-
.1 inspection of the container for damage;
-
.2 inspection of the folded liferaft and the interior
of the container for signs of dampness;
-
.3 a gas inflation (GI) test should be carried
out at 5-year intervals, and when undertaking a gas inflation test,
special attention should be paid to the effectiveness of the relief
valves. The folded liferaft should be removed from its container before
activating the fitted gas inflation system. After gas inflation has
been initiated, sufficient time should be allowed to enable the pressure
in the buoyancy tubes to become stabilized and the solid particles
of CO2 to evaporate. After this period the buoyancy tubes
should, if necessary, be topped up with air, and the liferaft subjected
to a pressure holding test over a period of not less than one hour,
during which the pressure drop will not exceed 5% of the working pressure;
-
.4 each liferaft should be subjected to the necessary
additional pressure (NAP) test as described in appendix 1, at yearly intervals after
the tenth year of the liferaft's life unless earlier servicing is
deemed necessary as a result of visual inspection. After allowing
sufficient time for the liferaft to regain fabric tension at working
pressure, the liferaft should be subjected to a pressure holding test
over a period of not less than one hour during which the pressure
drop should not exceed 5% of the working pressure;
-
.5 when a NAP or GI test is not required, a working
pressure (WP) test should be carried out (see appendix 2), by inflation of the
liferaft with dry compressed air, after removing it from the container
shell or valise and from its retaining straps, if fitted, to at least
the working pressure, or to the pressure required by the manufacturer's
servicing manual if higher. The liferaft should be subjected to a
pressure holding test over a period of not less than one hour, during
which the pressure drop will not exceed 5% of the working pressure;
-
.6 while inflated, the liferaft should be subjected
to a thorough inspection inside and out in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions;
-
.7 the floor should be inflated, checked for broken
reeds and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;
-
.8 the seams between floor and buoyancy tube should
be checked for slippage or edge lifting;
-
.9 with the buoyancy tubes supported by a system
which leaves the floor seams unsupported, at a suitable height above
the service floor as shown in appendix
3, a person weighing not less than 75 kg should walk/crawl
around the perimeter of the floor for the entire circumference and
the floor seams should be checked again. Manufacturers may substitute
this test with another test which will determine the integrity of
the floor seam until the next inspection is due. This test should
be carried out at yearly intervals after the tenth year of the liferaft's
life;
-
.10 after deflation, arch roots should be checked
in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;
-
.11 all items of equipment should be checked to
ensure that they are in good condition and that dated items are replaced
at the time of servicing in cases where the expiry date falls before
the next service date of the liferaft;
-
.12 davit-launched liferafts should be subject
to a 10% overload suspension test at every second servicing. The floor
seam (FS) test required in the eleventh and subsequent years need
not be carried out for davit launched liferafts at servicings when
the overload suspension test is conducted;
-
.13 a check should be made to ensure that the
liferaft and the atmosphere are dry when the liferaft is being repacked;
-
.14 the required markings should be updated and
checked;
-
.15 a record of servicing should be maintained
for at least 5 years after the date of service;
-
.16 statistical records should be prepared on
all liferafts serviced, indicating, in particular, defects found,
repairs carried out and units condemned and withdrawn from service.
Such statistics should be available to the Administration.