ISO 15738:2019

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15738
Second edition
2019-07
Ships and marine technology —
Maritime safety — Gas inflation
systems for inflatable life-saving
appliances
Navires et technologie maritime — Sécurité maritime — Systèmes de
gonflage au gaz pour dispositifs de sauvetage gonflables
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
© ISO 2019
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ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Gas cylinder — Salt water exposure test . 2
5 Inflation gas . 2
5.1 Type and quantity . 2
5.2 Dryness . 2
6 Gas cylinder valve and operating head. 2
6.1 General . 2
6.2 Gas cylinder valve . 2
6.2.1 General. 2
6.2.2 Testing . 3
6.3 Gas cylinder operating head . 5
6.3.1 General. 5
6.3.2 Testing . 5
7 High-pressure hose assembly . 6
7.1 General . 6
7.2 Testing . 7
7.2.1 Pressure test . 7
7.2.2 Cold pressure test . 7
7.2.3 Salt water exposure test . 7
7.2.4 Hydraulic pressure test . 7
7.2.5 Cold bend test . 7
7.2.6 Joint-securing test . 8
7.2.7 Flow test . 8
8 Valves — Pressure-relief/transfer, inflate/deflate, non-return . 8
8.1 Pressure-relief/transfer valve . 8
8.1.1 Torque test . 8
8.1.2 Valve thread strength test . 8
8.1.3 Plug test . 8
8.1.4 Salt water exposure test . 8
8.1.5 Pressure test . 9
8.1.6 Drop test . 9
8.1.7 Valve securing test (where applicable). 9
8.1.8 Pulsating load test . 9
8.1.9 Overpressure test . 9
8.1.10 Flow test . 9
8.2 Inflate/deflate valve.10
8.2.1 Torque test .10
8.2.2 Valve thread strength test .10
8.2.3 Plug test .10
8.2.4 Salt water exposure test .10
8.2.5 Leak test .10
8.2.6 Valve-securing test (Where applicable) .10
8.2.7 Drop test .10
8.2.8 Flow test .10
8.3 Non-return valve .11
8.3.1 Torque test .11
8.3.2 Valve thread strength test .11
8.3.3 Salt water exposure test .11
8.3.4 Valve pull test .11
8.3.5 Leak test .11
8.3.6 Valve-securing test (Where applicable) .11
8.3.7 Drop test .11
9 Final determination of suitability of a system .11
10 Installation .12
Bibliography .13
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
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on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
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.org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 8, Ships and marine technology,
Subcommittee SC 1, Maritime safety.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 15738:2002), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— addition of the salt water exposure test for cylinders;
— modifications of the exposure period of the salt water exposure test according to ISO 9227:2017;
— restructuring of clauses of gas cylinder valves and operating heads;
— changes from the absolute values to the relative values in the test pressure of the pressure tests;
— modifications of the test pull loads of operating heads considering the friction in containers of
liferafts; and
— additions of the torque test, the valve thread strength test, the plug test, and the valve pull test for
necessary valves
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/members .html.
Introduction
A gas inflation system for inflatable life-saving appliances is a vital system to inflate life-saving
appliances appropriately.
This document addresses the performance and testing of the gas inflation systems for inflatable life-
saving appliances including those specified in the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS 74), as
amended, and the IMO International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code), adopted by IMO Resolution
MSC.48(66), as amended. In this sense, it supplements the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
requirements for inflatable lifesaving appliances.
vi © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15738:2019(E)
Ships and marine technology — Maritime safety — Gas
inflation systems for inflatable life-saving appliances
1 Scope
This document specifies performance and testing requirements for gas inflation systems for inflatable
life-saving appliances.
NOTE It is suitable for inflatable life-saving appliances complying with the requirements of the 1974 Safety
of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS 74), as amended, and the IMO International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA
Code) as amended, adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.48(66).
This document applies to gas inflation systems which consist of an inflation gas, a gas cylinder valve, a
gas cylinder operating head, high-pressure hoses, and pressure-relief/transfer, inflate/deflate and non-
return valves. This document addresses only systems in which compressed inflation gas in cylinders is
used as the inflation medium.
