Life Saving Equipment Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1436)

General Requirements for Life Rafts

• • 1 (1) A life raft shall be constructed so as to be capable of withstanding exposure for 30 days afloat in any sea condition.

  • (2) Subject to subsection (3), a life raft shall be constructed so that when, packed in its container, it is dropped into the water from a height of 18 m, the life raft and its equipment are not damaged.

  • (3) A life raft that is to be stowed higher than 18 m above the waterline of a ship in its lightest seagoing condition shall be constructed so that it operates when it is drop-tested from the height of its stowed location.

  • (4) A life raft, when afloat, shall be capable of withstanding the number of jumps onto it equal to the number of members of its complement, from a height of at least 4.5 m above its floor.

  • (5) A life raft and its towing patch shall be so constructed as to enable the life raft to be towed at a speed of three knots in calm water when it is loaded with its full complement and equipment and one of its sea anchors is streamed.

• • 2 (1) To protect its occupants from exposure, a life raft shall have a canopy that is

    • (a) permanently erected; or

    • (b) automatically set in place when the life raft is launched and is floating.

  • (2) A life raft canopy shall

    • (a) provide insulation against heat and cold;

    • (b) be fitted with

      • (i) where the life raft is designed to accommodate nine or more persons, at least two entrances diametrically opposed, or

      • (ii) in any other case, at least one entrance;

    • (c) have every entrance clearly indicated and fitted with an adjustable closing arrangement that

      • (i) can be easily and quickly opened from the inside and outside, and

      • (ii) excludes water, wind and cold when it is closed;

    • (d) admit enough air for the occupants to breathe easily at all times, even with the entrances closed;

    • (e) be provided with at least one viewing port;

    • (f) be provided with a means for collecting rain water; and

    • (g) have enough headroom for seated occupants under all parts of the canopy.

• 3 The total mass of a life raft, including its container and its heaviest equipment, shall be not more than 185 kg unless it is designed to be launched by a launching device.

• • 4 (1) Every life raft shall be

    • (a) provided with lifelines securely becketed around the inside and outside; and

    • (b) subject to subsection (2), fitted with a painter of a length at least equal to the greater of 15 m and twice the distance from the stowed location to the waterline of the ship in its lightest seagoing condition.

  • (2) Where the ship is engaged on a voyage in shallow waters and a 15-m painter would unreasonably lengthen the time needed to activate the inflation mechanism of the life raft should the ship sink, the painter length may be reduced to the length that would permit prompt activation.

• • 5 (1) Every life raft shall have fitted to the exterior top of its canopy a manually controlled lamp that

    • (a) is capable of continuous operation for a period of at least 12 hours in which it is visible at a distance of at least two nautical miles on a dark night in a clear atmosphere;

    • (b) if it is a flashing light, flashes at a rate of not less than 50 flashes per minute during its first two hours of operation;

    • (c) is powered by a sea-activated or a dry-chemical cell that does not deteriorate as a result of any dampness in the stowed life raft; and

    • (d) lights automatically when the canopy is set in place.

  • (2) Every life raft shall have fitted inside its canopy a manually controlled lamp that

    • (a) is capable of continuous operation for a period of at least 12 hours;

    • (b) lights automatically when the canopy is set in place; and

    • (c) is of sufficient intensity to enable the reading of survival and equipment instructions.

• • 6 (1) A life raft designed for use with a launching device shall, when loaded with its full complement and equipment, be capable of withstanding, without damage that affects its function,

    • (a) a lateral impact against the ship’s side at an impact velocity of not less than 3.5 m/s; and

    • (b) a drop into the water from a height of not less than 3 m.

  • (2) A release hook used with a davit-launched life raft shall

    • (a) meet the requirements set out in Regulation 41.7.6 of Chapter III of the Safety Convention; and

    • (b) be tested in accordance with Regulation 8.2 of Part 1 of International Maritime Organization Resolution A.689(17), adopted on November 6, 1991 and entitled Testing of Life-Saving Appliances, as amended from time to time.

• • 7 (1) Every life raft shall have a painter system that

    • (a) provides a connection between the life raft and the ship it serves; and

    • (b) is arranged so that the life raft, when released, is not dragged under by the sinking ship.

  • (2) If a weak link is used in a float-free device, it shall

    • (a) be capable of withstanding the force required to pull the painter from the life raft container;

    • (b) be strong enough to permit the inflation of the life raft; and

    • (c) break under a strain of 2.2 ± 0.4 kN.

