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

Offshore
100 N
150 N
-
-
-
Near Shore
70 N
150 N
-
-
-
Floatation Aid
70 N
100 N
-
-
-
Throwable
-
-
-
75 N
82 N
Special Use
70 N -100 N
100 N-155 N
Inflated 100 N Deflated 34 N
-
-