Check your lifejackets at home? Here's something to think about

[laika]

I've always tested my lifejackets at home: visual inspection, weigh the cylinders, manually inflate (having considered the arguments about moisture in breath and concluded it's acceptable).

With my electronic scales in storage so no convenient way to test cylinders I decided to give First Mate a bit of additional security by getting our local chandlery to test a couple of the lifejackets.

One of them "failed the inflation test". It didn't leak: it went pop. The chandlery inflates with a compressor to the pressure they say a charged cylinder would give. I almost certainly never did that.

Thought having someone else check lifejackets was a frivolous waste of money but I learned a valuable lesson. 'spose what I need in future is some kind of pump with a pressure gauge.

 

[sarabande]

if you trigger the inflation cylinder when the LJ is even partially inflated, it is likely to split.

Did the chandlery say what pressure they used ? b I would be highly suspicious.....

 

[jwilson]

I've tested lots of lifejackets over the years: inflate hard with dinghy pump, leave 24 hours. If any have gone even slightly soft I bin them having removed the cylinder. I test weigh the cylinders on a postal scale, and refit if correct weight and not externally corroded significantly. All mine are now manual inflation, so no auto to worry about. Have had several auto-inflations accidentally.

As some of the "binned" LJs have good weight if scruffy-looking cylinders, I use these the next year to inflate instead of a dinghy pump. There seems to be no more pressure from gas than from a pump: if anything the pump might sometimes give a bit more. I have never had one "pop" either with dinghy pump or gas bottle. Slow leaks though seem common after 3-4 years use though - ie. no longer drum-tight after 24 hours.

 

[laika]

Did the chandlery say what pressure they used ? b I would be highly suspicious.....

Good question. It was an initial concern but having talked to the guy who did the testing he came across as knowing what he was doing and said he'd only had one other fail like that in 2.5 years. I will ask them about what pressure they use as that'll be good info for home testing (if I can find an appropriate pump and pressure gauge)

The lifejackets are of unknown age: Came with the boat. I've had them 6 years. They're minimum 10 years old, more like 15, maybe more.

 

[prv]

I use a spare dinghy pump, and pump them up pretty hard. I've "wasted" a bottle once just to see what it's like to have a jacket inflate while wearing it, and it didn't inflate any harder than what I do with the pump. Possibly slightly less; I do stand on the pump pretty hard at the end.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

Good question. It was an initial concern but having talked to the guy who did the testing he came across as knowing what he was doing and said he'd only had one other fail like that in 2.5 years. I will ask them about what pressure they use as that'll be good info for home testing (if I can find an appropriate pump and pressure gauge)

The lifejackets are of unknown age: Came with the boat. I've had them 6 years. They're minimum 10 years old, more like 15, maybe more.

How about asking the manufacture what is the design pressure and what is the pressure that a gas canister will deliver.

They may also be able to give you an idea of their age if you still have the serial numbers.

 

[laika]

How about asking the manufacture what is the design pressure and what is the pressure that a gas canister will deliver.

They may also be able to give you an idea of their age if you still have the serial numbers.

Good idea which I'll also give a go but I've tried speaking to Mullion before when trying to obtain a replacement crotch strap and they were beyond abysmal. No replies to emails, no returned phone calls, eventually got to speak to the most unhelpful woman in the whole world. Ocean Safety gave me far more info on mullion lifejackets than mullion could. I would *never* buy another mullion based on that experience.

 

[Seajet]

if you trigger the inflation cylinder when the LJ is even partially inflated, it is likely to split.

Did the chandlery say what pressure they used ? b I would be highly suspicious.....

+1 my immediate thought; wasn't a garage airline or something similar ?!

I'd also want to see the burst lifejacket.

 

[Sans Bateau]

I use a spare dinghy pump, and pump them up pretty hard. I've "wasted" a bottle once just to see what it's like to have a jacket inflate while wearing it, and it didn't inflate any harder than what I do with the pump. Possibly slightly less; I do stand on the pump pretty hard at the end.

Pete

I agree same method here, frighted the life out of SWMBO once, pulling the manual inflate.

But any test is better than no test.

 

[prv]

+1 my immediate thought; wasn't a garage airline or something similar ?!

