scope:

This prEN 15649-4 is applicable for Class B floating leisure articles for use on or in water as classified in clause 4 regardless whether the buoyancy is achieved by inflation or inherent buoyant material. Class B devices provide a buoyant structure with one or more body openings into which the user is positioned partly immersed. The body openings may be equipped with an integrated body holding system or not. Class B devices are intended for single or collective use in appropriate water conditions i. e. free floating beyond user's standing depth. This part specifies specific safety requirements related to performance, design, sizing and marking as well as test methods for Class B devices. Part 4 of EN 15649 has to be applied in combination with parts 1 and 2. It is not applicable to products covered by part 3 and parts 5 to 7. The devices are intended for use out of standing water depth and include: . passive or active use on or partly immersed in the water . static or quasi static and stationary use . embarkation of one or several persons inside the surrounding buoyant structure without any risk of entrapment . application for resting, drifting, action regardless of the body posture which may include sitting, keeling, standing with the body partly or mainly immersed. Class B devices may be equipped with mechanical means of propulsion. Specifically, Class B1 devices (swim seats and similar articles) may be used by non-swimmers. This standard is not applicable to: . aquatic toys as dealt with in EN 71-1 (use in shallow waters / use under supervision); . inflatable boats with a buoyancy > 1800 N as dealt with in EN ISO 6185-1 to EN ISO 6185-3; . buoyant aids for swimming instructions as dealt with in EN 13138-1 to EN 13138-3. Further on this standard is not applicable to: . air mattresses which are not specifically designed or intended for use on the water; . floating seats for angling purposes; . surf sports type devices (e. g. body boards, surf boards); . to water ski, wakeboard or kite surfing; . devices made from rigid materials e.g. wood, aluminium, hard or non-deformable plastic; . devices which are kept in shape by permanent air flow. NOTE The use of the definition 'Swim Seats' refers to the generic design of such devices. Swim Seats are used specifically as part of the development process for learning to swim in the age group up to 36 months and with this type of user, should be used only under constant supervision, within arm's length of the supervising adult and out of standing depth of the user. Where swim seats are used by older children and adults, they are generally for leisure purposes, may be used by non swimmers but should still be used out of standing depth to reduce the risk of capsizing. Inside the product group of Class B1 devices the "swim seat" products constitutes a special subgroup. In order to safeguard an equal safety level in comparison to EN 13138-3 swim seats have been explicitly considered in Annex A, manikin testing.