Clarification on the construction of anti-exposure suits: UK21/L004
Adopted EU recommendation LSA-011. UK approved recommendation on the construction of anti-exposure suits.
Question
The Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code 2.4.1.1.1 states that: “The anti-exposure suit (AES) shall be constructed with waterproof materials such that it provides inherent buoyancy of at least 70 N.”
To meet the requirement;
a) is it possible to make a combination of two pieces: a separate buoyancy vest (first donned and secured) and a waterproof coverall fulfilling other requirements for the material if both parts are declared as a combination on the labels of both garments?
or;
b) shall the buoyant material be an integral or attached part of the AES (e.g. between cover and lining)?
Recommendation
The answer to question a) is “No”. The answer to question b) is “Yes”.
It is required that anti-exposure suits be constructed as a single item with integral buoyancy being provided of at least 70N.
The LSA Code refers to ‘The anti-exposure suit’ and this implies one garment, otherwise the reference would be to the ‘items of the anti-exposure suit’.
In addition, should the wearer have to don two separate items such as a buoyancy vest and then the suit, these may, in an emergency, become separated and the wearer may even believe that the buoyancy vest would not be required when a lifejacket is also worn.
References
- The Life-Saving Appliances Code
- MSN 1874 as amended
- The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 as amended
Items affected
- UK/1.5, Immersion suits and anti-exposure suits designed to be worn in conjunction WITH a lifejacket
More information
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/21
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Telephone: +44 (0) 203 817 2000
Email: MEQA@mcga.gov.uk
Website: www.gov.uk/mca