  • (3) A hydrostatic release unit that is used in a float-free device shall

    • (a) meet the requirements set out in Regulation 38.6.3 of Chapter III of the Safety Convention; and

    • (b) be tested in accordance with Regulation 11 of Part 1 of International Maritime Organization Resolution A.689(17), adopted on November 6, 1991 and entitled Testing of Life-Saving Appliances, as amended from time to time.

• • 8 (1) Every life raft shall be marked with

    • (a) the manufacturer’s name, logo or trademark;

    • (b) its serial number;

    • (c) the month and year of manufacture;

    • (d) the Board approval number;

    • (e) over each entrance, in characters not less than 100 mm in height and in a colour that contrasts with that of the life raft, the complement of the life raft;

    • (f) in English and French, the location of the emergency equipment; and

    • (g) in the case of a rigid life raft, the name and port of registry of the ship it serves.

  • (2) The container of every life raft shall be marked with

    • (a) the name, logo or trademark of the manufacturer of the life raft;

    • (b) the serial number of the life raft;

    • (c) the month and year of manufacture of the life raft;

    • (d) the Board approval number;

    • (e) in characters of not less than 100 mm in height, the complement of the life raft;

    • (f) the date and place the life raft was last serviced;

    • (g) the length of the painter;

    • (h) in English and French, the type of emergency pack enclosed;

    • (i) the maximum permitted height of stowage above the waterline;

    • (j) in English and French, launching instructions;

    • (k) the words “LIFE RAFT” and “RADEAU DE SAUVETAGE”;

    • (l) where a Class II EPIRB is stowed in the life raft, the words “EPIRB INSIDE” and “RLS À L’INTÉRIEUR”; and

    • (m) where the life raft is approved as meeting the requirements of Regulation 38 of Chapter III of the Safety Convention, the word “SOLAS”.

• • 9 (1) Every life raft carried on a Safety Convention ship shall be provided with retro-reflective material that

    • (a) is fitted in the manner set out in section 1 of Annex 1 to International Maritime Organization Resolution A.658(16), adopted on October 19, 1989 and entitled Use and Fitting of Retro-Reflective Materials on Life-Saving Appliances, as amended from time to time; and

    • (b) meets the technical specifications set out in Annex 2 of the Resolution referred to in paragraph (a).

  • (2) Every life raft carried on a ship that is not a Safety Convention ship shall be provided with retro-reflective material that

    • (a) is fitted in the manner set out in the Resolutionreferred to in paragraph (1)(a); and

    • (b) meets the technical specifications set out in the following Canadian General Standards Board Standards, as amended from time to time:

      • (i) in the case of material fitted on flexible surfaces, sections 4 and 5 of 62-GP-12, Standard for: Marking Material, Retroreflective, Enclosed Lens, Flexible Type, dated January 1975, and

      • (ii) in the case of material fitted on rigid surfaces, the provisions referred to in subparagraph (i) or sections 5 and 6 of 62-GP-11M, Standard for: Marking Material, Retroreflective Enclosed Lens, Adhesive Backing, dated May 1978.

Additional Requirements for Inflatable Life Rafts

• • 10 (1) Every inflatable life raft shall be constructed with a main buoyancy chamber that is divided into not less than two separate compartments, each inflated through a non-return inflation valve.

  • (2) The buoyancy chamber of a life raft shall be designed so that, in the event of any one of the compartments being damaged or failing to inflate, the intact compartments are capable of supporting, with positive freeboard over the entire periphery of the life raft, the complement of the life raft.

  • (3) For the purpose of calculating the support capacity of a life raft pursuant to subsection (2), each member of the complement is assumed to have a mass of 75 kg and to be seated in the normal seating position wearing an immersion suit.

• 11 The floor of an inflatable life raft shall be capable of being insulated against cold by

  • (a) one or more compartments that

    • (i) the occupants can inflate, or

    • (ii) inflate automatically and can be deflated and re-inflated by the occupants; or

  • (b) other means not dependent on inflation.

• • 12 (1) An inflatable life raft shall

    • (a) inflate with non-toxic gas

      • (i) within one minute after the activation of the inflation mechanism at an ambient temperature of 18°C or more, and

      • (ii) within three minutes after the activation of the inflation mechanism at a core temperature of -30°C; and

    • (b) once inflated, maintain its form when loaded with its full complement and equipment.

