EN 15649-1:2009

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Schwimmende Freizeitartikel zum Gebrauch auf und im Wasser - Teil 1: Klassifikation, Werkstoffe, allgemeine Anforderungen und PrüfverfahrenArticles de loisirs flottants a utiliser sur ou dans l'eau - Partie 1: Classification, matériaux, exigences et méthodes d'essai généralesFloating leisure articles for use on and in the water - Part 1: Classification, materials, general requirements and test methods97.220.40Oprema za športe na prostem in vodne športeOutdoor and water sports equipmentICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 15649-1:2009SIST EN 15649-1:2010en,fr,de01-februar-2010SIST EN 15649-1:2010SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 15649-1
November 2009 ICS 97.200.50 English Version
Floating leisure articles for use on and in the water - Part 1: Classification, materials, general requirements and test methods Articles de loisirs flottants à utiliser sur ou dans l'eau - Partie 1 : Classification, matériaux, exigences et méthodes d'essai générales
Schwimmende Freizeitartikel zum Gebrauch auf und im Wasser - Teil 1: Klassifikation, Werkstoffe, allgemeine Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 September 2009.
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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists 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 Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2009 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 15649-1:2009: ESIST EN 15649-1:2010

Templates . 26Annex B (informative)
Valves and valve adapters . 28Annex C (informative)
Air pumps . 38Bibliography . 43 SIST EN 15649-1:2010

Compliance of a product to this standard requires that the requirements of the relevant specific part and,
additionally, the requirements of EN 15649-1 and EN 15649-2 have to be met. If a product includes multiple use related to several classes, it has to meet the requirements of all these classes. Annex A is normative. Annex B and Annex C are informative.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Repub-lic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. SIST EN 15649-1:2010

Until now, standardisation has addressed the risks through a wide series of standards aiming at the protection against drowning and covering a number of products used in leisure activities on and in the water. There are standards covering the relevant products for activities like playing in the water, water sports, boating, diving, learning to swim and even the emergency devices as buoyancy aids and live jackets. Beyond these typical and traditional activities and products, there is a new tendency for the creation and marketing of more and more new products. They are all aiming to increase pleasure and entertainment on the water but also more speed, action and thrill as far as the new adventurous activities as "tubing", "white water rafting" etc. is con-cerned. The new products are partly modified traditional core products or they are derived from them and fur-ther developed to something new. Additionally, there is a clear trend to bring more and more formerly land based playground equipment on the water. The term "amphibiation" is justified as in many cases the original function of the product is maintained, i.e. they can be used both ways. Typical examples for the first men-tioned kind of new products are modifications of inflatable boats into a bathing raft in fantasy shape or the fur-ther development of the earlier swim-ring into a flotation seat. Examples for "amphibians" exist in inflatable trampolines, climbing installations being put on the water for action and fun. Inflatable floating armchairs and sun loungers including the mini bar and sun shade rather serve for more comfort and relaxation when bathing. This trend is clear and very likely to continue. It can be shown that the nature of these new products provide an equal or even higher risk potential than the original core products. In parallel, the number of these products override the number of the core products. In cases of collective use, the frequency of use is considerably increased which in turn increases the likelihood of accidents — drownings. Drowning is the final risk of the mentioned product related activities, there are other somewhat lesser evils — partial risks — which are likely to happen too independently or in combination with the final risk. Having in mind the existing safety related standardisation, an evident discrepancy emerges. Standardisation in the past was focused on the core products and has neglected the huge amount of products forming the so called "grey zone". We always were aware of this fact, but the "grey zone" was so disturbingly complicated and never really considered and investigated. The triggering incident to change this was the swim seat case, its interaction with aquatic toys and all the many related products mentioned above. The fact of negligence highlights the reason. It was due to this inconsistency, variety and complexity that these products were usually excluded from the scopes of related standards. Experts involved in this standardisation work therefore in-vented the term "grey zone products". A systematic risk analysis or an investigation in drowning accidents was never made. What matters today is not so much the fact of a disturbing gap in the series of existing standards but the knowledge that there is a number of coincidences:  all in all the main user groups of these products are children and adolescents who in turn are the main victims of drowning;  the main areas where drowning happens are identical with the areas of use for such products (rivers, lakes, pools, bathing beaches); SIST EN 15649-1:2010

