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| The
correct choice |
| Numerous
types of water sports are confronted with a large number of various
types of buoyancy aids and/or lifejackets. In order for the customer
to invest in the life-saving equipment (the official name is 'personal
protection equipment' = PPE) which is most suitable for him, there
has been a classification and thus an orientation assistance since
introduction of the European Standards. |
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| Euro-standards
to facilitate your decision |
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Euro standards
for lifejackets and buoyancy aids (PPE) provide a scale and a
yardstick on how to categorize this
type of equipment. The yardstick is the load-bearing capacity,
measured in Newton (N).
Particular
characteristics belonging to a particular load-bearing capacity
are categorized in four classes.
The standard use must be described: for which type of territory
the category is intended, which conditions may be found there
(e.g. height of waves, temperatures) and whether outside help
is available. Pictogrammes aid easy definition
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Buoyancy
aids
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Lifejackets
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Lifejackets
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Lifejackets
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| Only
suitable for good swimmers. Only for protected waters, where
help is close at hand. Will not keep an unconscious person's
face clear of the water. Not suitable for children (up to
30 kg). Not a lifejacket! |
For
users in inland waters and protected estuaries. Will not always
turn unconscious wearers face up in the water (depending on
the clothing one is wearing). |
For
all waters. Turns most unconscious wearers face up in the
water, but with limitations for wearers of heavy, foul-weather
clothing. |
For
users on high seas under extremely difficult conditions. In
almost all cases turns unconscious wearers face up in the
water, even when they are wearing heavy foul-weather clothing. |
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| Maxim |
| This
classification is put on every sales packaging for your orientation.
From the compulsory markings on his life-saving equipment,
the purchaser is able to gain additional information himself:
standards class, height and weight, chest circumference, special
type of sport and equipment, limitations on use, warnings
etc.
The
purchaser can place himself in
a category in accordance with the territory
in which he carries out his water sport. In any case, equipment
of the higher Standards class is
recommendable, if e.g. he would like to transfer
his ship from the Havel (class 100N) to the Mediterranean
(class 150 or 275).
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