Level 50 and youth inflatable buoyancy aids

New Canadian standard for Level 50 buoyancy aids

“Buoyancy aid” is the international term for what Canadians often call a personal flotation device or PFD. Buoyancy aids keep people afloat but won’t bring them face up in the water without action by the wearer.

Note: Bringing a person face up in the water is a specific feature of lifejackets, which are subject to a different standard. 

Canada has a new national standard for buoyancy aids, UL 12402-5. It is based on the international standard ISO 12402-5, and has several Canadian modifications and new options for personal flotation devices in Canada.

The new UL 12402-5 has two performance levels: Level 50 and Level 70.  The international standard has only Level 50.  The Level 70 performance category was added to;

• maintain the in-water performance of current PFDs, within the new standard and;
• allow current PFDs to transition to the new standard.

Some devices in the Level 50 category may be less buoyant and have less freeboard than Level 70 devices and traditional North American PFDs. (Freeboard means the distance from the water’s surface to the wearer’s mouth. It indicates how high people float in the water.) However, they are lighter and less bulky and if Canada allows the new buoyancy aids in the regulations, they may increase boating safety by encouraging more boaters to wear their equipment.

Transport Canada has accepted Level 70 PFDs certified to UL 12402-5 as equivalent to PFDs certified to the old PFD standards. We are currently consulting Canadians about whether to start using these new Level 50 devices.

More information: Level 50 buoyancy aids

• Level 50 buoyancy aids are the most common devices in Europe for recreational boating, and have been for over 20 years.
• Level 50 buoyancy aids have about 30% less volume than Level 70 devices. They are less bulky.
• UL 12402 Level 70 requires the same freeboard (distance from water to mouth) as previous PFDs. This is an average of no less than 50 mm, and never less than 25 mm.
• Level 50 buoyancy aids must give “positive freeboard.” This means the person wearing them must always have their mouth above the water’s surface.
• A key difference between the international standard and the new Canadian standard is how this “freeboard” is tested.  Some people have more natural buoyancy than others and achieve the same freeboard with less help from their PFD; others do not float as well and require more assistance from the PFD to achieve the same freeboard.  To test for more of a “worst case” scenario the UL version of 12402-5 requires some of these people among the test subjects when a PFD is being tested for approval.
• Canada’s labelling requirements for UL 12402-5 warn boaters that these buoyancy aids are:
  • not recommended for weak or non-swimmers and;
  • intended for use in sheltered waters where rescue is close at hand

Inflatable buoyancy aids for youth

The new Canadian standard also includes performance and testing requirements for inflatable buoyancy aids for youth of less than 16 years of age to wear.

In the past, the only standard for inflatable PFDs in the Canadian regulations was UL 1180. The scope of this standard was limited to people 16 years of age and older, who weighed more than 36.3 kg (80 lbs).

Canadian regulations currently prohibit people under 16 years old to use of inflatable PFDs.

Yet inflatable PFDs are widely accepted today, due to their compact and lightweight design.

We are consulting Canadians about whether to allow people under 16, who weigh less than 36.3 kg or 80 lbs, to wear these devices.

More information: youth inflatables

• Inflatable PFDS are currently restricted to people who are at least 16 years old. They must be worn when on deck, and are not allowed for use in white water or on personal watercraft (i.e. Sea-Doo).
• The new Canadian standard includes testing and labelling requirements for “youth inflatables” (for people who are younger than 16).
• This standard includes testing with subjects who represent people under 16.
• The new standard requires that inflatable PFDs for people under 16:
  • automatically inflate, with a cylinder seal indication-type inflator (shows if the PFD’s CO² gas cylinder is properly installed)
  • not need “secondary donning” (i.e., they are in their functioning position as soon as inflated – a pouch-type device worn at the waist is an example of a PFD requiring secondary donning) and;
  • be used under adult supervision

Please email your comments to marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca(External link).