Lifejackets are flotation devices which can be worn to keep a person afloat in the water. These are a crucial piece of equipment that have helped save thousands of lives over the years.
A lifejacket is typically made of polyester stuffed with foam cubes, with reflective patches on the front and back. They are bright, colored orange or yellow, so as to be spotted easily from a distance.
How do Lifejackets Work?
LifeJackets work on the principle of buoyancy, i.e. the amount of water displaced by an object is equal to its weight. This implies that when a person is in the water, the buoyancy force created is equal to the weight of the person. A LifeJacket, however, is made of lightweight form that weighs much less than the average weight density of human beings. As a result, when a person is wearing a LifeJacket, the total weight to be displaced by the water is much less as compared to the weight of the person alone, and so the person floats.
It is important to wear a jacket that fits well, protects the person from injuries due to impact, and ensures maximum safety till further help arrives, even in rough sea conditions.
Types of LifeJackets
There are five principal types of LifeJackets manufactured by LifeJacket manufacturers in India. These include:
- Type 1 : Open Water Life Jacket:
Used to protect the wearer in open water bodies, these lifejackets provide safety in rough seas and are useful in maintaining the body in the optimum position to prevent drowning.These provide a minimum buoyancy of 10kg.F on Adults & 5.5kg.F on child wearer .This is the best LifeJacket when the head is intended to keep above the rough waters.
- Type 2 : Inshore Water Personal Flotation Device:
These are primarily used in inshore area, in water bodies where rapid rescue operations can be implemented. In colder regions they are designed to protect the wearer against hypothermia.These provide a minimum buoyancy of 7.5 kg.F on Adult wearer.
These lifejackets are good for protection in inland water near shore, where chance of immediate rescue is good. These are comfortable to wear and provide a minimum buoyancy of 7.5 kg.F on Adult wearer.
- Type 4 : Throwable device:
These are designed to be thrown to an overboard victim or to supplement the buoyancy of a person overboard. It is not to be worn. Minimum buoyancy is 8.5 kg F on wearer of the Lifebuoy.
- Type 5 : Specialist Personal Flotation Device:
Lifejacket manufacturers in India design specialist personal flotation devices for extreme water sports like kayaking, rafting in the rapids, or on a powerboat or jet-ski, where there is a high risk of the person being thrown overboard.
All types of lifejackets manufactured across the world are expected to adhere to the rules of design specified by the SOLAS LSA Code.
What is the SOLAS LSA Code?
The SOLAS LSA Code specifies rules for ease of wearability of a lifejacket without assistance, comfort of the wearer, and the minimum lifting capabilities to protect conscious and unconscious people from swallowing water accidentally. In addition, there are detailed instructions as to the nature, quality, and ability of the lifejackets.
SHM’s Lifejackets: A Step Ahead of the World
Fig: LifeJacket Manufacturers in India
SHM Shipcare, one of the leading life jacket manufacturers in India, designs Lifejackets for complete safety in water which are compliant with the SOLAS LSA Code. Lifejacket manufacturers in India like SHM, have incorporated features like slip-on Lifejackets which are easy to wear and manage, in various sizes, and can be used for a variety of applications.
The principal features of the life jackets manufactured by SHM include:
- Modern design of polyester Oxford fabric with EPE Foam
- Multiple sizes available as per size of wearer
- Operable within a working temperature of -30C to +65C
- Equipped with additional accessories such as buddy line, lifting loop, whistle, etc.
Lifejacket manufacturers in India, such as SHM, have endeavored to develop exceptional life jackets that adhere to the rules of the International SOLAS LSA Code and are used to protect lives every single day!
FAQs
The most important difference between a life jacket and PFD is that life jackets are designed to turn the wearer face up in the water even if unconscious. To get technical: life jackets are also PFDs but not all PFDs are life jackets.
What does PFD level 150 mean? ›
A 150N PFD provides a minimum of 15kg of buoyancy per lifejacket. This is a product that is most commonly found for general use around the coast and offshore waters.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 life jackets? ›
Type I jackets offer the greatest buoyancy (over 20 pounds) and are designed primarily for offshore use. They're bulky to wear but have the distinct advantage of turning an unconscious person face up in the water. Type II jackets are likewise designed to turn an unconscious person face up in the water.
What does PDF mean in life jackets? ›
All vessels must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, called personal flotation devices (PFDs). The quantity and type depend on the length of your vessel and the number of people on board and/or being towed.
