IEC 61097-2:2021

IEC 61097-2 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) –
Part 2: Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB – Emergency position indicating radio beacon
operating on 406 MHz – Operational and performance requirements, methods of
testing and required test results
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IEC 61097-2 ®
Edition 4.0 2021-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) –

Part 2: Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB – Emergency position indicating radio beacon

operating on 406 MHz – Operational and performance requirements, methods of

testing and required test results

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 47.020.70 ISBN 978-2-8322-9925-8

– 2 – IEC 61097-2:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 11
3.1 Terms and definitions . 11
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 11
4 Performance requirements. 11
4.1 Compliance . 11
4.2 General . 12
4.3 Operational . 14
4.3.1 Prevention of inadvertent activation . 14
4.3.2 Immersion, buoyancy and drop into water . 14
4.3.3 Activation . 14
4.3.4 Self-test . 14
4.3.5 Colour and retro-reflecting material. 16
4.3.6 Lanyard . 16
4.3.7 Exposure to the marine environment . 17
4.3.8 Ergonomics . 17
4.3.9 Indication of insufficient battery energy . 18
4.4 Control and indicator functions . 18
4.4.1 Control functions . 18
4.4.2 Indicator functions . 18
4.5 Float-free arrangements . 19
4.5.1 General . 19
4.5.2 External power or data connection . 19
4.5.3 Ability to check the automatic release . 19
4.5.4 Manual release . 20
4.6 Environment for EPIRB . 20
4.6.1 General . 20
4.6.2 Temperature and icing . 20
4.6.3 Wind speed . 20
4.6.4 Stowage . 20
4.6.5 Shock, vibration and other environmental conditions. 20
4.7 Environment for float-free arrangement . 20
4.8 Interference – Electromagnetic compatibility . 21
4.9 Maintenance . 21
4.10 Safety precautions . 21
4.11 Equipment manuals . 22
4.12 Labelling . 23
4.12.1 Equipment labelling . 23
4.12.2 Float-free arrangement labelling . 24
4.12.3 Battery labelling . 24
4.13 Installation . 24
5 Technical characteristics . 24
5.1 Transmitted frequency . 24
5.2 Signal and message format . 24
5.3 Distress message memory . 25

5.4 Beacon identification code . 25
5.5 121,5 MHz homing signal . 25
5.6 AIS locating signal . 26
5.7 GNSS receiver and position reporting . 27
5.8 RLS . 27
5.8.1 RLS capability . 27
5.8.2 RLS self-test . 27
5.9 Power source . 28
5.9.1 General . 28
5.9.2 Battery life and expiry date . 28
5.9.3 Expiry date indication . 28
5.9.4 Reverse polarity protection . 28
5.10 Antenna characteristics . 29
6 Methods of testing and required test results . 29
6.1 General . 29
6.1.1 Purpose . 29
6.1.2 Type approval of EPIRBs operating in the Cospas-Sarsat system . 29
6.1.3 Power supply . 30
6.1.4 Warm-up period . 30
6.1.5 Instructions . 30
6.1.6 Additional facilities . 30
6.1.7 Audible and visual indications . 30
6.1.8 Preparation of EPIRB for type-approval testing . 30
6.1.9 Test conditions . 30
6.1.10 Test sequence . 31
6.1.11 Performance check . 31
6.1.12 Performance test . 31
6.2 General tests . 32
6.2.1 EPIRB . 32
6.2.2 Float-free arrangements . 32
6.3 Operational tests . 33
6.3.1 Prevention of inadvertent activation . 33
6.3.2 Immersion, buoyancy and drop into water . 33
6.3.3 Activation . 34
6.3.4 Self-test . 36
6.3.5 Exterior, colour and retro-reflecting material . 37
6.3.6 Lanyard . 37
6.3.7 Exposure to marine environment . 37
6.3.8 Ergonomics . 38
6.3.9 Indication of insufficient battery energy . 38
6.4 Control and indicator functions . 38
6.5 Float-free arrangements . 39
6.5.1 Release . 39
6.5.2 Test to prevent release when sea water washes over the unit . 39
6.5.3 Construction materials . 39
6.5.4 External power or data connection . 39
6.5.5 Ability to check the automatic release . 39
6.5.6 Manual release .
...