Retro-reflective SOLAS tape, square inches required?

Maritime Topics Marine Safety
1

I heard there was going to be new rules about the square inches of reflective tape on float coats/life jackets. Anyone have a reference, or could point me to where I can find the reference, to the CFRs for this?

Or, have you heard anything about new requirements coming out for reflective tape?

Thanks!

I’m finding the answers with googling…

http://www.ecfr.gov
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=1527369f7da8c143b695cbacff23e608&ty=HTML&h=L&f=t46.sgm&r=SECTION&n=46y4.0.1.2.11.7.37.18

Title 46 § 108.649 Lifejackets, immersion suits, and lifebuoys.
(2) With type I retro-reflective material approved under approval series 164.018. The arrangement of the retro-reflectivematerial must meet IMO Resolution A.658(16).

USCG Approval Category 164.018 for “RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIALS"
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/retroreflective.asp
"400 cm^2”

400 sq cm is 62 sq in

The document this 62 sq in was taken from is Resolution A.658(16), which says it was adopted 19 October 1989.
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/docs/IMOResolutionA658-16.pdf

It does not say that it has to be sewn on. It does have detailed specifications for how sticky adhesion tape must be.

2

If it helps, I haven’t heard a thing about a change to the IMO resolution you mentioned and I agree with your numbers.

3

Relize you found the answer. I dug around and found the CFR. It’s 46 CFR 25.25-15

4

Hmm, this CFR seems different from the one I found. This one specifies 31 sq in, where the others were double that, 62 sq in. I wonder if that is the “changes” that I heard about…

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div8&view=text&node=46:1.0.1.3.18.3.7.8&idno=46

46 CFR 25.25-15
§ 25.25-15 Retroreflective material for personal flotation devices.
(a) Each life preserver, each marine buoyant device intended to be worn, and each buoyant vest carried on a vessel must have Type I retroreflective material that is approved under subpart 164.018 of this chapter.

(b) Each item required to have retroreflective material must have at least 200 sq. cm (31 sq. in.) of material attached to its front side, at least 200 sq. cm of material on its back side, and, if the item is reversible, at least 200 sq. cm of material on each of its reversible sides. The material attached on each side of the item must be divided equally between the upper quadrants of the side, and the material in each quadrant must be attached as closely as possible to the shoulder area of the item.

[CGD 76-028, 44 FR 38783, July 2, 1979, as amended by CGD 82-075a, 49 FR 4483, Feb. 7, 1984]

5

USCG Requirements for Uninspected Towing Vessels PDF "Change 3 July 2012"
http://uscg.mil/hq/cg5/TVNCOE/documents/toolbag/UTVGUIDEBOOK.pdf

Retroreflective Material for PFDs
Each PFD carried on a vessel must have Type I retroreflective material that is approved under 46 CFR 164.018. Each item required to have retroreflective material must have at least 200 sq. cm (31 sq. in.) of material attached to its front side, at least 200 sq. cm of material on its back side, and, if the item is reversible, at least 200 sq. cm of material on each of its reversible sides. The material attached on each side must be divided equally between the upper quadrants of the side, and the material in each quadrant must be attached as closely as possible to the shoulder area. 46 CFR 25.25-15