FprEN 13138-1

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 13138-1:2018
01-april-2018
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Buoyant aids for swimming instruction - Part 1: Safety requirements and test methods for

Auftriebshilfen für das Schwimmenlernen - Teil 1: Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen

Aides à la flottabilité pour l'apprentissage de la natation - Partie 1: Exigences de sécurité

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

Aides à la flottabilité pour l'apprentissage de la Auftriebshilfen für das Schwimmenlernen - Teil 1:

natation - Partie 1: Exigences de sécurité et méthodes Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und

d'essai pour les aides à la flottabilité portées au corps Prüfverfahren für am Körper getragene Auftriebshilfen

This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee

If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations

which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other

language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,

Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,

Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without

© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13138-1:2018 E

European foreword ....................................................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 5

1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

2 Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 7

3 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 7

4 Classification .................................................................................................................................................. 10

5 Safety Requirements ................................................................................................................................... 10

5.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 10

5.2 Conspicuity ..................................................................................................................................................... 11

5.2.1 Requirement .................................................................................................................................................. 11

5.2.2 Testing .............................................................................................................................................................. 11

5.3 Buoyancy ......................................................................................................................................................... 11

5.3.1 Buoyancy characteristics of the complete device............................................................................. 11

5.3.2 Residual buoyancy ....................................................................................................................................... 11

5.4 Design, fit and positioning ........................................................................................................................ 12

5.4.1 Adjustability — Class B devices .............................................................................................................. 12

5.4.2 Buckles, zippers and other fixings ......................................................................................................... 12

5.4.3 Retention of function .................................................................................................................................. 12

5.4.4 Innocuousness ............................................................................................................................................... 13

5.5 Entire assembly and components .......................................................................................................... 13

5.5.1 Integrity of the entire assembly of worn devices ............................................................................. 13

5.5.2 Thread .............................................................................................................................................................. 13

5.5.3 Valves, stoppers and other protruding parts ..................................................................................... 14

5.5.4 Protruding parts ........................................................................................................................................... 14

5.6 Materials — Mechanical properties ...................................................................................................... 14

5.6.1 Seam strength and durability of inflatable devices ......................................................................... 14

5.6.2 Resistance to puncturing ........................................................................................................................... 14

5.6.3 Resistance of foam and other inherent buoyant material to water absorption .................... 14

5.6.4 Resistance of foam and other inherent buoyant materials to compression ........................... 14

5.7 Materials and markings ............................................................................................................................. 14

5.7.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 14

5.7.2 Resistance to chlorinated salt water ..................................................................................................... 15

5.7.3 Resistance of the markings to saliva ..................................................................................................... 15

5.7.4 Resistance of the markings to perspiration ....................................................................................... 15

5.7.5 Adhesion of markings ................................................................................................................................. 15

6 Test methods ................................................................................................................................................. 15

7 Warnings and markings ............................................................................................................................. 16

7.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 16

7.2 Warnings and markings on the product .............................................................................................. 16

7.3 Information supplied by the manufacturer ........................................................................................ 17

7.4 Consumer information at the point of sale ......................................................................................... 17

Annex A (normative) Procedures for testing resistance of markings to saliva .................................. 19

Annex B (normative) Procedures for testing efficiency of valves of inflatable devices .................. 20

Annex C (normative) Security of the pressure release of buckles ........................................................... 21

Annex D (normative) Procedures for testing adjustability, retention of function, edges,

corners and points by assessment panel ............................................................................................. 22

D.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 22

D.2 Assessment of Risks ..................................................................................................................................... 22

D.3 Re-assessment of instructions supplied with the device ............................................................... 22

Annex E (normative) Test procedures for seam strength and durability of inflatable devices .... 24

Annex F (normative) Test procedures for determining the puncture resistance of inflatable

devices .............................................................................................................................................................. 25

Annex G (normative) Conspicuity ........................................................................................................................ 26

G.1 Test sequence ................................................................................................................................................. 26

G.2 Test parameter .............................................................................................................................................. 26

G.3 Photo tests boards or beamer projection ............................................................................................ 26

G.3.1 Size ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26

G.3.2 Photo board/ projection ............................................................................................................................ 26

Annex H (normative) Test procedures for integrity of the entire assembly ........................................ 29

H.1 Test description ............................................................................................................................................ 29

H.2 Test parameters ............................................................................................................................................ 29

