SnappingTurtle
Lieutenant
- Joined
- May 4, 2008
- Messages
- 1,251
U.S. Coast Guard - Flotation Material & Installation Requirements
a) Air Chambers
Air chambers shall maintain their integrity under pre-test conditioning and under flotation test conditions. They shall not leak when subjected to an internal air pressure test and shall not allow the ingress of water when submerged to at least a depth equal to that required in the flotation test.
b) Plastic Foam Blocks and Other Shapes
1) A method of identifying foam blocks and other shapes must be employed to assure that each boat gets the correct amount of flotation in the correct location.
2) Expanded polystyrene foam must not come in contact with uncured polyester resin or fumes.
3) Foam blocks and other shapes must be secured so that no movement in any direction occurs that will effect the flotation's performance.
4) Installation must be in a manner that will prevent:
damage from occupant contact
deterioration from exposure to direct sunlight
damage from normal use of the boat.
5) The space provided for the installation of foam blocks must be large enough to prevent the necessity of using force that will deform the shape of the block during the installation process. Deformation will lower the volume, and therefore the total buoyancy, of the foam block.
c) Sprayed or Poured Liquid Mix
1) When liquid flotation material is installed directly in place, constraints must be provided in the form of bulkheads, boxes or dams to ensure the proper volume, and to ensure that the centers of buoyancy are correctly placed.
2) Clearance around, and passages through, the foam should be provided for:
routing controls, cables and wires;
access to windshield fasteners, cleat and chock fasteners, rail
fasteners, ventilation ducts, other deck hardware and standard fittings;
bilge drainage;
drainage of the top of metallic fuel tanks.
uscgboating.org
a) Air Chambers
Air chambers shall maintain their integrity under pre-test conditioning and under flotation test conditions. They shall not leak when subjected to an internal air pressure test and shall not allow the ingress of water when submerged to at least a depth equal to that required in the flotation test.
b) Plastic Foam Blocks and Other Shapes
1) A method of identifying foam blocks and other shapes must be employed to assure that each boat gets the correct amount of flotation in the correct location.
2) Expanded polystyrene foam must not come in contact with uncured polyester resin or fumes.
3) Foam blocks and other shapes must be secured so that no movement in any direction occurs that will effect the flotation's performance.
4) Installation must be in a manner that will prevent:
damage from occupant contact
deterioration from exposure to direct sunlight
damage from normal use of the boat.
5) The space provided for the installation of foam blocks must be large enough to prevent the necessity of using force that will deform the shape of the block during the installation process. Deformation will lower the volume, and therefore the total buoyancy, of the foam block.
c) Sprayed or Poured Liquid Mix
1) When liquid flotation material is installed directly in place, constraints must be provided in the form of bulkheads, boxes or dams to ensure the proper volume, and to ensure that the centers of buoyancy are correctly placed.
2) Clearance around, and passages through, the foam should be provided for:
routing controls, cables and wires;
access to windshield fasteners, cleat and chock fasteners, rail
fasteners, ventilation ducts, other deck hardware and standard fittings;
bilge drainage;
drainage of the top of metallic fuel tanks.
uscgboating.org
