New Lifejacket Standards May Lower PFD Costs

Aligning lifejacket standards between Canada and the US could reduce costs for lifejacket manufacturers and make PFDs more affordable.

A move to align international standards for lifejackets and immersion suits is being applauded by the boating industry, and seen as a positive step toward improving marine safety while potentially lowering the cost of personal flotation devices (PFDs).

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is supporting the work of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) to adopt International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards on lifejackets and immersion suits. UL is working with Canadian and American experts to deliver joint standards for Canada and the United States for publication in 2018.

The aim is to bring North American performance standards into line with global benchmarks, and thus reduce the compliance costs associated with meeting multiple standards in different countries around the world. “By adopting a single, worldwide standard, those costs can be reduced while allowing manufacturers to deliver a higher performance product, and allow new designs that are lighter and even more comfortable to wear” said Jason Leggatt at Mustang Survival.

The move toward common standards is good news for consumers, since they will allow greater flexibility for manufacturers, resulting in new, more wearable devices. A larger market will increase innovation and ultimately create more choice for the public. Consumers will also benefit from new, easy-to-read labels that clearly show how to use each device and how it meets safety standards.