10 Position-Indicating Lights for Life-Saving Appliances

  10.1.1 Twelve liferaft canopy lights, lifeboat enclosure or lifeboat cover lights, as the case may be, and twelve survival craft interior lights should be subjected to the temperature cycling as prescribed in 1.2.1. If the same type of light is used for both canopy, enclosure or cover and interior, only twelve lights of that type need to be tested. If the lifeboat enclosure light, the lifeboat cover light or the lifeboat internal light is connected to the lifeboat's electrical network and can be supplied with electrical power from any one of the lifeboat's batteries as well as from the lifeboat's engine-driven generator set, the light should only be subject to the test as far as practicable.

  10.1.2 In the case of seawater cell power sources, four survival craft lights of each type should, following at least ten complete temperature cycles be taken from a stowage temperature of -30°C and be operated immersed in seawater at a temperature of -1°C; four of each type should be taken from a stowage temperature of +65°C and be operated immersed in seawater at a temperature of +30°C; and four of each type should be taken from ordinary room conditions and operated immersed in fresh water at ambient temperature. The canopy, enclosure or cover lights should be of white colour and should provide a luminous intensity of not less than 4.3 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere for a period of not less than 12 h (see 10.4). The interior lights should provide an arithmetic mean luminous intensity of not less than 0.5 cd when measured over the entire upper hemisphere to permit reading of survival instructions and equipment instructions for a period of not less than 12 h.

  10.1.3 In the case of dry cell power sources, provided they will not come into contact with seawater, four survival craft lights of each type should, following at least ten complete temperature cycles be operated at an air temperature of -30°C, four of each type at an air temperature of +65°C, and four of each type at ambient temperature. The canopy, enclosure or cover lights should be white in colour and should provide luminous intensity of not less than 4.3 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere for a period of not less than 12 h (see 10.4). The interior lights should provide an arithmetic mean luminous intensity of not less than 0.5 cd when measured over the entire upper hemisphere to permit reading of survival instructions and equipment instructions for a period of not less than 12 h.

  10.1.4 In the case of a flashing light, it should be established that the rate of flashing for the 12 h operative period is not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute and the effective luminous intensity is at least 4.3 cd (see 10.4).

  10.2.1 Three self-igniting lights should be subjected to temperature cycling as prescribed in 1.2.1.

  10.2.2 After at least ten complete temperature cycles, one self-igniting light should then be taken from a stowage temperature of -30°C and operated immersed in seawater at a temperature of -1°C, another should be taken from a stowage temperature of +65°C and operated immersed in seawater at a temperature of +30°C, and the other should be taken from ordinary room condition and operated immersed in fresh water at ambient temperature. All of the lights should be of white colour and should continue to provide a luminous intensity of not less than 2 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere or, in the case of a flashing light, flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute with at least the corresponding effective luminous intensity for a period of not less than 2 h (see 10.4).

At the end of the first hour of operation the lights should be immersed to a depth of 1 m for 1 min. The lights should not be extinguished and should continue operating for at least an hour longer.

  10.2.3 A self-igniting light should be subjected to two drop tests into water as prescribed in 1.3. The light should be dropped twice, first by itself and then attached to a lifebuoy. The light should operate satisfactorily after each drop.

  10.2.4 A self-igniting light should be allowed to float in water in its normal operating position for 24 h. If the light is an electric light, it should be disassembled at the end of the test and examined for the presence of water. There should be no evidence of water inside the light.

  10.2.5 The remaining self-igniting light, which has been subjected to the test in 10.2.1 should be immersed horizontally under 300 mm of water for 24 h. If the light is an electric light, it should be dismantled at the end of the test and examined for the presence of water. There should be no evidence of water inside the light.

  10.2.6 If a self-igniting light has a lens, the light should be cooled to -18°C and dropped twice from a height of 1 m on to a rigidly mounted steel plate or concrete surface. The distance should be measured from the top of the lens to the impact surface. The light should strike the surface on the top centre of the lens. The lens should not break or crack.

