National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 9650‑1:2022. It supersedes BS ISO 9650‑1:2005 and BS ISO 9650‑2:2005, which are withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee GME/33, Small craft.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 May 2022.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 188, Small craft.

This second edition of ISO 9650‑1 cancels and replaces ISO 9650‑1:2005 and ISO 9650‑2:2005, which have been technically revised.

The main changes are as follows:

ISO 9650‑1 and ISO 9650‑2 have been merged;
the Scope has been modified to align with meteorological conditions;
the types and groups of liferafts have been rationalized (see 4.2);
a new float free launching status has been added (see 5.2.1.1.2), with requirements added in 5.2.9, and test requirements added in 6.1 and 6.16;
a reference standard for gas inflation systems has been added (see 5.2.2.2);
requirements for the initial inflation system have been added (see 5.2.2.2);
the requirements for the canopy have been modified (see 5.2.6.2);
the requirements for boarding systems have been modified (see 5.2.8.2.1);
the reference standard for sea anchors has been updated (see 5.2.8.2.2);
requirements for marking products have been increased (see 5.2.9);
a testing schedule for prototypes, manufacturing and servicing has been added (see Clause 6);
the testing requirements have been modified (see Clause 6);
terminology of painter/towing line has been reviewed throughout the document.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

This document is intended for inflatable liferafts for small craft used for leisure activities. It does not apply to liferafts required for ships under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974^[³^]. A liferaft manufactured and maintained in accordance with this document should provide:

a reasonably safe refuge for a shipwrecked person awaiting rescue;
a reasonable service lifetime, provided the user meets the manufacturer’s clearly specified recommendations on stowage and maintenance.

Conformity to this document does not imply that a liferaft will be suitable in all circumstances.

Users are responsible for selecting a liferaft appropriate to the intended circumstances of use. Liferaft manufacturers and vendors should inform potential purchasers of the properties of the product, including possible choices (e.g. different equipment packs), limits on normal usage, and recommendations on stowage and maintenance.

The tests in this document have been designed to simulate reality as closely as possible. Conformity to a test does not guarantee similar performance in service. For example, conformity to the re-righting tests does not guarantee that a liferaft can be righted at sea by an exhausted person in all circumstances.

1 Scope

This document specifies the minimum requirements for design, performance and marking, and gives the test methods for inflatable liferafts of type 1 and type 2:

having a carrying capacity of 4 persons to 16 persons;
intended for small craft of a hull length of up to 24 m;
intended for launching overboard from a height not exceeding 6 m.

NOTE Type 1 and type 2 liferafts are defined in 4.2.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 General provisions

4.1 General

4.2 Types of liferaft

5 Requirements

5.1 General requirements

5.2 Detailed requirements

6 Testing

6.1 General

6.2 Launching (drop) test

6.3 Inflation tests under temperature

6.4 Testing of stabilization means

6.5 Righting test

6.6 Boarding test

6.7 Towing test with sea anchor deployed

6.8 Pressure test

6.9 Canopy watertightness test

6.10 Visual inspection of the protective outer container

6.11 Visual inspection of the liferaft

6.12 Equipment

6.13 Pressure relief valve test

6.14 Lights and batteries test

6.15 Mooring out test

6.16 Float free buoyancy test

7 Servicing

Bibliography

BS ISO 9650-1:2022

Small craft. Inflatable liferafts - Type 1 and type 2

Current

Published:

31 May 2022