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5 Performance
5.1 Thermal protection
5.1.1 The thermal conductance of the material from which the TPA is constructed shall be not more than 7800 W/(m2°K).
5.1.2 The TPA shall be designed and constructed of materials to prevent evaporative heat loss.
5.1.3 The TPA shall function properly at an air temperature of -30℃ to +20℃.
5.2 Donning time
Each TPA shall be designed to enable a person to don the TPA correctly within two minutes after studying the donning and use instructions specified in 4.11.
5.3 Storage temperature
A TPA shall not be damaged by storage in its packaging at any temperature between -30℃ and +65℃
5.4 In water performance
The TPA shall be designed to permit the wearer to remove it in the water within two minutes, if it impairs ability to swim.
5.5 Resistance to water penetration
The fabric from which the TPA is constructed shall maintain its water-tight integrity when supporting a column of water 2 m high.
5.6 Oil resistance
Each TPA shall be designed to be useable after 24 hours exposure to diesel oil.
6 Testing
6.1 Mobility and swimming tests
6.1.1 Test subjects
Seven males and three females shall be used in the tests described in clauses 6.1.2 through 6.1.4. The subjects shall represent each of the three physical types (ectomorphic, endomorphic, and mesomorphic). Each subject shall be in good health. The heaviest male subject shall weigh at least 25 kg more than the lightest male subject. The heaviest female subject shall weigh at least 25 kg more than the lightest female subject. The heaviest subject shall weigh 150 ± 5 Kg and the lightest subject shall weigh 50 ± 5 Kg. Each subject shall be unfamiliar with the specific thermal protective aid under test. Each subject shall wear a standard range of clothing consisting of:
a) Underwear (short sleeved, short legged)
b) Shirt (long sleeved)
c) Trousers (not woolen)
d) Woolen socks
e) Rubber soled shoes
f) A lifejacket complying with the IMO LSA Code.
6.1.2 Donning test
Each subject shall be removed from the view of the other subjects and allowed one minute to examine the TPA and the manufacturer's instructions for donning and use of the TPA in an emergency. At the end of this period, the subject shall attempt to don the TPA as rapidly as possible while seated in a fully loaded floating SOLAS inflatable liferaft. If the subject does not don the TPA completely, including gloves and any other accessories, within 2 minutes, the subject shall remove the TPA and, after a demonstration of correct donning, again attempt to don it. At least nine out of ten subjects shall be able to don the TPA completely in 2 minutes on at least one of the two attempts.
6.1.3 Discarding test
6.1.3.1 If the TPA impairs the ability of the wearer to swim, it shall be demonstrated that it can be discarded by the test subjects, when immersed in water, in not more than two minutes.
6.1.3.2 Unless the manufacturer specifies in the instructions that the TPA does impair ability to swim and should always be discarded in the water, each subject, wearing a life preserver, shall enter the water and swim 25 meters. Each subject, after sufficient rest to avoid fatigue, shall repeat this test wearing the TPA in addition to the lifejacket. At least nine out of ten subjects shall be able to swim this distance wearing the thermal protective aid in not more than 125% of the time taken to swim the distance wearing only a lifejacket, or the TPA will be determined to impair the ability to swim.
6.1.3.2.1 During the testing, a person ready to render assistance if needed should be near each subject in the water.
6.1.3.3 If the TPA is determined by the above test or specified by the manufacturer to impair the ability to swim, each subject, after entering the water from a height of one meter, shall attempt to remove the TPA and discard it. At least nine out of ten subjects shall be able to discard the TPA within two minutes.
6.1.4 Cold donning test
After conditioning the TPA's in a cold chamber at -30.℃ for at least 24 h, two test subjects who successfully completed the donning test previously shall enter the cold chamber, unpack and don the TPA's.
6.2 Physical tests
6.2.1 Water penetration
A sample of the fabric or film from which the TPA is constructed shall be installed as a membrane at one end of a tube of at least 2.5 cm diameter and 2 m long. The tested sample shall include a representative seam. The tube shall be fixed in a vertical position with the membrane at the bottom, and filled with water. After one hour the membrane shall continue to support the column of water with no leakage.
6.2.2 Insulation
When tested in accordance with the procedures in [ASTM C 177, ASTM C 518, or ASTM D 1518][ISO 8302:1991 or ISO 8301 :1991], the fabric or film of which the TPA is constructed shall have a thermal conductance of not more than 7800 W/(m2°K)
6.2.3 Oil resistance
With all of its apertures sealed, a TPA shall be immersed under a 100 mm head of diesel oil, grade no. [2-D as defined in ASTM D-975], for 24 hours. The surface oil shall then be wiped off and a sample of the fabric or film from the TPA shall again be tested in accordance with the procedures in [ASTM C 177, ASTM C 518, or ASTM D 1518][ISO 8302:1991 or ISO 8301 :1991]. The fabric or film shall retain a thermal conductance of not more than 7800 W/(m2°K).
6.2.4 Seam strengh
Each different type of seam used in a TPA shall be tested in accordance with clauses 6.2.4.1 through 6.2.4.3.
6.2.4.1 Test equipment
The following equipment shall be used in this test:
a) |
A chamber in which air temperature can be kept at 25℃±2℃ and in which relative humidity can be kept at 50%±5%. |
b) |
A device to apply tension to the seam by means of a pair of top jaws and a pair of bottom jaws. Each set of jaws shall grip the material on both sides so that it does not slip when the load is applied. Each front jaw shall be 25 mm wide by 25 mm long. The distance between the jaws before the load is applied shall be 75 mm. |
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