 setting of clear boundaries between the product areas in order to avoid incorrect certification (e.g. unjusti-fied CE-Mark), "standard jumping" including escape from tougher standards into weaker ones, contribut-ing to overcome the problems of an extremely wide and vague definition of aquatic toys in the toy direc-tive (88/378/EEC) and the distinction of shallow and deep water as dividing criterion;  avoidance of individually established testing procedures by the various test houses in the absence of a unified technical rule. 0.3 Risks and need for prevention  Relevance of drowning is proven (age groups, places, partly product involvement);  new products increase frequency of use and amount of products likely to contribute to accident;  theoretical risk analysis shows additional risks below the final risk of drowning;  plausibility and likelihood of harm to users is evident, so is the probability of adequate safety standards to avoid or minimise this;  to contribute positively to the basic problem of parental supervision which is needed and claimed with re-gard to child activities but in many cases weak, not existing or neglected;  safety by utmost inherent safety by design from the product in addition to this technical safety shall be supplemented through supervision it is recommended for younger children;  we have to recognise that there are new trends to bring more and more former land based products on the water, as well as trends to adventure activities increasing the thrill of water related leisure activities and entertainment;  need for prevention. SIST EN 15649-1:2010

NOTE 1 Specific safety requirements are specified in the specific parts EN 15649-3 to EN 15649-7.
NOTE 2 The specific parts can include exclusions from the general requirements specified in this document and/or EN 15649-2.
This standard is not applicable to:  aquatic toys according to EN 71-1 (use in shallow waters / use under supervision);  inflatable boats with a buoyancy > 1 800 N according to EN ISO 6185-1, EN ISO 6185-2 and EN ISO 6185-3;  buoyant aids for swimming instructions according to EN 13138-1, EN 13138-2 and EN 13138-3;  air mattresses which are not specifically designed or intended for use on the water (e.g. velour bed, self inflating mattress and rubberized cotton air mattress);  floating seats for angling purposes;  surf sports type devices (e.g. body boards, surf boards);  water ski, wakeboard or kite surfing board;  devices made from rigid materials e.g. wood, aluminium, hard or non-deformable plastic;
 devices which are kept in shape by permanent air flow;  rings intended for use on water slides;  wading devices. 2 Normative references The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated refer-ences, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. EN 71-1:2005, Safety of toys — Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties EN 13138-3:2007, Buoyant aids for swimming instruction — Part 3: Safety requirements and test methods for swim seats to be worn EN 15649-2, Floating leisure articles for use on and in the water — Part 2: Consumer information EN 20105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour (ISO 105-A2:1993) SIST EN 15649-1:2010

1 In accordance with intended use. SIST EN 15649-1:2010

3.6 1 positional use product is used within a limited area
NOTE This area is supposed to be in safe proximity to the shore, pool edge, etc. 3.7 means of propulsion devices used to generate the movements of a manually operated floating article EXAMPLE Manually operated floating articles could be equipped with a paddle wheel, swing flipper, oar or paddle. 3.8 test panel group of test subjects
3.9 assessment panel group of independent experts checking process to establish compliance with the requirements specified in this European Standard 3.10 conditioning process to which the complete device is submitted prior to testing 3.11 load human subjects and other items carried on or in an inflatable structure 3.12 floating stability capability of a non-moving buoyant structure to withstand internal and external forces which tend to capsize it and maintaining a stable floating position
NOTE Internal forces leading to capsizing can result from uneven load distribution, external forces leading to capsiz-ing may result from wind or waves. 3.13 stable floating position in-water position of a buoyant structure safeguarding upright floating and the on-board position of all passen-gers in sitting posture but in a position most likely to cause capsizing 3.14 load capacity value stated by the manufacturer representing the maximum load on a buoyant structure under which a safe floating position is assured 3.15 permanent sealed buoyancy sealed airtight compartment(s) filled with air, gas or inherent buoyant material SIST EN 15649-1:2010