  10.2.7 A self-igniting light should be placed on its side on a rigid surface and a steel sphere having a mass of 500 g should be dropped from a height of 1.3 m on to the case three times. The sphere should strike the case near its centre on one drop, approximately 12 mm from one end of the case on another drop and approximately 12 mm from the other end of the case on the third drop. The case should not break or crack, or be distorted in a way that would affect its watertightness.

  10.2.8 A force of 225 N should be applied to the fitting that attaches the light to a lifebuoy. Neither the fitting nor the light should be damaged as a result of this test.

  10.3.1 Twelve lifejacket lights should be subjected to temperature cycling as prescribed in 1.2.1.

  10.3.2 After at least ten temperature cycles, four of these lifejacket lights should be taken from a stowage temperature of -30°C and then be operated immersed in seawater at a temperature of -1°C. Four should be taken from a stowage temperature of +65°C and then immersed in seawater at a temperature of +30°C and four should be taken from ordinary room conditions and operated immersed in freshwater at ambient temperature. Water-activated lights should commence functioning within 2 min and have reached a luminous intensity of 0.75 cd within 5 min in seawater. In freshwater a luminous intensity of 0.75 cd should have been attained within 10 min. At least 11 out of the 12 lights, which should all be of white colour, should continue to provide a luminous intensity of not less than 0.75 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere for a period of at least 8 h.

  10.3.3 One light attached to a lifejacket should be subjected to a drop test from 4.5 m as prescribed in 2.8.8. The light should not suffer damage, should not be dislodged from the lifejacket and should be switched on and seen to be illuminated and conspicuous whilst the test subject is still in the water.

  10.3.4 One light should be dropped from a height of 2 m onto a rigidly mounted steel plate or concrete surface. The light should not suffer damage and should be capable of providing a luminous intensity of not less than 0.75 cd for a period of at least eight hours when operated immersed in freshwater at ambient temperature.

  10.3.5 In the case of a flashing light it should be established that:

• .1 the light can be operated by a manual switch;

• .2 the rate of flashing is not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute; and

• .3 the effective luminous intensity is at least 0.75 cd (see 10.4).

  10.4.1 Vibration Test

Regulations: IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.7

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to a vibration test according to IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.7.

Acceptance Criteria

The lights shall function after the test.

  10.4.2 Mould growth test

Regulations: LSA Code 1.2.2.4

Test procedure

One unit should be subjected to the mould growth test.

The light shall be inoculated by spraying with an aqueous suspension of mould spores containing all the following cultures:

• Aspergillus niger;
• Aspergillus terreus;
• Aureobasidium pullulans;
• Paecilomyces variotii;
• Penicillium funiculosum;
• Penicillium ochro-chloron;
• Scopulariopsis brevicaulis; and
• Trichoderma viride.

The light shall then be placed in a mould growth chamber which shall be maintained at a temperature of 29°C ± 1°C and a relative humidity of not less than 95%. The period of incubation shall be 28 days. After this period the light shall be inspected.

Acceptance criteria

The light shall be rot-proof and not be unduly affected by fungal attack. There shall be no mould growth visible to the naked eye and the light shall function after the test.

  10.4.3 Switch Arrangement Test

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to the switch arrangement test. A person, wearing immersion suit gloves, must be able to switch the light in its normal operational position on and off three times.

Acceptance criteria

The light must function properly.

  10.4.4 Corrosion and seawater resistance test

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to a corrosion and seawater resistance test according to IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.12.

Acceptance criteria

There shall be no undue deterioration of metal parts and the unit shall function.

  10.4.5 Solar radiation test (not for survival craft interior and lifejacket lights)

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to a solar radiation test according to IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.10.

Acceptance criteria

The mechanical properties and labels of the unit shall be resistant to harmful deterioration by sunlight. The unit shall function after the test.

  10.4.6 Test for oil resistance (not for survival craft interior lights)

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to the Oil Resistance test according to IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.11.

Acceptance criteria

After this test the unit shall not be unduly affected by oil and shall show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical qualities. The light shall function after the test.

  10.4.7 Rain test, and watertightness test

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to a rain test according to IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.8. After having passed the rain test, the unit and the complete power source shall be immersed horizontally under not less than 300 mm of fresh water for at least 24 h.

