🟢 Regulation: IMO MSC.81(70), Part 1, paragraph 1.2
🟢 Purpose: To check that the lifebuoy material maintains its properties when used in various climatic conditions, from the Arctic to the tropics.
🗣 How the test is performed
1️⃣ Preparation
- Take a sample of the lifebuoy that has passed a visual inspection (no cracks or damage).
- Record its weight and appearance.
2️⃣ Freezing
- Place the lifebuoy in a chamber set to -30°C.
- Keep it there for 24 hours.
3️⃣ Heating
- After freezing, immediately transfer the lifebuoy to a heating chamber set to +65°C.
- Keep it there for another 24 hours.
4️⃣ Repeat the cycle (if necessary)
- Some labs perform several cycles in a row to simulate real-world variations.
5️⃣ Final inspection
- Check the appearance: there should be no cracks, delamination, or deformation.
- Measure the weight – the wheel should not absorb moisture or lose material.
- Test buoyancy (if necessary).
🗣 Success Criteria
✅ No cracks or damage after extreme temperatures
✅ The material maintains its shape and buoyancy
✅ The lifebuoy is ready for use in any climate.
🗣 Why is this important?
- A vessel can operate in the cold waters of the Baltic or Arctic, as well as in the hot Persian Gulf.
- Life-saving equipment must operate without failure even with sudden temperature changes.
- A lifebuoy that has cracked or become brittle in the cold will not save a person.
⚠️ Result: The Temperature Cycling Test proves that the lifebuoy will withstand all climate conditions and remain a reliable life-saving tool.
Seamen’s Club 🇺🇦 | #education