  • (2) Each buoyancy compartment of an inflatable life raft shall be

    • (a) capable of withstanding a pressure equal to at least three times the working pressure; and

    • (b) prevented from reaching a pressure exceeding twice the working pressure by means of pressure relief valves or a limited gas supply.

• • 13 (1) Every inflatable life raft shall have a semi-rigid boarding ramp that is

    • (a) fitted to at least one entrance to enable persons to board the life raft from the sea; and

    • (b) where the ramp is inflatable, arranged so that the life raft does not deflate if the ramp is damaged.

  • (2) The boarding ramp for a davit-launched inflatable life raft that has more than one entrance shall be fitted at the entrance opposite the bowsing lines and embarkation facilities.

  • (3) Each entrance that is not provided with a boarding ramp shall have a boarding ladder, the lowest step of which shall be not less than 0.4 m below the light waterline of the life raft.

  • (4) Every inflatable life raft fitted with a boarding ladder shall have a means inside to assist persons to pull themselves into the life raft from the boarding ladder.

• • 14 (1) Every inflatable life raft shall be constructed so that it is stable in a seaway when fully inflated and floating with the canopy uppermost.

  • (2) Every inflatable life raft, other than a self-righting life raft, shall be capable of being readily righted by one person when it is in the inverted position.

• • 15 (1) Every inflatable life raft that has the complement set out in column I of an item of the table to this subsection shall be fitted on the underside with the number of water pockets set out in column II of that item.

    	Column I	Column II
    Item	Complement of Life Raft	Water Pockets
    1	Fewer than 9	5
    2	9 or more but not more than 16	7
    3	17 or more but not more than 25	11
    4	More than 25	15

  • (2) Water pockets shall be of a highly visible colour and distributed evenly around the circumference of the life raft at each side of the gas bottles, with sufficient separation between them to allow air to escape readily.

  • (3) The cross-sectional area of a water pocket shall form the shape of an isosceles triangle, the base of the triangle being the part that is attached to the life raft.

• • 16 (1) The aggregate capacity of the water pockets of a life raft shall be

    • (a) where the complement of the life raft is fewer than nine persons, not less than 225 L; and

    • (b) where the complement of the life raft is nine or more persons, not less than the greater of

      • (i) 225 L, and

      • (ii) (18 × N) L, where N equals the number of persons in the complement.

  • (2) Water pockets shall be designed in such a way that the pockets fill to at least 60 per cent of their capacity within 25 seconds after the deployment of the life raft.

• • 17 (1) Every inflatable life raft shall be packed in a container that is

    • (a) constructed so as to withstand wear under the conditions that are likely to be encountered at sea; and

    • (b) of sufficient inherent buoyancy, when packed with the life raft and its equipment, to pull the painter from within and to operate the inflation mechanism if the ship sinks.

  • (2) Every inflatable life raft container shall, insofar as it is practicable, be watertight except for drain holes in the container bottom.

  • (3) Every inflatable life raft shall be packed in its container in such a way as to ensure, insofar as it is possible, that the waterborne life raft inflates in an upright position on breaking free from the container.

• • 18 (1) Every inflatable life raft that is designed for use with a launching device shall, when suspended from its lifting hook or bridle, be capable of withstanding a load of

    • (a) 4.0 times the mass of its full complement and equipment at an ambient temperature and a stabilized life raft temperature of 20° ± 3°C with all of the pressure relief valves inoperative; and

    • (b) 1.1 times the mass of its full complement and equipment at an ambient temperature and a stabilized life raft temperature of -30°C with all of the pressure relief valves operative.

  • (2) For the purpose of the calculation pursuant to subsection (1), each member of the complement is assumed to have a mass of 75 kg.

• 19 A rigid container for a life raft that is designed to be launched by a launching device shall be secured so as to prevent the container or parts of the container from falling into the sea during and after inflation and launching.

Additional Requirements for Rigid Life Rafts

• • 20 (1) Buoyancy for rigid life rafts shall be provided by inherently buoyant material placed as near as possible to the periphery of the life raft.

  • (2) Buoyant material used in the construction of a rigid life raft shall be fire-retardant or protected by a fire-retardant covering.

• 21 The floor of a rigid life raft shall prevent water from entering the life raft, support the occupants out of the water and insulate them from the cold of the water.

• 22 A rigid life raft shall be

  • (a) self-righting;

  • (b) capable of being readily righted by one person when it is in the inverted position; or

  • (c) capable of operating fully and safely with either side uppermost.

