scope:

This standard shall specify the minimum design, performance, testing, and certification requirements for protective clothing and equipment items, including full body suits, helmets, gloves, footwear, and personal flotation devices designed to provide limited protection from physical, environmental, thermal, and certain common chemical and biological hazards for emergency services personnel during surface water operations.

This standard shall specify requirements for protective clothing and protective equipment used during operations in surface water, swift water, tidal water, surf, and ice.

This standard shall not specify requirements for protective clothing and protective equipment for any offshore water operations or any dive operations.

This standard shall not specify requirements for protective clothing and protective equipment for any other technical rescue operation, any fire-fighting operations, or any hazardous materials emergencies.

This standard shall specify requirements for any accessories or enhancements built into, attached to, or sold with surface water operations protective clothing and equipment by the protective clothing and equipment manufacturer for later attachment, and shall be tested with the protective clothing and equipment with the accessories and enhancements installed or attached to assure the performance and functions of the surface water operations protective clothing and equipment.

This standard shall not be construed as addressing all of the safety concerns associated with the use of compliant surface water operations protective clothing and equipment. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use compliant surface water operations protective clothing and equipment to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

This standard shall not be construed as addressing all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with the use of this standard by testing facilities. It shall be the responsibility of the persons and organizations that use this standard to establish safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use of this standard for designing, manufacturing, and testing.

Certification of surface water operations protective clothing and equipment to the requirements of this standard shall not preclude certification to additional appropriate standards where the protective clothing or equipment meets all the applicable requirements of each standard.

Nothing herein shall restrict any jurisdiction or manufacturer from exceeding these minimum requirements.