oSIST prEN 4886:2022

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 4886:2022
01-oktober-2022
Aeronavtika - Reševalni splav za rotoplane - Zahteve, preskušanje in označevanje
Aerospace series - Rotorcraft life raft - Requirements, testing and marking
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Drehflüglerrettungsinsel - Anforderungen, Prüfung und
Kennzeichnung
Série aérospatiale - Radeaux de sauvetage de giravion - Exigences, essais et marquage
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 4886
ICS:
13.200 Preprečevanje nesreč in Accident and disaster control
katastrof
49.020 Letala in vesoljska vozila na Aircraft and space vehicles in
splošno general
oSIST prEN 4886:2022 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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oSIST prEN 4886:2022

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oSIST prEN 4886:2022


DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 4886
NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM

August 2022
ICS 13.200; 49.020
English Version

Aerospace series - Rotorcraft life raft - Requirements,
testing and marking
Série aérospatiale - Radeaux de sauvetage de giravion - Luft- und Raumfahrt - Drehflüglerrettungsinsel -
Exigences, essais et marquage Anforderungen, Prüfung und Kennzeichnung
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee ASD-
STAN.

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
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

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


EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 4886:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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Contents Page
European foreword . 5
Introduction . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Description . 12
4.1 Design features . 12
4.2 Performance levels . 13
4.2.1 Category A . 13
4.2.2 Category B . 13
5 Requirements . 13
5.1 Design . 13
5.1.1 Occupancy ratings . 13
5.1.2 Buoyancy . 14
5.1.3 Canopy . 14
5.1.4 Floor . 14
5.1.5 Boarding facility . 14
5.1.6 Seaworthiness . 15
5.2 Materials and components . 15
5.2.1 General. 15
5.2.2 Resistance to temperature . 15
5.2.3 Resistance to fluids . 15
5.2.4 Resistance to fuel . 15
5.2.5 Tensile and tear strength . 16
5.2.6 Adhesion . 16
5.2.7 Seam strength . 16
5.2.8 Chafing/abrasion . 17
5.2.9 Gas permeability . 17
5.2.10 Resistance to puncture . 17
5.2.11 Resistance to fungal growth . 17
5.2.12 Flammability . 17
5.2.13 Resistance to salt spray . 17
5.2.14 Resistance to ultraviolet radiation . 18
5.3 Conspicuity . 18
5.3.1 Colour . 18
5.3.2 Retroreflective material . 19
5.4 Functional performance . 21
5.4.1 Resistance to temperature . 21
5.4.2 Pressure retention . 21
5.4.3 Proof pressure . 21
5.4.4 Inflation systems . 22
5.4.5 Overpressure . 23
5.4.6 Deployment . 23
5.4.7 Freeboard . 24
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5.4.8 Boarding facility . 24
5.4.9 Canopy . 25
5.4.10 Drop . 25
5.4.11 Packed buoyancy . 25
5.5 Attached equipment . 25
5.5.1 General . 25
5.5.2 Life lines and grab lines . 25
5.5.3 Retaining lines . 26
5.5.4 Sea anchor . 27
5.5.5 Rescue line and quoit . 27
5.5.6 Stabilizing system . 27
5.5.7 Survivor locator lights . 28
5.5.8 Knife/belt cutter . 29
5.5.9 Survival ELT . 30
5.5.10 Survival equipment kit . 30
5.6 Ergonomic performance . 30
5.7 Seaworthiness . 32
5.8 Valise or container . 32
5.8.1 Category A life rafts . 32
5.8.2 Category B life rafts . 32
6 Testing . 33
6.1 Visual inspection . 33
6.2 Nominal values and tolerances . 33
6.3 Materials and components . 33
6.3.1 Fluids . 33
6.3.2 Fuel . 33
6.3.3 Resistance to puncture . 34
6.3.4 Resistance to fungal growth . 35
6.3.5 Relief valve . 35
6.3.6 Strength of lacing cord . 35
6.4 Functional performance . 35
6.4.1 General . 35
6.4.2 Retroreflective material . 35
6.4.3 Resistance to temperature . 36
6.4.4 Proof and ultimate pressure . 38
6.4.5 Inflation system and deployment . 38
6.4.6 Overpressure. 39
6.4.7 Canopy inflation . 39
6.4.8 Deployment. 39
6.4.9 Freeboard . 40
6.4.10 Strength of boarding facility . 40
6.4.11 Drop . 40
6.4.12 Packed buoyancy . 40
6.5 Attached equipment . 40
6.5.1 Strength of attachment points . 40
6.5.2 Life lines and grab lines . 41
6.5.3 Retaining line . 41
6.5.4 Sea anchor . 41
6.5.5 Rescue line and quoit . 41
6.5.6 Stabilizing system . 41
6.5.7 Knife/belt cutter . 42
6.5.8 Lights . 42
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6.6 Ergonomic performance . 43
6.6.1 General. 43
6.6.2 Test subjects . 43
6.6.3 Category A life raft deployment . 44
6.6.4 Category B life raft deployment . 44
6.6.5 Boarding . 44
6.6.6 Use of attached equipment . 45
6.6.7 Canopy use . 46
6.6.8 Propulsion . 46
6.6.9 Jump resistance . 46
6.6.10 Carbon dioxide build-up . 46
6.7 Seaworthiness . 46
6.8 Reporting . 47
7 Marking . 47
8 Information supplied by the manufacturer . 48
Annex A (normative) Testing for resistance to fungal growth . 50
A.1 Apparatus and preparation . 50
A.2 Viability of inoculum control . 51
A.3 Control items . 51
A.4 Inoculation of test control . 51
A.5 Incubation. 52
A.6 Inspection . 52
A.7 Analysis of results . 52
Annex B (informative) Instruction card and survival manual . 53
B.1 Instruction card . 53
B.1.1 General. 53
B.1.2 Immediate actions . 53
B.1.3 Instructions for longer exposures . 53
B.1.4 Instructions on arrival of rescue services . 54
B.2 Survival manual . 54
Bibliography . 56

