[D16ve-l] Non-Serviceable and Substandard Life Preservers

[Robert Miller]

Heads up VEs. Please see below.

Bob
 
Stf/C Robert C. Miller
VSC Committee


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U.S. Coast Guard
Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection

Safety Alert 3-05

May 24, 2005
Washington, DC

Non-Serviceable and Substandard Type I Unicellular Plastic Foam Life
Preservers

Recently during several annual inspections of small passenger vessels, Coast
Guard Marine Inspectors discovered a number of problems with Personal
Flotation Devices (PFDs) manufactured by Atlantic-Pacific Manufacturing Co.
(APCO). APCO formerly produced various types of PFDs including several sizes
of unicellular plastic foam life
preservers and is currently out of business. PFDs from other manufacturers
could have similar problems.

A close inspection revealed -

* varying body strap lengths, sometimes less than 54" from the tip of the
snap hook to the tip of   the D-ring, resulting in a very tight fitting
adult sized PFD on average sized crewmember,

* non-resilient and brittle condition of the PFD flotation foam,

* differences in foam volumes and physical size for the same model of PFD
and,

* inaccurate markings, incorrect Q-spec numbers (106.055 vs. 160.055),
misspelled words, and   incorrect narratives.

Additionally, follow-up buoyancy tests of suspect PFDs performed by the
Marine Inspectors resulted in numerous failures. All PFDS that had failed
were condemned and each exhibited noticeable shrinkage and compression. Many
of these PFDs have been in use since the 1970's and may have reached the end
of their service life.

See images on PDF file available at
http://safetyseal.net/pdf_files/PFD3-05.pdf

Left image shows an example of a vinyl dipped PFD with compressed or
hardened foam. Right image illustrates a fabric covered PFD with brittle
foam.

The US Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners and operators carefully
inspect all of their older Type I unicellular plastic foam PFDs. Potential
indications that a Type I unicellular plastic foam PFD may no longer be
serviceable are:

1. Compression: The PFD may be compressed from many years of stowage.

2. Loss of resiliency: The PFD is excessively hard, stiff or its foam is
brittle. Normally after compressing the PFD to about half its initial
thickness, the foam should expand to its original dimension in a short
period of time.

3. Shrinkage: A physical reduction in size may be indicated by "wrinkling"
of the coating on vinyl dipped type or by a loose fitting shell on a
fabric-covered PFD.

4. Manufacturer: While the potential for problems applies to all older PFDs,
those manufactured by Atlantic-Pacific Manufacturing Corporation (APCO) have
been specifically noted. Approval numbers for APCO PFDs are:

160.055/54/1     Adult Model 8130
160.055/111/0    Adult Model 8150
160.055/112/1    Child Model 81510
160.055/121/0    Adult Model 81407 LOT # 73
160.055/122/0    Child Model 81410 or 81413

Questions regarding the information presented in this alert may be addressed
to Mr. Marty Jackson, Staff Engineer of the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Lifesaving & Fire Safety Standards Division at 202.267.0710 or
mjackson@comdt.uscg.mil.

This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not
relieve any existing domestic or international safety, operational, or
material requirement.

************
Distributed by:
Office of Investigations and Analysis
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters


 
Peter J. Urgola
Chief, Vessel Examination Dept.
USCG Auxiliary




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