II. CONDITIONS FOR TYPE V APPROVAL
Conditional approvals are granted by the Coast Guard for PFDs that:
1.Do not meet all the requirements for approval under the Type I through IV categories, but offer other significant safety features, or
2.Have features or uses not found in Types I through IV PFDs that require special user knowledge.
The conditions let the user overcome design traits that would otherwise prevent approval.
Wearing a PFD is one of the most important things you can do to help you save your life if you accidentally fall in the water. Finding a comfortable PFD that you will wear is the key. This PFD design offers the significant safety features of being lightweight, low profile and comfortable for continuous wear. This PFD must be worn, to meet carriage requirements, so that it is available on the wearer when needed.
This PFD is also approved as a Type V because the buoyancy provided by the CO2 gas from the cylinder, does not provide as much buoyancy as a Type III inflatable PFD. However, the buoyancy that a CO2 cylinder provides is enough to turn many people to a stable, face up position, so that they can add additional buoyancy, if necessary, by blowing air into the chamber through the oral tube. When fully inflated, using both the CO2 cylinder and a few additional puffs of air through the oral tube, the buoyancy of this PFD is equal to that of an inflatable Type III.
Finally, this PFD is a Type V because you must know how to readjust it to float you best. Wearing this PFD, knowing how to achieve full buoyancy and how to maximize performance are necessary for it to provide an equivalent level of safety to PFDs without user conditions on their approval. See Page 9 “Maximizing Performance”.
“APPROVED ONLY WHEN WORN “
This PFD has the “Approved Only When Worn” condition on it’s approval because if it is not worn whenever above deck and underway, it cannot be counted as a PFD to meet the carriage requirements on your boat. Wearing this PFD is intended to:
1.Provide it with the extra attention associated with use, and
2.Increase safety enormously because you have it on when you need it.
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