Overview
EN ISO 12402-8:2020 - "Personal flotation devices - Part 8: Accessories - Safety requirements and test methods" (CEN endorsement of ISO 12402-8:2020) specifies safety requirements and test methods for accessories used with personal flotation devices (PFDs). It replaces the 2006 edition and its 2011 amendment and is part of the ISO 12402 series for PFDs. The standard provides normative criteria for accessory performance, marking and manufacturer information to support safety, conformity assessment and regulatory compliance.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applies to accessories intended for use with PFDs; covers specifications and test methods rather than whole-PFD buoyancy classification.
- Accessories covered: whistles, deck safety harnesses and safety lines, buddy lines, sprayhoods, protective covers for additional hazards, lifting loops, multi‑chamber and supplemental‑chamber buoyancy arrangements, emergency position‑indicating lights (EPIRB/EPIL types) and PFDs with integrated personal locator devices (PLDs).
- Testing and specification areas:
- Mechanical and material tests (durability, strength, surface condition)
- Gas‑exchange and over‑pressure tests for inflatable chambers
- Performance and marking requirements for emergency lights and PLDs
- Marking, user information and point‑of‑sale consumer information for integrated electronics
- Performance intents: Prevention of drowning, lightness and strength, absence of nuisance hazards and satisfactory user contact surface.
- Regulatory linkage: Annex ZA maps clauses to essential requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment - compliance with the standard can confer presumption of conformity when cited in the Official Journal.
Practical applications and users
- Manufacturers and designers: Use the standard to design PFD accessories that meet harmonized safety and performance criteria.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies: Apply the specified test methods to verify accessory conformity and prepare certification evidence.
- Procurement and fleet safety officers: Specify compliant accessories (lifting loops, EPILs, harnesses) to reduce liability and improve onboard safety.
- Regulatory compliance teams: Leverage the standard to demonstrate conformity with EU PPE requirements and to prepare technical files.
- Maritime trainers and safety advisors: Reference standardized accessory performance and marking for training and equipment selection.
Related standards
- Other parts of the ISO 12402 series covering lifejackets, buoyancy aids and their classification and tests (consult the ISO catalogue for full list).
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425 - this standard supports conformity to essential PPE requirements when cited.
EN ISO 12402-8:2020 is essential for anyone specifying, producing, testing or approving PFD accessories - ensuring accessories perform reliably, are correctly marked, and support overall personal flotation safety.
