gas bottle must be full, firmly secured/screwed and showing no sign of corrosion. The green retaining clips must be in place on the firing head On lifejackets equipped with a Pro-Sensor automatic that the firing head is operational or indicates that the gas cylinder is either pierced or not screwed tighly enough. on servicing intervals, Plastimo recommends to have lifejackets serviced in our factory or approved stations every other year. use, a minimum annual inspection is necessary. The date indicated on the firing head of automatic or hydrostatic models must be valid. Expiry date Should you have to replace the re-arming kit, you must absolutely use a Plastimo re-arming kit. Servicing conducted by an authorised station at regular intervals This complete servicing process consists in : procedure. The servicing stations puts a specific sticker on the serviced lifejacket, indicating the recommended date for the next servicing session. This sticker identifies the Plastimoapproved servicing stations.

14 Re-arming kits for lifejackets How to identify the right re-arming kit for your lifejacket? Which firing head? (open the outer cover to identify the type of firing head) Your lifejacket The re-arm pack you need to order Accessories MANUAL FIRING LIFEJACKET Pilot 150 N, Family, Optisafe, Pilot Basic, Pilot Pocket, XM Quickfit 150 N Pilot 275 N AUTOMATIC FIRING, WITH WATER-DISSOLVING CARTRIDGE Pilot Junior 100 N, XM Quickfit Junior UML 5 Pilot 150 N, Family, Optisafe, XM Quickfit 150 N Pilot IOR Pilot 275 N UML 5 water dissolving cartridge : (replacement recommended once a year) Pro-Sensor Pilot 150 N Pilot 275 N AUTOMATIC FIRING, WITH HAMMAR HYDROSTATIC SYSTEM Pilot 150 N, Optisafe, XM Quickfit 150 N Pro-Sensor water dissolving cartridge : (replacement recommended once a year) A1 Pilot 275 N Pilot IOR Hammar A1 hydrostatic release mechanism : (replacement recommended every 4-5 years) MA1 Pilot 150 N Pilot 275 N Hammar MA1 hydrostatic release mechanism : Lifejacket models prior to : If your lifejacket features one of these firing heads, please visit our website to obtain the part number of the appropriate re-arm kit. Re-arming kits include : a CO 2 gas cylinder and a locking clip. a CO 2 a CO 2 gas cylinder, a hydrostatic release mechanism and an opener. Weight of gas in the cylinder per type of jacket : 100 N = 24 g 150 N = 33 g 150 N + IOR dan buoy = 45 g 275 N = 60 g Automatic firing head with water-dissolving cartridge or capsule : of the sailing season. In that case (as long as the gas cylinder is intact), you should order the capsule or cartridge alone. Automatic Hammar hydrostatic firing head :

15 Foam lifejackets Lifejackets Cruising & blue water sailing Typhon 100 N B. Y. Leglatin EN ISO N category standard features : weather gear. Head supported above the water. optimum visibility. 2 retro-reflecting stripes for night-time recognition. Storm 150 N with light Storm Features a single floatation block for chest/neck/head. Fastened with round-the-waist cord. Double adjustable crutch strap. Weight Size STORM 150 N Without light With light kg S kg M kg L Typhoon Zip closure, hem tightening drawstring and adjustable waist belt with plastic buckle. Comfort : 3-block ergonomic collar. Double adjustable crutch strap. Weight Size TYPHOON 150 N Without light With light kg S kg M kg L kg XL