1. Update on Life Jacket Standards and Test Laboratory Recognition
US COAST GUARD
Office of Design and Engineering Standards
Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG-5214) Marty Jackson

2. Topics Resolution Number 2009-83-01 Laboratory Recognition Update
Youth Inflatable PFD Update

3. Resolution Number 2009-83-01 requested the Coast Guard –
1. Establish a Workgroup to:
a. Transition to a new consolidated NA Standard.
b. Separate the standards development from test labs.
c. Create a new process for certification and testing to ensure the continued safety of life jackets while providing enhanced opportunities for innovation, affordability, wearability, and use by May 30, 2010.

4. Resolution Number
2. Flexibility in Recognized Lab Qualification
a. More choices for initial and follow-up Testing.
b. Facilitation of innovative products through testing to market and enable competitive pricing for product lifecycle by May 30, 2011.

5. Resolution Number
3. Modernize compliance and quality control processes to be more cost-effective and efficient by May 30, The Coast Guard should also consider the used of industry certification or ISO 9000 as an accepted quality control process.

6. Consolidated North American Standard
Drafting Group for Canadian/US Standard
5 members (USCG, labs, mfrs)
Adopt ISO Std for PFDs
Includes National Deviations document
Incorporates Risk-index performance assessment
Permit reduced buoyancy for Type III PFDs with equivalent performance.
March 2012 target on track

7. Current UL Standards
UL-ANSI accredited collaborative standards development considered fully independent from UL testing and certification.
UL 1123 Standards Technical Panel (STP)–
22 members representing the industry, public, government (both federal and state) and includes Transport Canada.
UL has only one vote on the STP as a recognized lab.
Coast Guard has 2 votes
Members vote independently on revisions to standards, with opportunity for comments and modifications on line.
NBSAC may participate directly in STP- contact Chairperson, Ms. Sarah Brooks for information, Phone:

8. - USCG and UL cooperate to test innovative products.
1c. Create a new process for certification and testing to ensure the continued safety of life jackets while providing enhanced opportunities for innovation, affordability, wearability, and use by May 30, 2010.
- USCG and UL cooperate to test innovative products.
- UL's “New and Unusual Testing Program”
- All recognized test labs would be expected to consider innovative products similarly.
- Risk-based standards may be more flexible to consider alternative designs.

9. USCG Letter of Intent December 8, 2009 USCG letter to PFDMA
Recognizes mutual goals and efforts of PFDMA, UL and ABYC to:
Continue transition to Consolidated North American Standard with ISO base
Re-evaluate Classification and Labeling
Use Risk-based compliance model for PFDs

10. Alternative Standards
The Coast Guard will support industry efforts to consider alternative standards development provided that results include
ANSI-accredited process
Industry consensus standards for PFDs
Any change in the SDO must be done in accordance with established ANSI guidelines
SDO is capable of quickly responding to issues with an STP like process that includes appropriate stakeholders.

11. New Recognized Labs We are considering 2 test labs –
   
We are considering 2 test labs –
While test procedures have been verified, detailed listing/labeling, and follow-up programs must be demonstrated and documented
Possible for late 2010 addition

12. Modernize
3. Modernize compliance and quality control processes to be more cost-effective and efficient by May 30, The Coast Guard should also consider the use of industry certification or ISO 9000 as an accepted quality control process.

13. Modernize Revised Fabric Flammability Test requirements
Removed the Annual PFD Swim Test
Currently reviewing standard manufacturing Q/A follow-up procedures
reaffirm what tests are absolutely required
eliminate unnecessary tests with little value in the process and few processes
systematic review process.

14. Modernize PFDMA-led working group consisting of: - PFD Mfr
- Component Mfr
- UL
- USCG
First phase: Review/revise UL's current follow-up appendix pages
- Improve efficiency
- Minimize unnecessary testing
- Incorporate in-line testing where possible/appropriate

15. Modernize Next phase: Develop a 'quality-based' procedure
Considering a 'tiered' approach in which
- Manufacturers would be classified by history of compliance
- Test/inspection/audit requirements would vary by classification
This program will take much more work to complete and validate
Independent follow-up is a requirement for USCG approval

16. Youth Inflatables Progress
Study by ASE completed Nov 2009
Endorsed 12 yr old + Adult non-swimmer use
Considering regulatory change options to address “use by adults only” in CFR
UL 1180 Standards Changes Accepted
Changes to labels and instructions for repacking and rearming
Initial approvals based on existing designs

17. Questions Marty Jackson Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG-5214)
Phone:

18. End

19. Back-up

20. STP 1123 Roster Covers UL Stds: 1123, 1175, 1177, 1180, 1185, 1191, 1197, 1517
Name Company Interest Category
SUSAN BALISTRERI BALISTRERI CONSULTING INC Producer
C BROOKS SURVIVAL SYSTEMS LTD Non voting member
Sarah A. Brooks Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Chair
DENNIS CAMPBELL KENT SPORTING GOODS CO INC Producer
W COURTNEY WATER SAFETY & SURVIVAL General
SAM FOWLKES AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION General
CHUCK HAWLEY WEST MARINE INC Supply Chain
GORDON HICKS HALKEY-ROBERTS CORP Producer
MARTIN JACKSON U S COAST GUARD Government
Christopher James Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Testing & Stds Org
L LARSON USA WATER SKI General
R MARKLE MARKLE MARINE SAFETY SERVICES General
Betty C. Mckay Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Project Manager
LARRY MEDDOCK WATER SPORTS INDUSTRY ASSOC.General
LOUIS NOVAK U S COAST GUARD Government
KENNETH PLOURDE INTER-PAC INC Producer
ROBERT POPE Consumer
FRED (SLIM) RAY General
ROBERT RIPPY THE COLEMAN COMPANY INC Producer
T ROGERS CITY OF CHARLOTTE Commercial-Ind. User
RAVI SHANKAR TRANSPORT CANADA Government
DOROTHY TAKASHINA TAKASHINA LIFE PRESERVERS CO LTD, DBA JAPAN Producer
SARAH TAYLOR BROWN VIRGINIA TECH & EDDIE BAUER General
David Toshack Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (Canada) Non voting Member
SAMUEL WEHR MUSTANG SURVIVAL Producer