Editorial Note on Part 160
Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 160 appear by USCG-2012-0832, 77 FR 59785, 59786, Oct. 1, 2012.

§ 160.077-21 Approval Testing—Type I and Commercial Hybrid PFD. ( a ) *General.* This section contains commercial hybrid PFD approval tests. The provisions of § 160.077-19(a) apply to each test in this section.
( b ) *Tests.* Each test prescribed in § 160.077-19(b), except the tests in paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(3)(i), (b)(3)(ii), and (b)(6), must be conducted and passed.
( c ) *Additional tests.* Each PFD design must also be tested according to the procedures in the following tests and meet the requirements in these tests: ( 1 ) *Jump test,* UL 1517, section S6 for Adult size. Youth and Small Child sizes are exempt from this test.
( 2 ) *In-water removal,* UL 1517, section S9 for Adult and Youth sizes. The Small Child size is exempt from this test.
( 3 ) *Buoyancy and inflation medium retention test,* UL 1517, Section S10, except the minimum buoyancies must be as specified in the Table 160.077-17(b)(11):
( 4 ) *Flotation stability.* ( i ) *Uninflated flotation stability,* UL 1517, section S7, except that for Type I devices the requirements of paragraph S7.1.A apply to all subjects regardless of their in-water weight. For Type V adult-size devices the requirements of paragraph S7.1.A apply to all adult subjects having an in-water weight of 13 lb or less, and the requirements of paragraph S7.1.B apply to all other adult subjects. Note:
—If the freeboard of a test subject is close to zero, caution must be taken to prevent the subject from inhaling water. The subject may use lightweight breathing aids to avoid inhaling water.
( ii ) *Righting action test,* 46 CFR 160.176-13(d)(2) through (d)(5) for Type I hybrid PFDs. UL 1517, Section S8, for Type V hybrid PFDs.
( 5 ) *Flotation stability—youths and small children.* ( i ) *Uninflated flotation stability,* UL 1517, section S7, except that the requirements of paragraph S7.1.A apply to all subjects regardless of their in-water weight.
( ii ) *Righting action test,* UL 1517, Section 15.3 through 15.13, for Youth and Small Child hybrid PFDs except comparisons are to be made to the appropriate size and type reference vest as defined in § 160.077-2(j).
( d ) *Flotation Stability Criteria.* At the end of the righting action test— ( 1 ) At least 75% of the PFD's retroreflective material on the outside of the PFD, and the PFD light, must be above the water when the subject is floating in the stable flotation attitude; and
( 2 ) The subject when floating in the stable flotation position and looking to the side, must be able to see— ( i ) The water no more than 3 m (10 ft.) away; or
( ii ) A mark on a vertical scale no higher than the lowest mark which can be viewed when floating in the same position in the reference vest defined in § 160.077-3(j).
( 3 ) Each adult test subject must have a freeboard of at least: ( i ) 100 mm (4 inches) if the PFD being tested is to be approved as a Type I hybrid PFD; or
( ii ) 120 mm (4.75 inches) if the PFD being tested is to be approved as a SOLAS lifejacket.
( e ) *Visual Examination.* One complete PFD must be visually examined for compliance with the requirements of § 160.077-15 and § 160.077-17.
( f ) *Inflation Chamber Properties.* If the tests in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section are completed successfully, the tests in § 160.077-19(d) must be run.
( g ) The Commandant may prescribe additional tests, if necessary, to approve unique or novel designs.
[CGD 78-174, 50 FR 33928, Aug. 22, 1985, as amended by CGD 78-174, 60 FR 2488, Jan. 9, 1995; 60 FR 7131, Feb. 7, 1995; CGD 95-072, 60 FR 50466, Sept. 29, 1995]