decisive. 3.18 valve device intended to inflate air chambers, to close the inflated air chambers and to deflate them after use 3.19 screw valve valve in which the connection of valve body to valve base and the connection between valve body and valve closure (cap, plug) is designed as a threaded connection 3.20 plug valve valve in which valve base and valve body form a unit and the closed condition is created by a plug inserted into the valve body 3.21 valve with bayonet catch valve which is joined to the inflatable body by a threaded connection in such manner that the outer skin of the inflatable body is compressed airtight between valve base and valve body NOTE The valve body is equipped with a non-return device. The valve closure is sealed by a bayonet catch (see Figure B.7) in the valve body (90° turn) so that an additional sealing and protecting function is provided by means of a gasket at the closure. The bayonet catch is also intended for receiving the connector of the inflation device. Contrary to the conically shaped connecting parts of plug valves (frictional connection), this connection provides positive interlocking (see Figure B.2). 3.22 non-return device valve component in form of an elastic flap, diaphragm, lip, etc. allowing unimpeded (free) air flow into an air chamber, but preventing air discharge even with the valve closure opened NOTE In this case, the valve closure (cap, plug, etc.) has only an additional sealing function, i.e. protection against soiling. 3.23 valve without non-return device valve in which the escape of air is unimpeded after removal of the closure (cap, plug) 3.24 valve adapter device which on account of its conical and/or stepped external design is suitable to provide compatibility of a uniform pump connection with several, different sized valve inner widths and in the case of valves with an anti-blowback device designed in form of a valve lip is capable to force the lip open so that the air inflow is unim-peded SIST EN 15649-1:2010

Table 1 — Classification and criteria to distinguish floating leisure articles from aquatic toys Class Description/Structural design criteria Not an aquatic toy because:
Ab
Floating leisure articles intended for quasi-static positional use on the water and position of user upon the buoyant structure. Single and collective use, mainly passive. Nor-mally no mechanical means of propulsion, but possible. Devices may be of design that provides floating stability others do not and have to be balanced by the user.  minimum length over all (uninflated, flat) = 1,2 m.  minimum age above 36 months.  largest uninflated dimensiona exceeds 1,2 m when uninflated, due to size product is at risk to be blown into open waters and/or provokes use in deep water; and/or  labelling includes adult use; and/or  product is labelled not to be a toy; and/or  use of product depends on deep water or use in deep water is foreseeable; and/or  product includes a body opening inside a circumferential buoyancy system around the user's body and thus a serious entrapment risk. Bb Floating leisure articles intended for quasi-static use but position of user inside a buoyant structure around the user's body (relatively tight fit). Buoyant structure fully en-closing or with openings. Devices may provide a body holding system or user is expected to hold himself by the upper arms and hands. Body holding system might be an integrated seat, straps or other means of holding regard-less of the body posture (sitting, standing, laying, kneeling etc.). User's body is more or less immersed. Normally the upper part (chest upwards) is out of the water. Single or collective / passive or active use. Normally no mechanical means of propulsion but possible.  B2 minimum length: over all (uninflated, flat) = 1,2 m.  B1: use out of user’s standing depth.  minimum age / body weight: variable but above36 months / 18 kg.  largest uninflated dimensiona exceeds 1,2 m; and/or  product includes a body opening inside a circumferential buoyancy system around the user's body and thus a serious entrapment risk; and/or  product needs for appropriate use a water depth beyond user's standing depth; and/or product is labelled not to be a toy; and/or  intended use includes adults (label); and/or  use of product depends on deep water or use in deep water is foreseeable.
Table 1 (continued) Class Description/Structural Design criteria Not an aquatic toy because:
Cb Floating leisure articles for dynamic use, i.e. application at high speed. Position of user is upon or inside the buoyant structure. There may be a cockpit or seat or other means to give hold to the user. The device is towed behind exter-nal means of propulsion. Towing rope fixed to device or held by user. User is required to manage floating stability and safe course behind the towing devices.  C1: static use towable, static user.  C2: active sport use towable, active user, sport applica-tion.  C3: active extreme use towable, active user, extremeapplication.  use beyond user’s standing depth.  minimum age variable but above 6 years.  largest uninflated dimensiona exceeds 1,2 m when uninflated; and/or  product is towed by non-manual means;and/or  product use exceeds a speed limit of 3 km/h;  intended use includes adult users (via label-ling); and/or  product is labelled not to be a toy; and/or  use of product depends on deep water, or use in deep water is foreseeable. Db Floating leisure articles for passive (resting, relaxing on flat surface) but mainly active use i.e. climbing, jumping (more than 1 m), swinging, rotating and any related activ-ity. No distinct position of user. Single or collective use. No mechanical means of propulsion. Shall be anchored.
 minimum length over all (uninflated, flat) = 1,2 m.  minimum age variable but above 36 months.  largest uninflated dimensiona exceeds 1,2 m; and/or  product includes usability for jumping and climbing on or to a height of more than 1,0 m; and/or  labelling does not include the warning note according to EN 71 concerning supervision and use in shallow water only; and/or  labelling includes adult use; and/or  use of product depends on deep water or use in deep water is foreseeable. Eb Inflatable boats with buoyancy less than 1 800 N and an overall length of more than 1,2 m. Single and collective use. Position of user inside the buoyant structure (wide cockpit). Propulsion: manually, motor, sail.  minimum length over all (uninflated, flat) = 1,2 m.  minimum age variable but above 36 months.  largest uninflated dimensiona exceeds 1,2 m; and/or  product is equipped or intended for me-chanical means of propulsion; and/or  labelling does not include the warning note according to EN 71 concerning supervision and use in shallow water only; and/or  labelling includes adult use; and/or  use of product depends on deep water or use in deep water is foreseeable. a Except long thin protrusions as e.g. the neck of a swan shaped inflatable. b For typical products, see risk analysis.
Figure 1 — Foot probe SIST EN 15649-1:2010