National requirements for qualification, use, and testing of gas cylinders vary widely. Such requirements
for gas cylinders are not addressed in this document, but it is presupposed that gas cylinders meet
the requirements of the applicable regulatory bodies. The systems addressed in this document are of
the type generally used in life-saving appliances, such as survival craft, marine evacuation systems,
and means of rescue. Systems used in personal life-saving appliances, such as inflatable lifejackets, are
addressed in ISO 12402-7.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9227:2017, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https: //www .iso .org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http: //www .electropedia .org/
3.1
approved gas cylinder
gas cylinder which has been approved by a competent authority as complying with an appropriate
recognized national or international standard
3.2
gas cylinder valve
closure on a gas cylinder designed to control the transfer of the inflation gas from the cylinder to the
inflatable compartments
3.3
siphon tube
device or means to effect the transfer of the liquid phase from the gas cylinder before the gas phase
4 Gas cylinder — Salt water exposure test
Two gas cylinders shall have their ends blanked off and then shall be subjected to a corrosion test in
accordance with the neutral salt spray test in ISO 9227:2017, for a period of 168 h at 35 °C ± 2 °C. These
cylinders shall then be hydraulically proof tested to their test pressure. No permanent distortion and
no leakage are allowed after the test.
5 Inflation gas
5.1 Type and quantity
A non-toxic gas, such as carbon dioxide, shall be used for inflation. The type and quantity shall provide
a sufficient rate of inflation to allow the complete system to meet the specified inflation performance
requirements for the equipment in which it is installed.
5.2 Dryness
If the gas used is carbon dioxide, the moisture content of the gas used shall be no more than 150 parts
of water per 1 million parts of gas by mass.
6 Gas cylinder valve and operating head
6.1 General
If a gas cylinder valve is originally integrated with an operating head, the gas cylinder valve shall meet
the requirements of 6.2 and 6.3.
6.2 Gas cylinder valve
6.2.1 General
6.2.1.1 The gas cylinder valve shall be fitted with a safety relief device that vents gas prior to damage
to the gas cylinder due to over-pressurization.
6.2.1.2 Means shall be provided to protect the threads on the gas cylinder valve for attachment of the
high-pressure hoses and an operating head from damage during storage and transit. If the gas cylinder
valve is originally integrated with the operating head, the means may be provided only for the high-
pressure hoses.
6.2.1.3 A gas cylinder valve constructed from aluminum alloy shall be anodized and may only be used
with an aluminum cylinder, unless it is galvanically isolated from the cylinder.
6.2.1.4 Each combination of a gas cylinder valve and a gas cylinder that differ in materials, or any
aluminum alloy cylinder valve used with an aluminum gas cylinder, shall be subjected to the salt water
exposure test as described in 6.2.2.9.
6.2.1.5 If the gas cylinder valve is used with an inflation gas producing a liquid phase within the
certified value of pressure and temperature, the design of the gas cylinder valve shall prevent the transfer
of the gas phase until the liquid phase is transferred. A siphon tube or similar arrangements may be used,
in which it shall be ensured that, in all operational positions of the cylinder, the siphon tube's open end
remains submerged in the liquid phase.
2 © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

6.2.2 Testing
6.2.2.1 Safety relief test
It shall be demonstrated that the safety relief device on the gas cylinders valve, when fitted to an
approved gas cylinder in accordance with the instructions of the cylinder valve manufacturer, operates
at a pressure not greater than the highest cylinder test pressure for which it is rated.
6.2.2.2 Proof-load test
The bodies of six gas cylinder valves shall be subjected to an internal hydraulic pressure 1,5 times the
test pressure for which the valve is rated. The pressure shall be held for a period of 2 min.
On completion of the test, there shall not be any signs of leakage or damage.
6.2.2.3 Temperature cycling test
Two gas cylinder valves fitted to approved gas cylinders, with a gas capacity of not less than 5 l, shall
be charged with 3,17 kg of CO /N gas in the ratio 96 %/4 % by mass, weighed and then alternately
2 2
subjected to surrounding temperatures of −30 °C and +65 °C. These alternating exposures need not
follow immediately after each other and the following procedure is acceptable.
a) Complete an 8 h half-cycle exposure at +65 °C in one day.
b) Remove the specimens from the hot chamber and leave them exposed to ordinary room temperature
until the following day.
c) Complete an 8 h half-cycle exposure at −30 °C the next day.
d) Remove the specimens from the cold chamber and leave them exposed to ordinary room
temperature until the following day.
e) Repeat the above procedure a further nine times.
f) On completion of the test, the gas cylinders shall be subjected to the leak test as per clause 6.2.2.6.
6.2.2.4 Cold inflation test
Gas cylinder valves fitted to tw
...