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European foreword
This document (prEN 4886:2022) has been prepared by the Aerospace and Defence Industries
Association of Europe — Standardization (ASD-STAN).
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this document has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

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Introduction
This document prescribes the minimum standards of design and performance for rotorcraft life rafts,
carried on rotorcraft operating in a hostile sea area or over very rough sea conditions. Life rafts are
designed to provide protection following ditching or water impact, after escape from the rotorcraft and
while awaiting rescue.
The document aims to ensure that the equipment user is able to carry out the necessary emergency
procedures whilst being provided with an appropriate level of protection under foreseeable conditions
of use. It aims to ensure that the equipment has no detrimental effect on the health and safety of the
user or on the performance of other equipment.
This document is applicable to all rotorcraft. Rotorcraft include helicopters, tilt rotor/wing and
gyroplanes. For the purpose of this document the term helicopter is used generically hereinafter.

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1 Scope
This document specifies minimum requirements for life rafts carried on helicopters operating in a
hostile sea area or over very rough sea conditions. Life rafts covered by this document are for use by
helicopter crew members and passengers in the event of a ditching or water impact.
They are intended either for integration into the helicopter, or stowed in the cabin before being
manhandled out of the helicopter. This document does not cover air-drop life rafts.
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.
EN 4856, Rotorcraft — Emergency Breathing Systems (EBS) — Requirements, testing and marking
1
EN 4862:—, Rotorcraft — Rotorcraft constant wear lifejackets — Requirements, testing and marking
2
EN 4863:—, Aerospace series — Rotorcraft immersion suits — Requirements, testing and marking
EN ISO 811, Textiles — Determination of resistance to water penetration — Hydrostatic pressure test (ISO
811)
EN ISO 9227, Corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres — Salt spray tests (ISO 9227)
ISO 105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour
ISO 105-E02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part E02: Colour fastness to sea water
ISO 105-X12, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part X12: Colour fastness to rubbing
AATCC Test Method 183:2014, Test Method for Transmittance or Blocking of Erythemally Weighted
Ultraviolet Radiation through Fabrics
ASTM D1434-82, Standard test method for determining gas permeability characteristics of plastic film
and sheeting
ASTM D1655, Standard specification for aviation turbine fuels
ASTM D4060, Standard test method for abrasion resistance of organic coatings by the Taber Abraser
CIE publication No. 15, Colourimetry
DEF STAN 91-91, Turbine fuel, aviation kerosene type, JET A-1; NATO Code: F-35; JSD: AVTUR
EASA, Certification Specifications for Large Aeroplanes, CS-25, Book 1 — Appendix F
EUROCAE, ED-14G, Environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment; Section 11,
Fluids susceptibility
FTMS (Federal Standard) 191A, Textile test methods

1
Under preparation. Current stage is: ASD-STAN prEN 4862:2022.
2
Under preparation. Current stage is: ASD-STAN prEN 4863:2022.
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IATA Guidance material (Kerosene Type), NATO Code F-35
IMO, Resolution A.658(16), Use and fitting of retro-reflective materials on life-saving appliances
MIL-STD-3009, Lighting, aircraft, night vision imaging system (NVIS) compatible
SAE, ARP5825, Design requirements and test procedures for dual mode exterior lights
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/ui
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org
3.1
life raft
flexible water craft which, when inflated, floats stably in the water and provides protection to the user
in the event of a ditching or water impact
3.2
reversible life raft
life raft that, when inflated, is fully functional when either-side-up
3.3
rotorcraft
heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its
...