NOTE Material pine wood or similar. Figure 2 — Adult torso probe Then apply the probe (positive probe) as specified in Figure 2, in the same way. Check for free passage through the opening under the weight of the probe. 5.3 Head/neck entrapment 5.3.1 Requirements The probe as specified in 5.2.2 shall not fit into any opening deeper than 50 mm or through going positioned higher than 600 mm. 5.3.2 Test method Apply probe for head/neck entrapment as shown in Figure 3 with a force of 50 N in any direction from vertical to an angle of 45° to the centre line of the opening. Test probe, 3 years 5 percentile (smallest head dimension, see also EN 14960).
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 3 — Head probe SIST EN 15649-1:2010

Key 1 Child's torso probe Figure 4 — Child torso probe 5.5 Accessible protruding parts causing entanglement 5.5.1 Requirements To prevent the user from entanglement when unintentionally sliding out or from a device, there shall be no hazardous protrusions. The test chain shall slip off from any part of the device protruding above the surround-ing surface. 5.5.2 Test method A loop of the test chain as shown in Figure 5 shall be put around the protruding part. The pulling direction in relation to the protruding part shall be vertically to the centre line of this part. A pulling force of 50 N shall be applied. SIST EN 15649-1:2010

a) chain b) chain put around objects (top view/section) c) chain put around objects (side view) Figure 5 — Ball chain 5.6 Human subject testing 5.6.1 General Testing for all specific parts of EN 15649-3 to EN 15649-7 depends highly on testing with human test subjects. Due to the very nature, diversity and disparity of the products concerned instrumental testing by using appara-tuses, devices, etc. is not recommended. Also the use of rigid loads and distinct load application points have to be replaced by positioning human test subjects. This approach is appropriate to adapt to the flexibility and irregularity of the products. Therefore the determination and selection of an adequate test panel is of utmost importance. The same applies consequently for the assessment panel. Standard Model Cases how to deter-mine and select test panels exist and can be adapted to the needs of this project. 5.6.2 Test panel Test subject 1 shall always be one time in the total number of adult male test subjects. If more than one test subject has to act, the rest shall be a mix of sex in accordance with Table 2. Table 2 — Test panel Test subjects Sex Age years Body weight kg Body size cm Number of subjects Mixb Child/adult equivalence Subject 1 male > 18 ≥ 90 ≥ 180 according to manufacturers instructions 1 times 2 children = 1 adult Subject 2 male > 18 70 - 80 ≥ 170 50/50 Subject 3 female > 18 65 - 70 ≥ 160 50/50 Subject 4a female > 18 40 - 45 < 150 — a Test subject 4 represents a child. In order to avoid involvement of children in testing, the child subject is substituted by the statistically smallest adult women (5. percentile). b If a device is classified for an unequal number of adult users, subject 1 shall constitute the majority.
Test subjects shall be able-bodied and good swimmers. They shall be made familiar with the particularities of the product and the particularities of the inwater test procedures. SIST EN 15649-1:2010