Annex I (normative) Detailed illustrations regarding the layout of information symbols,

general safety signs and their arrangement on the product......................................................... 30

I.1 Product safety information symbols ..................................................................................................... 30

I.1.1 General ............................................................................................................................................................. 30

I.1.2 Graphical Symbols characterising the category of information and heading arrayed

groups of symbols ......................................................................................................................................... 30

I.1.3 Graphical Symbols expressing warnings ............................................................................................. 30

I.1.4 Graphical Symbols expressing prohibitions ....................................................................................... 31

I.1.5 Graphical Symbols expressing instructions ........................................................................................ 32

I.1.6 Safety information symbol ........................................................................................................................ 33

I.1.6.1 Size of graphical symbols ........................................................................................................................... 33

I.1.6.2 Colour of graphical symbols ..................................................................................................................... 33

I.1.6.3 Arrangement of graphical symbols ........................................................................................................ 34

Annex J (normative) Test procedure for entanglement on protruding parts ...................................... 37

Annex K (informative) Significant changes between this document and the previous edition

of EN 13138-1:2014 ..................................................................................................................................... 38

Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential

Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment aimed to be covered .............. 39

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................. 40

This document (prEN 13138-1:2018) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 162

“Protective clothing including hand and arm protection and lifejackets”, the secretariat of which is held

Annex K provides details of significant technical changes between this European Standard and the

This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the

European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).

For relationship with EU Directives, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this

EN 13138, Buoyant aids for swimming instruction, consists of the following parts dealing with buoyant

devices for swimming instructions for the various stages of the learning process:

Buoyant aids for swimming instruction (in brief: swimming device(s)) are intended to assist users (in

particular children) to learn to swim. The design and purpose of the devices are related to the above

Swimming devices are intended to give the user positive buoyancy in the water while maintaining the

correct body position for swimming. However, it should not be assumed that standard conformity of the

devices will by itself eliminate the risk of drowning as this depends also on the behaviour of the user

Although this European Standard sets performance requirements to ensure that swimming devices

perform appropriately, it is essential that the devices are used correctly and under constant and close

supervision. It is important to ensure that they are securely fitted to the appropriate size of user and

that when correctly fitted, they cannot become displaced. Swim seats however should allow immediate

escape in case of capsizing. Therefore the use of these devices is recommended to be restricted to water

The highest degree of protection against drowning can only be achieved by using lifejackets. It is

essential that there is a clear distinction between devices intended to preserve life and those which are

intended only to assist buoyancy for the user when learning to swim. As swimming devices are not life

preservers, they should only be used in swimming pools and other situations free from current, tides

The bulk storage of some types of swimming devices could, under certain conditions, result in a

potential fire hazard. The perceived risk of such a hazard was evaluated against the actual risk to the

user from materials treated with certain known toxic fire retardant chemicals. However, the fire hazard

is less of a problem to the user than the risk associated with the swimming devices being put in the

mouth, especially by children. For this reason, flammability requirements do not apply to this European

For the above reasons and to differentiate these devices from aquatic toys, advisory safety measures,

including marking, warning notices and user instructions are included in this standard.

The range both of the design and function of buoyant aids for swimming instruction varies considerably

and for this reason, the standard for swimming devices has been prepared in four parts, namely devices

that are intended to allow the user to become familiar with water (passive user), devices that are worn

(active user) and those devices that are held by the user to improve swimming strokes.

Part 1 of this European Standard is only for devices that are securely attached to the body (class B

devices = for an active user). They are intended to introduce the user to the range of swimming strokes.

This part 1 of prEN 13138 is applicable only in connection with part 4 of prEN 13138.

Part 2 of this European Standard is for devices that are held either in the hands or by the body (class C

devices = for an active user) and are intended to assist with improving specific elements of the

swimming stroke. For adult beginners or more advanced users they can also be used for further stages

Part 3 of this European Standard deals only with swim seats to assist children up to 36 months in their

first attempts to learn to swim (i.e. to get familiar with the ―in-water-environment) and moving

through it). The child is positioned inside the buoyant structure, which provides buoyancy and lateral

support to the body, thereby keeping the child's head above water level (class A devices = for a passive

Swim seats allow young children to experience the water environment and being moved through it.

