Reclassification Working Group

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Reclassification Working Group

• PFDMA 6/8/2004

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Participants

• Ruth Wood, BoatU.S., Chair
• Sam Wehr, USCG
• Mike Cunningham, UL
• Dan Ryan, UL
• Ralph Steger, Stearns
• Paul Donheffner, NASBLA
• Bob Askew, Mustang Survival
• Chuck Hawley, West Marine

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Vision Statement

• A classification system that enhances drowning
  prevention.

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A New PFD Standards
Environment ?
We are at a convergence of issues that might
present a unique opportunity to make us closer
and more relevant to our constituents.
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The Converging Issues are
A stronger connection to the User perspective
through the STP process. (Ref. previous panel)
Risk based standards and approval maturation.
New perspective for product classification and
marking.
Identification of potential for standards
consolidation. (Inc. CFR, UL, SOLAS, CEN, ISO,
Mil Specs etc.)
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How "deep" should we go?

• Change labels leave everything else the same?
• Make current Types more user-identifiable?
• Throw out all current designations and start over
  based on activity or CEN/ISO?

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Working Group Recommendations

• Keep the terminology of Types I, II, and III
• Modify definition of Type I, II, and III within
  UL STP process
• Reclassify Type Vs to Type I, II, and III with
  restrictions thus creating Types IR, IIR, IIIR

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Working Group Recommendations

• Move towards activity-oriented designs, labels
  and Think Safe pamphlets, along with other
  collateral materials
• Add Intended Environment to label
• Create groupings of devices (and labels) by
  activity and environment

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Working Group Recommendations

• Define minimum characteristics or a risk-based
  system for balancing characteristics within each
  application. This assumes minimum threshold level
  for characteristics like buoyancy mouth
  immersions dynamic strength rating freeboard

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Working Group Recommendations

• CEN/ISO harmonization desirable as a goal, but is
  subservient due to more pressing needs for label
  clarity and consistency with current Federal and
  State law

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Question 1 Do you understand and support the
findings of the working group?

• Work within current Type designations to reduce
  time, cost, and education required to implement
  changes
• Application and environment based categorization
• Use of risk-based analysis to trade off
  performance attributes

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Question 2 How do we obtain the resources
necessary to complete the task?

• Possible paths
• Working Group (self-funded) model
• Coast Guard funds UL to create new standards
• Vendor-supported research
• Penny per PFD fund
• PFDMA member donations
• Pitch NBSAC to get Coast Guard to fund

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Question 3 What have we missed?

• More classifications?
• Does this solve the problems you perceive with
  the current classification system?
• Will it make it easier for consumer to select the
  right life jacket?