Overview
EN ISO 25649-5:2024 - "Floating leisure articles for use on and in the water - Part 5" - specifies additional safety requirements and test methods for Class C floating leisure articles, whether buoyancy is by inflation or inherent buoyant material. Class C products include towables and collective-rider devices such as tube riders (closed cockpit), raft riders, board riders and banana-type towables, typically used away from crowded bathing areas, on racetracks or wide open water with little wave action or current.
This standard is intended to ensure product safety through design rules, performance testing and consumer information for towable leisure articles.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and applicability: Applies to Class C devices as defined in ISO 25649-1:2024; covers inflatable and non-inflatable constructions.
- Design requirements: Sizing, admissible number of users, space per person, grab handles and fittings, valves and protrusions, and accessible parts to reduce entrapment and entanglement risks.
- Buoyancy and residual buoyancy: Minimum buoyancy, residual buoyancy after failure of an air chamber and requirements where collective use is expected.
- Towing systems and quick release: Strength and design of towing attachments, towing rope characteristics (colour, floatability, elasticity), and reliable quick-release systems for high-speed towables.
- In-water performance testing: Test conditions, selection of test subjects and assessment panel, towing maneuvers, capsizing tests, drainage efficiency for covered inflatables, and practical checks for re-embarkation and entrapment.
- Pass/fail criteria and test methods: Defined criteria for performance and safety during dynamic in-water trials (speed, wind, course and duration specified in the standard).
- Consumer information and labelling: Intended use, number of users, total weight limits, warnings (e.g., “no protection against drowning”), PPE recommendations, safe distances and foreseeable misuse.
- Required capabilities of test persons: Competence and selection of participants used during dynamic towing tests.
Applications and Users
This standard is useful for:
- Manufacturers and product designers of towables and floating leisure articles (ensuring compliant designs).
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies conducting safety and performance testing.
- Retailers and importers verifying product labelling and safety information.
- Regulators and safety officers assessing conformity with EU General Product Safety Directive and related mandates.
Keywords: EN ISO 25649-5:2024, floating leisure articles, Class C towables, safety requirements, test methods, buoyancy, quick release, entrapment, consumer information.
Related Standards
- ISO 25649-1:2024 - (referenced) general classification and basic requirements for floating leisure articles.
- Annex ZA in EN ISO 25649-5 relates the standard to EU Directive 2001/95/EC (general product safety) for conformity assessment.