Movements of lower limbs and arms are possible. The use of swim seats does however not replicate any

Swim seats complying with this standard provide a stable, floating position for a child sitting in the

swim seat and avoids entrapment in case of capsizing. Children in swim seats do however require very

close parental supervision. Overload beyond specified body weight, breaking waves and violent

external forces are remaining risks that can cause capsizing. Use of these devices in water that is of the

child‘s standing depth will increase the risk of capsizing and will hinder or block the escape from the

Part 4 of this European Standard deals with in-water performance testing for class B devices and

provides objective methods of measuring the lifting and turning capacity of a swimming device by

applying test manikins of various sizes. It is applicable only in connection with part 1.

This European Standard specifies safety requirements for construction, performance, sizing, marking

and information supplied by the manufacturer for swimming aids intended to assist beginners with

movement through the water while learning to swim or while learning part of a swimming stroke. It

This part 1 of prEN 13138 applies only to devices that are designed to be worn, to be securely attached

to the body and which have either inherent buoyancy or can be inflated. It only applies to Class B

devices intended to introduce the user to the range of swimming strokes. It does not apply to Class A or

Class C devices, to pull buoys, swim rings, lifebuoys, buoyancy aids, lifejackets or aquatic toys.

This document (prEN13138-1:2018) applies only in connection with prEN 13138-4:2018.

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are

indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated

references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

prEN 13138-4:2018, Buoyant aids for swimming instruction — Part 4: In-water performance testing of

EN 20105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour

EN ISO 105-E03:2010, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part E03: Colour fastness to chlorinated

EN ISO 105-E04, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part E04: Colour fastness to perspiration (ISO

EN ISO 105-X12, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part X12: Colour fastness to rubbing (ISO 105-

EN ISO 3696:1995, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods (ISO 3696:1987)

EN ISO 12402-7:2006, Personal flotation devices — Part 7: Materials and components — Safety

EN ISO 12402-9:2006, Personal flotation devices — Part 9: Test methods (ISO 12402-9:2006)

ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

resultant upthrust of a swimming device when totally submerged in fresh water with its uppermost

upthrust provided by material which is less dense than water or by sealed chambers that are not

garment or device which when worn or held correctly will provide the buoyancy required to become

familiar with movement through the water, assist with learning to swim or to improve swimming

buoyant device in which the child is in contact with the water positioned inside the buoyant structure

so that it will keep the passive user in a stable floating position where the base of the chin is at or above

Note 1 to entry: This device is intended to allow the user to become familiar with the water environment.

buoyant swimming device intended to be worn, to be securely attached to the body and to introduce the

device intended to be held either in the hands or by the body and to assist with swimming strokes

device having either inherent buoyancy or may be inflated to provide buoyancy and which is securely

attached to the body in such a way that it cannot be accidentally removed and so as to provide the user

device held either in the hands or by the body and provides buoyancy whilst it is being held by the user

process to which the complete device shall be submitted that includes immersion in chlorinated

swimming pool water and storage in cold and hot conditions and comprising a number of cycles, to

simulate the conditions to which the device is likely to be subjected in normal use and storage

sub-group of the entire device which contributes to either buoyancy, function or safety

buoyant device intended to introduce the user to the aquatic environment and to build water

Note 1 to entry: Swim seats provide safety for the user but do not guarantee protection against drowning.

Note 2 to entry: Swim seats are learning aids and should not be mistaken with aquatic toys as defined in

all integrated components (parts) of a swim seat which contribute to stable floating conditions and to

complete separation between the test dummy and the swim seat in case of a deliberate capsizing of the

group of three people who are appointed by a test house, all of whom are experienced in assessing

buoyant device designed to be held in the hands or by the arms in order to support the body in the

Turning Lifting Capacity of a swimming device is its capability to turn the user’s body into a specified

floating angle and to lift him to a level where the body floats at least just on equal level with the water

Note 1 to entry: It is expressed as angle x between calibrated sinking angle and floating angle achieved by the

angle to which a test manikin is intentionally calibrated when hung on its centre of gravity and

Buoyant device in which the child is in contact with the water positioned inside the buoyant

structure. This device is intended to allow the user to become familiar with the water

environment. The device will keep the passive user in a stable floating position so that the

Buoyant swimming device intended to be worn, to be securely attached to the body and to

Device intended to be held either in the hands or by the body and to assist with swimming

Construction of a buoyant swimming device shall be such that it corresponds in terms of design,