Certified Safety Standard

Quality life-saving equipment must be DIN ISO 9001 certified.

• Component suppliers must be incorporated in the quality cycle. Fault-free components are vital to obtain life-saving equipment that meet the stringent quality and safety requirements of these products. A goods-in inspection with the latest testing equipment provides additional safety.
• Every lifejacket must be subjected to a development test programme.
• The adherence to ISO 9001 certification requirements is regularly verified by the DGS, public institutions and renowned large enterprises.
• Despite all quality checks and tests, lifejacket manufacturers aim to focus their activities on the primary requirements of their customers.

The standards require that life-saving equipment carries specific markings. The most important of these is the European Conformity (CE).

Solid or inflatable buoyancy body? Which performance class is right for me?

Modern standards measure buoyancy bodies and lifejackets by their carrying capacity in water, i.e. their buoyancy in Newton.

Solid buoyancy bodies are usually made from flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene (PE) foam.
Inflatable buoyancy aids are filled with a gas. Today, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is most commonly used because it is non-toxic, non-flammable and easy to store at moderate pressure in small compressed-gas cylinders.

In practice, only inflatable lifejackets provide sufficient buoyancy for the performance requirements of the 150 to 275 class. Uninflated and stowed, their buoyancy bodies are very small and can therefore be worn permanently without limiting the wearer’s freedom of movement. An inflation mechanism (manual or automatic) ensures that they can be activated at any time. They can also be conveniently be combined with other safety equipment, such as life belts.

Summary:

• Buoyancy aids: (50 N): Suitable only for good swimmers, and only for sheltered waters, in which aid is close at hand. Not effective if the wearer loses consciousness in the water! Not suitable for children (up to 30 kg). Not life-saving equipment.
• Lifejackets (100 N): For use in inland waterways and sheltered waters. May not roll an unconscious person onto their back (depends on worn clothing).
• Lifejackets (150 N): For offshore use and rough weather. Should turn an unconscious person onto their back, even with heavy, weather-proof clothing.
• Lifejackets (275 N): For offshore use and extreme conditions. turn an unconscious person onto their back, even with heavy, weather-proof clothing.

Because each model has its own, specific fit, you should always try a lifejacket before buying it.