ISO 12402-2-2020 PDF

Full title and description

Personal flotation devices — Part 2: Lifejackets, performance level 275 — Safety requirements. This International Standard specifies safety, performance and marking requirements for lifejackets at performance level 275, intended for adults, children and infants where high buoyancy and performance are required (offshore/severe conditions or when protective clothing/additional loads are worn).

Abstract

ISO 12402-2:2020 defines the safety requirements, tests and marking for lifejackets classified at performance level 275. It covers construction, materials, buoyancy (total buoyancy provided), in-water performance, strength, conspicuousness (colour and retroreflective materials), instructions and labelling, and requirements for inflatable chambers and combined systems.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: July 2020 (Edition 2).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.340.70 (Lifejackets, buoyancy aids and flotation devices).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2020).
• Number of pages: 20 pages (ISO published version). Note: some regional/adopted versions (EN/BSI/other national publications) may show different pagination when combined with national forewords or translations.

Scope

This standard applies to lifejackets at performance level 275 intended for adults, children and infants for offshore use under severe conditions, and to situations where users wear protective clothing or carry additional loads. It sets out requirements for materials, buoyancy type and quantity, inflation methods, ride‑up prevention, strength, conspicuousness, in‑water performance, donning/adjustment, marking, instructions and compatibility with accessories.

Key topics and requirements

• Performance level definition and classification (Level 275 requirements for minimum buoyancy and user-mass ranges).
• Materials and components: durability, magnetic properties, strength and resistance tests.
• Buoyancy provisions: inflatable chambers and inherent buoyant materials; rules for total buoyancy provided and minimum buoyancy values.
• In‑water performance: righting, head support, and stability tests under specified conditions.
• Ride‑up prevention systems, body straps, lacing, and means of adjustment to ensure secure fit.
• Inflation methods and indicators: automatic and manual inflation, oral inflation, rearming/repacking instructions.
• Conspicuousness and retroreflective materials, marking, labelling and user instructions (selection and warning panels).
• Strength and performance tests including tensile, burst and fatigue where applicable; test methods referenced in ISO 12402‑9.

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers, test houses, procurement officers and regulatory bodies specifying personal flotation devices for offshore work, professional marine operations and recreational situations requiring high-buoyancy lifejackets. Typical users include commercial vessel operators, offshore workers, search and rescue providers, maritime safety regulators and equipment designers.

Related standards

ISO 12402-2:2020 is part of the ISO 12402 series on personal flotation devices (which includes parts for other performance levels, materials, accessories and test methods such as Parts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9). Regional/adopted versions exist as EN ISO / national adoptions (for example EN/EVS/BS adoptions) and the series is intended to be used together with ISO 12402‑9 (test methods) and ISO 12402‑10 (selection and application).

Keywords

Lifejacket; personal flotation device; PFD; performance level 275; buoyancy; in‑water performance; marking; retroreflective; ISO 12402; marine safety.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 12402-2:2020 is the International Standard that sets safety and performance requirements for lifejackets at performance level 275.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers classification, materials, buoyancy (inflatable and inherent), minimum buoyancy values, in‑water performance (righting and head support), strength and durability tests, inflation systems, ride‑up prevention, marking, labelling and user instructions for Level 275 lifejackets.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, conformity assessment bodies, test laboratories, procurement teams, maritime safety regulators, and professional marine/offshore operators specifying or certifying high‑performance lifejackets.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — ISO 12402-2:2020 (Edition 2, July 2020) supersedes ISO 12402-2:2006 and its 2010 amendment. The ISO entry shows the 2020 edition as the active published version.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 12402-2 is one part of the ISO 12402 series covering personal flotation devices; other parts address different performance levels, special applications, materials, accessories and test methods. Use of multiple parts together (for example Parts 2 and 9) is common when specifying or testing lifejackets.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Lifejacket, PFD, buoyancy, performance level 275, in‑water performance, marking, inflatable chambers, retroreflective material.