lsa_code.doc

LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

2003 Edition

International Life-Saving Appliance Code Resolution MSC. 48(66)

and

Testing and Evaluation of

Life-Saving Appliances

INTERNATIONAL

MARITIME ORGANIZATION London, 2003

Resolution MSC.81(70)

Testing and Evaluation of Life-Saving Appliances first published in 1985

by the INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR

Second edition 1992

International Life-Saving Appliance Code first published in 1997 Combined edition published 2003

Printed by Arkle Print Ltd., Northampton

2468      10     97531

ISBN 92-801-5143-6

IMO PUBLICATION

Sales number: IC982E

Copyright © IMO 2003

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced

stored in a retrieval system or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic,

magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise.

without prior permission in writing from the

International Maritime Organization.

Foreword

The International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code was adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 66th session (June 1996) by resolution MSC 48(66) in order to provide international standards for the life-saving appliances required by chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention. The Code was made mandatory by the MSC at the same session by resolution MSC.47(66) and entered into force on 1 July 1998.

Recommendations on the testing of life-saving appliances had been adopted by the Assembly in 1991 by resolution A.689(17). In 1998 the MSC recognized the need to introduce more precise requirements for the testing of life-saving appliances and also recalling that it had amended the Recommendations on several occasions since their adoption, adopted the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(/0)), effectively replacing resolution A.689(1 7).

Resolution A 520(13) - Code of practice for the evaluation, testing and acceptance of prototype novel life-saving appliances and arrangements - was adopted by the Assembly in 1983 in order to cater for prototype novel life-saving appliances and arrangements which may be developed and do not fully meet the requirements of chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention but provide the same or higher safety standards.

Contents

Page International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code)

Chapter I              General                            5

Chapter II              Personal life-saving appliances                               7

Chapter III              Visual signals                            14

Chapter IV              Survival craft                               16

Chapter V              Rescue boats                            42

Chapter VI              Launching and embarkation appliances                               46

Chapter VII              Other life-saving appliances                            54

Testing and Evaluation of Life-Saving Appliances

I              Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving
appliances (annex to resolution MSC.81 (70))

Part 1 - Prototype tests for life-saving appliances                       64

Part 2 - Production and installation tests                     152

II              Code of practice for the evaluation, testing and             
acceptance of prototype novel life-saving appliances

and arrangements (annex to resolution A.520(13))                       163

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Resolution MSC.48(66)                       185

Appendix 2 - Resolution MSC.81 (70)                       186

Appendix 3 - Resolution A.S20(13)                    187

International Life-Saving

Appliance Code

(LSA Code)

Contents

Page

PREAMBLE                                    5

CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL

1.1     Definitions                               5

1.2     General requirements for life-saving appliances                               6

CHAPTER II - PERSONAL LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

2.1      Lifebuoys                               7

2.2      Lifejackets                            g

2.3      Immersion suits                            11

2.4      Anti-exposure suits                               12

2.5      Thermal protective aids                            14

CHAPTER III - VISUAL SIGNALS

3.1       Rocket parachute flares                            14

3.2       Hand flares                                          15

3.3       Buoyant smoke signals                               15

CHAPTER IV - SURVIVAL CRAFT

4.1       General requirements for life rafts                            16

4.2       Inflatable life rafts                            21

4.3       Rigid life rafts                            25

4.4       General requirements for lifeboats                            27

4.5       Partially enclosed lifeboats                            37

4.6       Totally enclosed lifeboats                               38

4.7       Free-fall lifeboats                            40

4.8       Lifeboats with a self-contained air support system                               42

4.9       Fire-protected lifeboats                               42

CHAPTER V - RESCUE BOATS

5.1              Rescue boats                               42

CHAPTER VI - LAUNCHING AND EMBARKATION APPLIANCES

6.1     Launching and embarkation appliances                            46

6.2              Marine evacuation systems               

Contents of LSA Code

CHAPTER VII - OTHER LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

7.1        Line-throwing appliances             

7.2        General alarm and public address system                

54 55

International Life-Saving Appliance Code

PREAMBLE*

1                The purpose of this Code is to provide international standards for
life-saving appliances required by chapter III of the International Conven-­
tion for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974.

2                On and after 1 July 1998, the requirements of this Code will be
mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS), 1974, as amended. Any future amendment to the Code will be
adopted and brought into force in accordance with the procedure laid
down in article VIII of that Convention.

Chapter I

General

1.1       Definitions

1.1.1      Convention means the International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

1.1.2      Effective clearing of the ship is the ability of the free-fall lifeboat to
move away from the ship after free-fall launching without using its engine.

1.1.3      Free-fall acceleration is the rate of change of velocity experienced
by the occupants during launching of a free-fall lifeboat.

1.1.4      Free-fall certification height is the greatest launching height for
which the lifeboat is to be approved, measured from the still water surface
...