• • 23 (1) Every rigid life raft that is designed for use with a launching device shall, when suspended from its lifting hook or bridle, be capable of withstanding a load of four times the mass of its full complement and equipment.

  • (2) For the purpose of the calculation pursuant to subsection (1), each member of the complement is assumed to have a mass of 75 kg.

• • 24 (1) Every rigid life raft shall have a rigid boarding ramp that is fitted to at least one entrance to enable persons to board the life raft from the sea.

  • (2) The boarding ramp for a davit-launched rigid life raft that has more than one entrance shall be fitted to the entrance opposite the bowsing lines and embarkation facilities.

  • (3) Each entrance that is not provided with a boarding ramp shall have a boarding ladder, the lowest step of which shall be not less than 0.4 m below the light waterline of the life raft.

  • (4) Every rigid life raft that is fitted with a boarding ladder shall have a means inside to assist persons to pull themselves into the life raft from the boarding ladder.

Requirements for Inflatable Rescue Platforms

• • 25 (1) An inflatable rescue platform shall be constructed so as to be capable of withstanding exposure for 30 days afloat in any sea condition.

  • (2) Subject to subsection (3), an inflatable rescue platform shall be constructed so that when, packed in its container, it is dropped into the water from a height of 18 m, the inflatable rescue platform and its equipment are not damaged.

  • (3) An inflatable rescue platform that is stowed higher than 18 m above the waterline of a ship in its lightest seagoing condition shall be constructed so that it inflates when it is drop-tested from the height of its stowed location.

  • (4) An inflatable rescue platform, when afloat, shall be capable of withstanding the number of jumps onto it equal to the number of members in its complement, from a height of at least 4.5 m above its floor.

  • (5) An inflatable rescue platform and its towing patch shall be so constructed as to enable it to be towed at a speed of at least two knots in calm water when it is loaded with its full complement and equipment and one of its sea anchors is streamed.

• • 26 (1) Every inflatable rescue platform shall be constructed with a main buoyancy chamber that is divided into not less than two separate compartments, each inflated through a non-return inflation valve.

  • (2) The buoyancy chamber of an inflatable rescue platform shall be designed so that, in the event of any one of the compartments being damaged or failing to inflate, the intact compartments are capable of supporting, with positive freeboard around the entire periphery of the platform, the complement of the platform.

  • (3) For the purpose of calculating the support capacity of an inflatable rescue platform pursuant to subsection (2), each member of the complement is assumed to have a mass of 75 kg and to be seated in the normal seating position wearing a lifejacket.

• • 27 (1) An inflatable rescue platform shall

    • (a) inflate with non-toxic gas within three minutes after the activation of the inflation mechanism at a core temperature of 0°C; and

    • (b) once inflated, maintain its form when loaded with its full complement and equipment.

  • (2) Each compartment of an inflatable rescue platform shall be

    • (a) capable of withstanding a pressure equal to at least three times the working pressure; and

    • (b) prevented from reaching a pressure exceeding twice the working pressure, by means of pressure relief valves or a limited gas supply.

• • 28 (1) An inflatable rescue platform shall be

    • (a) provided with lifelines securely becketed around the inside and outside; and

    • (b) subject to subsection (2), fitted with a painter of a length equal to at least the greater of 15 m and twice the distance from the stowed location to the waterline of the ship in its lightest seagoing condition.

  • (2) Where the ship is engaged on a voyage in shallow waters and a 15-m painter would unreasonably lengthen the time needed to activate the inflation mechanism of the inflatable rescue platform should the ship sink, the painter length may be reduced to the length that would permit prompt activation.

• • 29 (1) Every inflatable rescue platform shall have a painter system that

    • (a) provides a connection between the platform and the ship it serves; and

    • (b) is arranged so that the platform, when released, is not dragged under by the sinking ship.

  • (2) If a weak link is used in a float-free device, it shall

    • (a) be capable of withstanding the force required to pull the painter from the inflatable rescue platform container;

    • (b) be strong enough to permit the inflation of the inflatable rescue platform; and

    • (c) break under a strain of 2.2 ± 0.4 kN.

  • (3) A hydrostatic release unit that is used in a float-free device shall

    • (a) meet the requirements set out in Regulation 38.6.3 of Chapter III of the Safety Convention; and

    • (b) be tested in accordance with Regulation 11 of Part 1 of International Maritime Organization Resolution A.689(17), adopted on November 6, 1991 and entitled Testing of Life-Saving Appliances, as amended from time to time.

