Ingangsdatum: 31-05-1996
Geldig tot en met: 30-06-1999
Test subjects
3.1.1 These tests should be carried out with at least six persons as
described in 2.8.2.
Tests with a lifejacket
3.1.2 If the immersion suit or
anti-exposure suit is to be worn in conjunction with a lifejacket, the
lifejacket should be worn over the immersion suit or anti-exposure suit for the
tests prescribed in 3.1.3 to 3.1.12 inclusive.
Donning test
3.1.3
Following a demonstration, each test subject should be able to unpack, don and
secure the immersion suit over their test clothing without assistance in less
than 2 min.
This time should include the time to don any
associated clothing, and a lifejacket, if such is to be worn in conjunction with
the immersion suits and the test subjects should be able to don such lifejacket
without assistance.
3.1.4 The
immersion suit should be capable of being donned in a reasonable time at an
ambient temperature as low as -30°C. Before the donning test the packed
immersion suit should be kept in a refrigerated chamber at a temperature of
-30°C for 24 h.
Ergonomic test
3.1.5 When wearing the immersion suit
or anti-exposure suit, the test subjects should be able to climb up and down a
vertical ladder of at least 5 m in length and demonstrate no restriction in
waiting, bending over or arm movement. The test subjects should be able to pick
up a pencil and write. The diameter of the pencil shall be 8-10 mm.
Field of vision test
3.1.6 With the heads of the seated test subjects in a
fixed position, the lateral fields of vision should be at least 120°C when
wearing the immersion suit.
Flotation test
3.1.7 When wearing the immersion
suit, or anti-exposure suit, in conjunction with a life-jacket if required, the
test subjects should float face-up with their mouths clear of the water by at
least 120mm and be stable in that position. The freeboard should be measured
from the water surface to the nose and mouth with the test subject at rest. The
freeboard of the anti-exposure suit without a life-jacket should be at least 50
mm.
Righting test
3.1.8 Except where it has been demonstrated that the
immersion suit or anti-exposure suit will right the test subjects within 5 s,
the test subjects should each demonstrate that they can turn themselves from a
face- down to a face-up position in not more than 5 s.
Water ingress and jump test
3.1.9 Following a jump by each test subject into water from a height
sufficient to totally immerse the body, the ingress of water into the immersion
suit or anti-exposure suit should not exceed a mass of 500 g. This may be
determined from the difference in the combined mass of the test subject and the
immersion suit (pre-wetted) or anti-exposure suit, as measured prior to the jump
and immediately after the jump. Weighings should be performed on a machine
accurate to ± 100 g.
3.1.10 The
immersion suit or anti-exposure suit should not be damaged or dislodged in any
way following a jump from a height of 4.5 m vertically into the water. It should
be established by questioning the test subject that the suit dose not injure the
wearer as a result of this test.
Leak test
3.1.11.1 The ingress of water into the pre-wetted suit should not exceed a mass
of 200g following:
.1 a period of flotation in calm water for 1 h; or
.2 swimming for 20 min for a distance of at least 200 m;
.2 The mass of water ingress should be measured by weighing the test
subject and the suit in accordance with the method prescribed in subparagraph
3.1.9.
Swimming and water
emergence test
3.1.12 All test
subjects, each wearing a lifejacket but not the immersion suit or anti-exposure
suit, should attempt to swim 25 m and board a liferaft or a rigid platform with
its surface 300 mm above the water surface. Test subjects who successfully
complete this task should also perform it wearing the immersion suit or
anti-exposure suit.
Tests for oil resistance
3.1.13 After all its apertures have
been sealed, an immersion suit or anti-exposure suit should be immersed under a
100 mm head of diesel oil for 24 h. The surface oil should then be wiped off and
the immersion suit or anti-exposure suit subjected to the test prescribed in
3.1.11. The ingress of water should not exceed a mass of 200 g.
3.1.14 In lieu of the test for oil resistance
proscribed in 3.1.13, either of the following tests may be conducted:
.1 After all apertures have been sealed, the suit should
be immersed under a 100 mm head of diesel oil for a period of 24 h at normal
room temperature, if necessary using weights to keep the suit submerged. Any
surface oil should then be wiped off and the suit turned inside out. The suit
should then be laid on a table suitable for collecting and draining off any
leakage and be supported at the neck aperture by a suitably designed hanger. The
suit should then be filled with water to neck level which should be 300 mm above
the table. The suit should be left in this position for 1h and the leakage
collected and weighed. The leakage should not exceed a mass of 200 g.
.2 Representative samples of the exterior fabric and
seams should be immersed under a 100 mm head of diesel oil for 24 h. After
removal from the oil, samples should be wiped off before being subjected to a
hydrostatic test of a 1 m water head and a tensile seam strength of 150 N.
Fire test
3.1.15 An immersion suit or anti-exposure suit should be subjected to
the fire test as prescribed in 1.5. If necessary, the immersion suit or
anti-exposure suit should be draped over a hanger to ensure the whole immersion
suit or anti-exposure suit is enveloped in the flames. The immersion suit or
anti-exposure suit should not sustain burning or continue melting after being
removed from the flames.
Temperature cycling
test
3.1.16 An immersion suit should
be subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in 1.2.1 and should show
no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change
of mechanical qualities.
Buoyancy test
3.1.17 A buoyancy test, as prescribed
in 2.2, should be carried out to establish that the buoyancy of an immersion
suit designed to be worn without a lifejacket is not reduced by more than 5%
after 24 h submersion in fresh water.
Strength test
3.1.18 The immersion
suit or AES should be subjected to the body strength tests prescribed in 2.6.1,
except the load applied should be 1350N. The immersion suit or anti-exposure
suit may be cut if necessary to accommodate the test device.