Types Of Lifejackets
Life jackets are classified in 3 classes according to their floatation material/method and 5 types according to the area of usage.
Classification of Life Jackets According to Floatation Material/Method
Inherentyle Buoyant (Primarily Foam)
- Adult, Youth, Child and Infant sizes.
- For swimmers & non-swimmers.
- Some designed for water sports
- Wearable & throwable styles.
Inflatable
- The most compact.
- Sizes only for adults.
- Only recommended for swimmers.
- Wearable styles only.
Hybrid (Foam & Inflation)
- Reliable.
- Adult, Youth and Child sizes.
- For swimmers & non-swimmers.
- Wearable styles only.
- Wearable styles only.
Classification of Life Jackets According to the Area of Usage
TYPE I: OFFSHORE LIFEJACKETS
- When cruising, racing and fishing offshore or boating alone or in stormy conditions.
- Best for open, rough, or remote water where rescue may be slow to arrive.
- Will turn MOST unconscious wearers face-up in water.
- Offers the best protection, but is somewhat bulky and uncomfortable.
- Does the best job of retaining body heat, as it has additional foam and fabric, and keeps, your head higher above water.
TYPE II: NEAR SHORE BUOYANT VEST
- Good for protected, inland water near shore, where chances of immediate rescue is good. Not suitable for extended survival in rough water. Will turn SOME unconscious wearers face-up in water.
- Poor performer in rough water, often requires you to tread water in order to keep your head above water.
- More comfortable but less buoyant than Type I. Provides far less flotation than Type I.
TYPE III: FLOTATION AID
- Supervised activities, such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and during personal watercraft operation.
- Good for protected, inland water near shore, where chance of immediate rescue is good.
- Not suitable for extended survival in rough water. Not design to turn unconscious people face up in water.
- More comfortable to wear than a Type I or Type II, but provides far less flotation than a Type I.
TYPE IV THROWABLE DEVICE
- A Type IV is designed to be thrown to an overboard victim or supplement the buoyancy of a person overboard. It is not to be worn.
- A Type IV throwable device can be a square style or a ring buoy or horshoe buoy mounted on deck.
- A Type IV is not for unconscious persons, non-swimmers or children.
TYPE V: SPECIAL USE DEVICE
- Restricted to the special us efor which each is designed, for example: sailboard harness, deck suit, paddling vest, commerical white water vest or float coats.
- A Type V lifejacket provide performance of either a Type I, II, or III lifejacket (as marked on its label) and must be used according to the label requirements.
Type of the Life Jacket
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