Acceptance criteria

The unit shall comply with the requirements of IEC 60945:2002, paragraph 8.8.2, and shall function after the rain test. Additionally, after the water-tightness test the unit shall function and there shall be no evidence of water inside the unit.

  10.4.8 Fire Test (not for Survival Craft Interior Lights)

Test procedure

One unit shall be subjected to a fire test. A test pan at least 30 cm × 35 cm × 6 cm shall be placed in an essentially draught-free area. Water shall be put in the bottom of the test pan to a depth of not less than 1 cm followed by enough petrol to make a minimum total depth of not less than 4 cm. The petrol shall then be ignited and allowed to burn freely for at least 30 s. The unit shall then be moved through the flames, facing them, with the unit's light not more than 25 cm above the top edge of the test pan so that the duration of exposure to the flames is at least 2 s.

Acceptance criteria

The unit shall not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a period of at least 2 s and after being removed from the flames. The unit shall function after the test.

  10.4.9 Measurement of luminous intensity

Test procedure

If the voltage at five minutes of operation is lower than the recorded voltage at the end of life it is permissable to use a lamp from the same build standard for the light output test. Using the lowest recorded voltage a light output test can be carried out as described below. The voltage of the specified number of test units should be monitored continuously for the specified time. To make sure that all the test units provide a luminous intensity of not less than the specified luminous intensity in all directions of the upper hemisphere after the specified time of operation, the following test shall be performed.

It must be demonstrated that at least one light from each of the specified temperature ranges reaches the required luminous intensity in all directions of the upper hemisphere when using a photometer which is calibrated to the photometric standards of the appropriate National or State Standards Institute. (Note: CIE Publication No. 70 contains further information.) The lowest voltage light of the cold temperature test sample lot, the highest voltage light of the high temperature test sample lot and the mean voltage light of the ambient temperature sample lot should be selected. These three lights must be used for the light output tests. In the event that a lamp filament burns out during the light output test, a second light from the same performance test lot may be used.

Luminous intensity should be measured by a photometer directed at the centre of the light source with the test light on a rotating table. Luminous intensity should be measured in a horizontal direction at the level of the centre of the light source and continuously recorded through a 360 degree rotation. These measurements should be taken in the azimuth angles at 5 degree intervals above the horizon up to the single measurement at 90E, (vertical). Luminous intensity should then be measured in a vertical direction, beginning at the centre of the light source at the point of lowest recorded light output, and continuously recorded through an arc of 180E.

Acceptance criteria

The test lights shall continue to provide a luminous intensity of not less than the specified intensity in all directions of the upper hemisphere for a period of at least the specified time. All measured data of luminous intensity and voltage shall be documented. In the case of a flashing light, it shall be established that the rate of flashing for the specified operating period is not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute and that the effective luminous intensity is at least the minimum specified intensity in all directions of the upper hemisphere. The effective luminous intensity is to be found from the formula:

 Flashing lights with a flash duration of not less than 0.3 s may be considered as fixed/steady lights for the measurement of their luminous intensity. Such lights should provide the required luminous intensity in all directions of the upper hemisphere. The time interval between switching on and reaching the required luminous intensity (incandescence time) and all time spent below the required luminous intensity when the light switches off should be disregarded (see figure 10.4.1.)

Figure 10.4.1 "On-time" measurement diagram

  10.4.10 Chromaticity

Test procedure

One unit shall be tested for chromaticity to determine that it lies within the boundaries of the area "white" of the diagram specified for each colour by the International Commission on Illumination, (CIE). The chromaticity of the light shall be measured by means of colorimetric measurement equipment which is calibrated to the appropriate National or State Standards Institute. (Note: CIE Publ. No. 15.2 contains further information.) Measurements on at least four points of the upper hemisphere shall be taken.

Acceptance criteria

The measured chromaticity coordinates should fall within the boundaries of the area of the diagram, as per CIE. The boundaries of the area for white lights are given by the following corner co-ordinates:

(International standard on Colours of Light Signals, with colour tables to be developed by CIE.)