a) Posture 1
b) Posture 1.1 c) Posture 2 d) Posture 3
e) Posture 4 Key a) Posture 1: upright standing, arms sideways to mid body, body centre line vertical, head upright b) Posture 1.1: upright standing, arms/hands holding a grab handle, body centre line slightly lent back (7°), feet on surface or climbing fitting c) Posture 2: kneeling position, torso rests on lower leg, arms/hands on upper legs, body centre line vertical, head upright
d) Posture 3: lying position, entire body stretched out horizontally, feet, legs, torso, arms head on resting surface e) Posture 4: sitting position, legs stretched out or bent, hands on knees, torso centre line vertical, head up right. NOTE Test positions and variations of these basic test postures (see Figure 6) according to product design, see EN 15649-3 to EN 15649-7, Classes A to D. Figure 6 — Basic test postures of human test subjects
5.9 Towing device 5.9.1 Requirements If not otherwise stated in the specific parts, floating articles shall be equipped with means to attach a towing rope in case of an emergency. This means shall withstand a horizontal pulling force without any damage to the fitting and the entire structure according to 5.9.2. Not applicable if the device is marked with safety infor-mation symbol "pool use only" according to EN 15649-2. 5.9.2 Test method Any cordage used for test purposes shall have a diameter of 8 mm. Progressively apply a load of 1 kN to all the pulling components in any direction. Maintain it during 15 min. 5.10 Valves and valve adapters 5.10.1 Requirements Inflating and/or deflating valves shall be made of corrosion-resistant materials, shall be compatible with the material of the hull and shall not be capable of damaging the device. Annex B gives examples how to achieve compatibility valves and inflating devices geometry. They should meet the requirements specified in Annex B. In general, valves shall: SIST EN 15649-1:2010

5.11 Edges, corners and points 5.11.1 Requirements All devices shall be of a design such that they cannot cause harm to the user. Edges and corners of hard and rigid materials shall be chamfered or rounded. Round edges or corners shall have a minimum radius of 1 mm and where a chamfer is part of the design, it shall be of (45 ± 5)° and at least 1 mm in width. There shall be no barbs or other sharp points or features.
5.11.2 Test method Testing shall be by measurement and tactile assessment. 5.12 Shearing and crushing points 5.12.1 Requirements Floating articles not specifically excluding the use by children shall meet the requirements regarding parts moving against each other as specified in EN 71-1:2005, 4.10.1 d) and 4.10.2. Floating articles for adult use only shall have no accessible shearing and/or crushing points. Shearing and crushing points exist if the dis-tance between two rigid movable parts is less than 25 mm. If access to shearing and crushing points is prevented by covers, none of remaining openings shall allow a 5 mm cylindric probe to be inserted. Not applicable for oars and oar-locks. 5.12.2 Test method Testing shall be done by measurement and panel assessment. 5.13 Strength of the hull and test conditions 5.13.1 Requirements If applicable, the device shall remain airtight after each of the tests below (see 5.13.2 to 5.13.5). SIST EN 15649-1:2010

Key 1 Chamber 1 2 Chamber 2 3 Design working pressure X time, min Y pressure Figure 7 — Cyclic pressure test for buoyancy chambers (unsupported materials) Test durations for the inflation cycle shall be as follows:  time to inflate to 1,1 working pressure: 2,0 min;  maintain at 1,1 working pressure: 0,5 min;  time to deflate to zero pressure: 0,5 min;  maintain at zero pressure: 0,5 min. Adjoining chambers shall not be tested simultaneously. SIST EN 15649-1:2010

Support or insulate the device from the floor and do not expose it to any air currant and direct sunlight. Inflate the device (all air chambers) for 30 min to a pressure that is 20 % in excess of the manufacturer’s design working pressure if indicated in order to pre-stretch the device. Then reset the pressures to the design working pressure for a further period of 30 min in order to stabilize conditions. Reset the pressures to the design work-ing pressure and record the ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Following a test period of 24 h, the pressure drop shall not be greater than 20 % in any air chamber. Record the final ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. The temperature difference between the start of the test and the end of the test shall not exceed ± 3 °C. The atmospheric pressure difference between the start of the test and the test readings shall not exceed ± 1 %. For each rise or fall in ambient temperature of 1 °C, an allowance of 0,004 bar may be respectively subtracted from, or added to, the recorded device pressure. 5.14 Buckles and other fixings 5.14.1 Requirements If buckles or other detachable fastening devices are used as parts of the entire device in order to attach or connect functional parts or components, they shall require at least two simultaneous actions for their release or opening in order to prevent unintended opening. Where one of the two sequences of buckle opening relies on pressure, it shall be necessary to apply a force of at least 50 N on this release mechanism. SIST EN 15649-1:2010
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