I wondered if they'd used the compressor they have for fenders

Sounds like it was someone vaguely competent rather than the Saturday kid though, so perhaps the glue in the old jacket just finally let go. That's why we test them.

Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

How about asking the manufacture what is the design pressure and what is the pressure that a gas canister will deliver.

They may also be able to give you an idea of their age if you still have the serial numbers.

I can't remember for sure, but don't LJ's have inflation pressure printed on them?

 

[SimonFa]

I've always tested my lifejackets at home: visual inspection, weigh the cylinders, manually inflate (having considered the arguments about moisture in breath and concluded it's acceptable).

With my electronic scales in storage so no convenient way to test cylinders I decided to give First Mate a bit of additional security by getting our local chandlery to test a couple of the lifejackets.

One of them "failed the inflation test". It didn't leak: it went pop. The chandlery inflates with a compressor to the pressure they say a charged cylinder would give. I almost certainly never did that.

Thought having someone else check lifejackets was a frivolous waste of money but I learned a valuable lesson. 'spose what I need in future is some kind of pump with a pressure gauge.

My local chandler does it for free and by a member of staff who was, until last year, on the lifeboat crew. They also changed the out of date auto cartridge at cost. They use a Rule 12V dinghy inflater which has the advantage that it sucks all the air out.

I have the same inflater and use it for mid season quick tests.

 

[oldbilbo]

A couple of minor points - the Transat 'singlehanded' race rules stipulate carrying TWO serviceable LSJs. Several of those inspected had visible corrosion on the bottle and around the bottle's thread. A couple were loosely screwed-on.

I was briefed by a pro safety equipment specialist some years ago that doing oral inflation of lifejackets for testing introduces moisture into the air bladder, which accelerates deterioration. Don't quite know how....

 

[mjcoon]

if you trigger the inflation cylinder when the LJ is even partially inflated, it is likely to split.

Did the chandlery say what pressure they used ? b I would be highly suspicious.....

Is there no over-pressure valve? Sounds like a basic precaution; e.g. part of the bladder might be restricted, though you would then lose gas permanently...

Mike.

 

[LadyInBed]

I was briefed by a pro safety equipment specialist some years ago that doing oral inflation of lifejackets for testing introduces moisture into the air bladder, which accelerates deterioration. Don't quite know how....

With the older diving Adjustable Buoyancy Life Jacket, where it was common practice to mouth inflate, it was usual to wash them out then put some talc in when stored.

 

[prv]

I was briefed by a pro safety equipment specialist some years ago that doing oral inflation of lifejackets for testing introduces moisture into the air bladder, which accelerates deterioration.

How many years ago?

It used to be a problem once upon a time, but the manufacturers have repeatedly stated that it's not a problem with modern materials. I prefer not to introduce moisture and bacteria into my lifejacket bladder, but it wouldn't make it unsafe if I did, just grubby.

Is there no over-pressure valve?

Not on any lifejacket I've ever seen. Have you found one on yours?

Pete

 

[seumask]

Have I missed something basic here. I'm Not surprised that a bladder will pop at a high pressure used by a compressor. In operation once the cylinder has been triggered it only the right amount of gas in it to fill the bladder at which point the pressure in the whole system will be much lower than that in the cylinder before it is triggered! Hence the need to see if the bladder does not lose air overnight in a pump up test.
If some one tested my lifejacket bladder to say 30 psi and it burst I would be outraged at their testing and demand a replacement life jacket!

 

[mjcoon]

Not on any lifejacket I've ever seen. Have you found one on yours?

I don't have any of my own. And not done anything more technical with those on charter yachts beyond very occasional wear...

Mike.

 

[Seajet]

Just a point I'll mention...

I'm often surprised a lot of people don't know about the deflation tab on lifejackets.

See the cap on the mouth tube has a bit protruding, usually opposite the plastic arm holding it to the mouth tube; if one sticks that bit into the mouth tube it allows deflation.

Could be important if trapped under something, though letting out air would seem very slow if doing that.

 

[prv]

Have I missed something basic here. I'm Not surprised that a bladder will pop at a high pressure used by a compressor.

But in this case it wasn't a "high" pressure. We don't know what pressure it actually was, but it was supposed to have been deliberately set at one appropriate for the purpose.

Pete