Exposure Suits and Thermal Protective Aids

 

The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval. Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted or Recognized Independent Laboratory.

Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to TypeApproval@uscg.mil.  Please see What to submit when corresponding with ENG-4 regarding equipment approvals/renewal.  Submission of emails with file attachments above 10MB will not be received. For files over 10 MB, please contact us at typeapproval@uscg.mil. We will send you a request to drop-off files at DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange). 

Once the equipment has been approved by this office, it will receive Coast Guard Type Approval and a Certificate of Approval (COA). The COA will be issued for 5 years and will remain valid during that time period if the product meets the testing of the Quality Control Program.

For a complete listing of USCG Type Approved Equipment, please visit the Coast Guard Marine Information Exchange (CGMIX).

 160.171 - Exposure Suits (Immersion Suits)

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION:  Follow the requirements of 46 CFR 160.171.  The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval.  Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE:  Please submit the following information in the Submittal Package:

  • A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
  • Required information and test report from the Accepted Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 160.171-7
  • Evidence that an acceptable follow-up factory inspection program with the Accepted Independent Laboratory is in place.
 160.174 - Thermal Protection Aids
APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION:  Follow the requirements of 46 CFR 160.174.  The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum performance criteria for approval.  Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE:  Please submit the follow information in the Submittal Package:

  • A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the equipment.
  • Required information and test report from the Accepted Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 160.174-7
  • Evidence that an acceptable follow-up factory inspection program with the Accepted Independent Laboratory is in place.

Immersion suits should be fitted with patches of retro-reflective material with a total area of at least 400 cm2 distributed so as to be useful for search from air and surface craft from all directions.  For an immersion suit that does not automatically turn the wearer face up, the back of the suit should be fitted with retro-reflective material with a total area of at least 100 cm2.

Retroreflective material arrangements applied by the manufacturer on approved immersion suits have been reviewed and approved and should not be changed even if the arrangement does not appear to be exactly the same as this illustration.

 

Retro-reflective tape on immersion suits