Life-saving appliances are critical components on ships, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew Life-saving appliances are critical components on ships, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew during emergencies. These appliances, covered under Paragraph 1.2.2.7, are applicable to all ships unless exceptions are specified by the Administration, considering the specific voyages of a vessel. The key requirements for life-saving appliances are as follows:
- Construction Quality: All life-saving appliances must be constructed with proper workmanship and durable materials to ensure reliability in emergencies.
- Temperature Resistance: These appliances should remain undamaged during storage, even in extreme air temperature ranges from -65°C to 30°C. Personal life-saving appliances must remain operational between 15°C and 40°C unless specified otherwise. If the appliances are expected to be immersed in seawater during use, they must function properly in seawater temperatures ranging from 1°C to 30°C.
- Durability: Life-saving appliances should be rot-proof, corrosion-resistant, and not be negatively impacted by exposure to seawater, oil, or fungal attacks. For those exposed to sunlight, they must be resistant to deterioration from UV rays.
- Visibility: To enhance visibility at sea, life-saving appliances should be colored in bright, highly visible hues such as vivid reddish-orange. Retroreflective material should be incorporated where it aids in detection, in accordance with the guidelines of the relevant organization.
- Performance in Harsh Conditions: If these appliances are intended for use in rough sea conditions, they must be capable of performing effectively in such environments.
- Marking and Approval: Each appliance must be clearly marked with approval information, indicating the Administration that approved it and any operational restrictions. Where applicable, they should also have electrical short-circuit protection to prevent damage or injury.
- Lifespan and Maintenance: The Administration will determine the lifespan and period of acceptability for life-saving appliances that deteriorate over time. These appliances should be marked with an indicator of their age or a replacement date, with permanent expiration date markings being the preferred method. Batteries without an expiration date must be replaced annually. For secondary batteries (accumulators), the electrolyte condition must be easily checked. Pyrotechnic life-saving appliances must have their expiry date clearly and indelibly marked by the manufacturer.
By adhering to these requirements, life-saving appliances on ships can provide reliable and effective protection in emergency situations, ensuring the safety and security of everyone on board.
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