The Regulations

Gas Inflation Lifejackets are divided in the categories of 150 and 275 Newton, depending on the buoyancy they offer. Gas inflation lifejackets are approved to the EN 396 standard of the 150 Newton category. The EN 396 standard sets the minimum buoyancy that a lifejacket should have according the size of the wearer. Specifically a gas lifejackets designed for an adult of approximately 70 kg should offer at least 150Newtons buoyancy. All products have been tested for their behaviour in the water, their endurance, and for many more parameters, as it is required by the regulations. Especially for the inflation device, mainly the automatic, the tests that are required by the regulations are many so as to ensure the proper function of the device when the need arises. Gas Inflation Lifejackets with 150 Newton buoyancy are designed and tested so as, in case you have lost your consciousness and are face down in the water, to turn you face up within 10 seconds and to keep the airways 8cm higher from the surface of the sea. This type of product must have the CE certification, as it is included in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive (89/696/AIE) of the European Union. According to this Directive it is forbidden to manufacture, distribute to vending points, and sell products that do not have the CE certification and that have not passed all the proper procedures for their approval. In most case the products available in the market meet the required specification. Nevertheless there is the possibility that unsuitable or not certified products are also available. For this reason it is imperative that the end user is always informed and pays attention to the products available in each store.