• 30 Every inflatable rescue platform shall be capable of performing its intended function with either side uppermost.

• • 31 (1) Where an inflatable rescue platform is fitted with water pockets, the pockets shall be fitted on the topside and the underside.

  • (2) Where the floor of an inflatable rescue platform includes one or more drains, each drain shall be fitted with a non-return valve.

• • 32 (1) Every inflatable rescue platform shall be provided with retro-reflective material that

    • (a) is fitted in the manner set out in section 1 of Annex 1 to International Maritime Organization Resolution A.658(16), adopted on October 19, 1989 and entitled Use and Fitting of Retro-Reflective Materials on Life-Saving Appliances, as amended from time to time; and

    • (b) meets the technical specifications set out in:

      • (i) in the case of a Safety Convention ship, Annex 2 of the Resolution referred to in paragraph (a),

      • (ii) in any other case, sections 4 and 5 of Canadian General Standards Board Standard 62-GP-12, Standard for: Marking Material, Retroreflective, Enclosed Lens, Flexible Type, dated January 1975, as amended from time to time.

  • (2) Where the buoyancy compartments of an inflatable rescue platform are not of a colour such as reddish-orange or yellow, panels of other high-visibility colours shall be secured to the compartments so that at least 1 m² of each panel is visible from above the platform.

• 33 The equipment required to be carried on an inflatable rescue platform shall be accessible with either side of the platform uppermost.

• 34 An inflatable rescue platform shall be fitted with a portable automatically activated lamp that

  • (a) is capable of continuous operation for a period of at least 12 hours during which it is visible at a distance of at least two nautical miles on a dark night in a clear atmosphere;

  • (b) if it is a flashing light, flashes at a rate of not less than 50 flashes per minute during its first two hours of operation; and

  • (c) is powered by a sea-activated or a dry-chemical cell that does not deteriorate as a result of any dampness in the stowed platform.

• • 35 (1) Every inflatable rescue platform that is capable of accommodating 38 persons or fewer shall be fitted with at least one semi-rigid boarding ramp and one boarding ladder to enable persons to board the platform from the sea.

  • (2) Every inflatable rescue platform that is capable of accommodating more than 38 persons shall have two diametrically opposed, semi-rigid boarding ramps and two boarding ladders to enable persons to board the platform from the sea.

  • (3) An inflatable rescue platform shall be designed so that the platform will not deflate if a boarding ramp is damaged.

  • (4) The boarding ramps and ladders shall be capable of being used with either side of the inflatable rescue platform uppermost.

  • (5) The lowest step of a boarding ladder shall be not less than 0.4 m below the light waterline of the inflatable rescue platform.

  • (6) Every inflatable rescue platform that is fitted with a boarding ladder shall have a means inside to assist persons to pull themselves onto the platform from the boarding ladder.

• • 36 (1) Every inflatable rescue platform shall be packed in a container that is

    • (a) constructed so as to withstand wear under the conditions that are likely to be encountered at sea; and

    • (b) of sufficient inherent buoyancy, when packed with the platform and its equipment, to pull the painter from within and to operate the inflation mechanism if the ship sinks.

  • (2) Every container of an inflatable rescue platform shall, insofar as it is practicable, be watertight except for drain holes in the container bottom.

• • 37 (1) Every inflatable rescue platform shall be marked with

    • (a) the manufacturer’s name, logo or trademark;

    • (b) its serial number;

    • (c) the month and year of manufacture;

    • (d) the Board approval number;

    • (e) in characters not less than 100 mm in height and in a colour that contrasts with that of the platform, the complement of the platform; and

    • (f) in English and French, the location of the emergency equipment.

  • (2) The container of every inflatable rescue platform shall be marked with

    • (a) the name, logo or trademark of the manufacturer of the platform;

    • (b) the serial number of the platform;

    • (c) the month and year of manufacture of the platform;

    • (d) the Board approval number;

    • (e) in characters of not less than 100 mm in height, the complement of the platform;

    • (f) the date and place the platform was last serviced;

    • (g) the length of the painter;

    • (h) in English and French, the type of emergency pack enclosed;

    • (i) in English and French, the maximum permitted height of stowage above the waterline;

    • (j) in English and French, launching instructions; and

    • (k) the words “INFLATABLE RESCUE PLATFORM” and “PLATE-FORME DE SAUVETAGE GONFLABLE”.