How do I choose a personal flotation device? ›
- Type I PFDs are geared for rough or remote waters where rescue may take a while. ...
- Type II PFDs are intended for calm inland waters, where fast rescue is likely. ...
- Type III PFDs are suitable for most paddlers where there is a chance for quick rescue.
A TYPE I PFD, or OFFSHORE LIFE JACKET provides the most buoyancy. It is effective for all waters, especially open, rough, or remote waters where rescue may be delayed. It is designed to turn most unconscious wearers in the water to a face-up position.
Which PFD has the highest buoyancy? ›
Type I PFDs, are the most buoyant PFDs and suitable for all water conditions, including rough or isolated water where rescue may be delayed. Although bulky in comparison to Type II and III PFDs, Type I will turn most unconscious individuals to the face-up position. They range in sizes from adult to child.
What weight will a 150N lifejacket support? ›
A 150N adult lifejacket will therefore support someone with an in water weight of 15.3Kg or 33.7lbs.
What does level 50 mean in life jackets? ›
Level 50 lifejackets are: mainly used in enclosed waters. intended for people who can swim and are close to the bank or shore or have help close by. designed to support you in the water, but do not automatically turn you to a face-up position.
What does Type 3 life jacket mean? ›
Type III. A Type III PFD is an approved device designed to have more than 15.5 pounds of buoyancy. While the Type III PFD has the same buoyancy as the Type II PFD, it has less turning ability.
Type 1 : Open Water Life Jacket:
Used to protect the wearer in open water bodies, these lifejackets provide safety in rough seas and are useful in maintaining the body in the optimum position to prevent drowning. These provide a minimum buoyancy of 10kg. F on Adults & 5.5kg.
How long can you float with a life jacket? ›
11. How Long Can You Float With A Life Vest Jacket? If you do not panic and stay calm, you can survive and keep floating with a life vest jacket for at least three days.
What is the best color for a life jacket? ›
It is best to choose a life jacket that uses plastic buckles instead of metal, so that they won't rust or corrode. Color is important for easy spotting in a rescue situation. Bright colors such as red, orange and yellow work best.
Should life jacket be tight or loose? ›
Your life jacket should fit snugly without being too tight. The term the Coast Guard uses is “comfortably snug.” If you can't make your life jacket fit snugly, then it's too big. If you can't comfortably put it on and fasten it, it's too small.
What is the square thing on life jacket? ›
Most life jackets have one or more lash tabs sewn onto them. While you can affix other things like strobe lights to them, the most common use is for attaching a knife sheath.
Do life jackets expire? ›
All of the care that you give to your PFD will prolong its use. There is no expiry date for a personal floatation device and/or lifejacket, but it becomes void if it has been repaired or altered; therefore, it is no longer usable and must be replaced and discarded for recycling.
When should you discard a personal flotation device? ›
Frequently inspect PFDs for rips or tears, discolored or weakened material, insecure straps or zippers, or labels that are no longer readable. Discard and replace any PFD that has a problem.
Which life jacket is appropriate for adults only? ›
Type III – Inherently buoyant recommended uses and features:
Supervised activities, such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and during personal watercraft operation. Minimum Buoyancy: 15.5 lbs. for adult size.
What is the safest flotation device? ›
Puddle jumpers are U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices that are less bulky than a life jacket but safer than swimmies. These Type III devices are considered a flotation aid.
What does 35 lbs of buoyancy mean? ›
Buoyancy is the ability to float in water. A buoyant apparatus is anything that can float and hold up weight. For instance, if you had a life vest with 35 pounds of buoyancy, it would be capable of supporting 35 pounds of dense material such as lead, iron, gold, granite, etc. Water in the body has no weight in water.
PFD's. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), unlike traditional lifejackets, are more comfortable because they are designed for constant wear. However, they do not generally offer the same level of protection as lifejackets for staying afloat and turning an unconscious person onto their back so you can breathe.
What is the definition of personal flotation device? ›
noun. a life preserver, life jacket, or other device for keeping a person afloat in the water. Abbreviation: PFD.
What is a personal flotation device used for? ›
A lifejacket, also known as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or buoyancy vest, will keep the user afloat in the water, greatly increasing their likelihood of survival.
What are the two types of life jackets? ›
Types of Personal Flotation Devices
| PFD Type | Best For |
|---|
| Type I: Offshore Life Jacket | All waters, especially open, rough, or remote waters where rescue can be delayed |
| Type II: Near-Shore Buoyant Vest | Calm, inland waters where there is a good chance of rescue |
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