Overview
ISO 18079-5:2018 - Ships and marine technology: Servicing of inflatable life‑saving appliances - Part 5: Inflated rescue boats - sets out requirements for the inspection, testing, maintenance and documentation of inflated rescue boats. Designed as a companion to ISO 18079‑1 and to IMO/SOLAS III/20.8, it provides servicing stations with practical provisions to ensure inflated rescue boats remain safe and airworthy. The standard is applicable to SOLAS appliances referenced in SOLAS III/20.8 and, where appropriate, to non‑SOLAS inflated rescue boats.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and relationship: Works in conjunction with ISO 18079‑1 and complements IMO Assembly resolution A.761(18) and SOLAS servicing requirements.
- Visual inspection: Under inflation, check air chambers, cordage (lifelines, tow lines, painters), valve mountings, bonded parts, retro‑reflective materials, rigid floors, self‑righting devices, marking, fender/skate arrangements and external void boundaries for deterioration, peeling, cracking or deformation.
- Air chamber testing
- Working Pressure (WP) test: Inflate with dry air to working pressure (or manufacturer’s specified pressure) and hold for at least 1 hour. Pressure drop must not exceed 5% (temperature corrected).
- Necessary Additional Pressure (NAP) test: Required annually after the 10th year from manufacture. Inflate, plug pressure‑relief valves and raise pressure to the lesser of 2.0× WP or the pressure producing a specified tensile load (manufacturers must provide NAP tables and calculation details). Any seam cracking or significant pressure loss leads to condemnation.
- Overload suspension test: At 5 and 10 years and annually thereafter: inflate, load with 1.1× the mass of the full complement, suspend for 5 minutes with relief valves operative, then inspect for slippage or peeling.
- Pressure relief valves: Measure activation and closing pressures (must lie within specified ranges) and confirm zero leakage after closing.
- Equipment and systems: Check onboard equipment condition, engines/propulsion, manoeuvring, electrical/power systems and automatic self‑bailing systems per manufacturer’s servicing manual.
- Documentation: Record test results, condition on receipt, maintenance actions, deficiency records and use a condemnation form where required.
Applications and users
ISO 18079-5:2018 is used by:
- Servicing stations seeking certification and consistent inspection procedures
- Ship owners and operators to meet SOLAS servicing obligations
- Manufacturers for servicing manual development and specifying NAP data
- Maritime administrations, surveyors and auditors for compliance verification
Practical benefits include improved safety of life‑saving appliances, consistent servicing outcomes, and clear documentation for audits and port state control.
Related standards
- ISO 18079‑1 (general servicing provisions for inflatable life‑saving appliances)
- IMO SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 20.8 and IMO Assembly resolution A.761(18) (context and statutory requirements)
Keywords: ISO 18079-5:2018, inflated rescue boats, servicing, inspection, working pressure test, NAP test, SOLAS, life‑saving appliances, servicing stations.
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