scope:

This Standard specifies the requirements for performance, sizing, marking and test methods for buoyancy aids. The type of buoyancy aid covered by the standard is a device of 50 N buoyancy which is only suitable for persons to swim and for use when there is little risk of incapacitation and help is very close to hand, and where more bulky protection would severely impair the wearer's activities. The buoyancy may be provided by an inherently buoyant material, or by the inflation of chambers permanently inflated with gas, of by a combination of these. The use of chambers permanently inflated with this standard, or of automatically-inflated chambers, is not permitted under this standard. The inherently buoyant material shall be retained in at least six separate compartments in the device, each compartment being of approximately equal size, so as to reduce the risk of physical damage to a part and other enhancements to survival may also be added provided that such additions do not affect the compliance of the buoyancy aid with the requirements.