Overview
EN ISO 12402-3:2020 - published by CEN and identical to ISO 12402-3:2020 - specifies safety requirements for lifejackets, performance level 150. The standard applies to lifejackets intended for adults, children and infants for general, offshore or rough-water use and for users wearing full clothing. EN ISO 12402-3:2020 supersedes the 2006 edition and is part of the ISO 12402 series on personal flotation devices (PFDs).
Key Topics
The standard organizes requirements and tests across the lifejacket’s design, construction and documentation. Major technical topics include:
- Classification and performance level
- Defines lifejacket classes and the meaning of performance level 150 relative to other levels in the ISO 12402 series.
- Materials and components
- Requirements for suitable constituent materials and surface conditions where the device contacts the user.
- Buoyancy types and total buoyancy
- Rules for inflatable buoyancy chambers and inherently buoyant materials, and how total buoyancy is assessed.
- Inflation systems and indicators
- Requirements for automatic/manual inflation, oral inflation, rearming/repacking information, and inflation status indicators.
- Fit, donning and restraint
- Donning, adjustment, ride‑up prevention systems, body straps and lacing end requirements to limit user impediment.
- Performance and in‑water behavior
- In-water performance tests to confirm the lifejacket supports and, where applicable, turns an unconscious person to a safe position.
- Conspicuousness and retroreflective material
- Colour and retroreflective requirements to aid visual detection.
- Strength, multi‑chamber systems and magnetic properties
- Structural strength tests, multi‑chamber buoyancy arrangements and limits on magnetic properties where relevant.
- Marking and documentation
- Mandatory markings, manufacturer information, consumer information at point of sale and instructions for rearming/repacking.
Applications
EN ISO 12402-3:2020 is used by:
- Lifejacket manufacturers and designers to design and validate level‑150 lifejackets.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessors for type testing and certification.
- Procurement teams and fleet operators (maritime, offshore, leisure) specifying compliant PFDs for crew and passengers.
- Regulators and safety managers to demonstrate conformity with EU PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 - Annex ZA links this standard to essential regulatory requirements.
- Search & rescue and training organizations for equipment selection guidance.
Related Standards
EN ISO 12402-3:2020 is part of the ISO 12402 family addressing different PFD classes and performance levels; other parts cover test methods, lower and higher performance levels, and buoyancy aids. For regulatory conformity in Europe, consult Annex ZA and related parts of the ISO 12402 series when specifying or certifying lifejackets.
