46 C.F.R. § 160.048-4

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 160.048-4 - Construction and workmanship

(a)General. This specification covers buoyant cushions of the box type filled with kapok or fibrous glass contained in heat-sealed vinyl film pad covers which are inserted in an outer cover fitted with grab straps. The primary purpose of such cushions is to provide buoyancy to aid a person in keeping afloat in the water. No hooks, snaps, or other means shall be included which might facilitate fastening the cushion to a boat. Buoyant cushions shall be of such size and volume as to provide not less than 20 pounds buoyancy when tested in the manner described in § 160.048-5(e) , but no cushion providing less than 225 square inches of top surface area or measuring less than 2 inches or more than 3 inches in thickness will be acceptable.

(b)Cover. One piece of material each for the top and bottom shall be stitched together to form the cover except that piecing of the cover material will be allowed provided it is for decorative purposes only. Gusset or boxing materials shall be of not more than two pieces. If more than one piece of material is used for the top, bottom, boxing or gusset, they shall be attached by a double row of stitching of the type shown in Federal Standard No. 751, for seam types SSw-2 or LS(b)-2. The top and bottom may be of any of the materials permitted for the cover, but the boxing or gusset shall be a cotton fabric as specified by § 160.048-3(c)(1) or other equivalent material of a porous nature. Nonporous materials will not be permitted for the boxing or gusset, but coated upholstery cloth specified by § 160.048-3(d)(2) , perforated to permit adequate draining and drying will be acceptable.

(c)Buoyant material. Buoyant cushions shall be filled with the minimum amounts of kapok or fibrous glass determined as follows:

(1) Rectangular buoyant cushions 2 inches thick shall be filled with the amounts of kapok or fibrous glass indicated for the various widths and lengths of such cushions by Table 160.048-4(c)(1)(i) or 160.048-4(c)(1)(ii), as applicable. Trapezoidal buoyant cushions 2 inches thick shall be filled with the amounts of kapok or fibrous glass indicated for the various widths and lengths of rectangular buoyant cushions by Table 160.048-4(c)(1)(i) or 160.048-4(c)(1)(ii) as applicable, on the basis that the length of a trapezoidal cushion shall be considered as its average length in each case.

Table 160.048-4(c)(1)(i)-Weight of Kapok (in Ounces) for Filling Rectangular Buoyant Cushions 2 Inches Thick

Length (inches)	Width (inches)
Length (inches)	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	Over 24
15				20
16				21	23
17			21	23	24	26
18		21	22	24	26	27	29
19	20	22	24	25	27	29	30	32
20	21	23	25	27	28	30	32	34	36
21	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	35	37	39
22	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	47
24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	41	43	45	47	49	51
25	27	29	31	33	36	38	40	42	44	47	49	51	53	(¹)
26	28	30	32	35	37	39	42	44	46	49	51	53	55	(¹)
27	29	31	34	36	38	41	43	46	48	50	53	55	58	(¹)
28	30	32	35	37	40	42	44	47	50	52	55	57	60	(¹)
29	31	34	36	39	41	44	46	49	52	54	57	59	62	(¹)
30	32	35	37	40	43	45	48	51	53	56	59	61	64	(¹)
31	33	36	39	41	44	47	50	52	55	58	61	63	66	(¹)
32	34	37	40	43	46	48	51	54	57	60	62	65	68	(¹)
33	35	38	41	44	47	50	53	56	59	62	64	67	70	(¹)
34	36	39	42	45	48	51	54	57	60	63	66	69	73	(¹)
35	37	40	44	47	50	53	56	59	62	65	68	72	75	(¹)
36	38	42	45	48	51	54	58	61	64	67	70	74	77	(¹)
Over 36	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)

¹ Determine amount of kapok from formula (1) contained in § 160.048-4(c)(2) .

Table 160.048-4(c)(1)(ii)-Weight of Fibrous Glass (in Ounces) for Filling Rectangular Buoyant Cushion 2 Inches Thick

Length (inches)	Width (inches)
Length (inches)	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	Over 24
15				36
16				38	41
17			38	41	44	46
18		37	40	43	46	49	52
19	36	40	43	46	49	52	55	58
20	38	42	45	48	51	54	58	61	64
21	40	44	47	50	54	57	60	64	67	71
22	42	46	49	53	56	60	63	67	70	74	77
23	44	48	52	55	59	63	66	70	74	77	81	85
24	46	50	54	58	61	65	69	73	77	81	84	88	92
25	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	(¹)
26	50	54	58	62	67	71	75	79	83	87	92	96	100	(¹)
27	52	56	60	65	69	73	78	82	86	91	95	99	104	(¹)
28	54	58	63	67	72	76	81	85	90	94	99	103	108	(¹)
29	56	60	65	70	74	79	84	88	93	97	102	107	111	(¹)
30	58	62	67	72	77	82	86	91	96	101	106	110	115	(¹)
31	60	64	69	74	79	84	89	94	99	104	109	114	119	(¹)
32	61	67	72	77	82	87	92	97	103	108	113	118	123	(¹)
33	63	69	74	79	84	90	95	100	106	111	116	121	127	(¹)
34	65	71	76	82	87	92	98	103	109	114	120	125	131	(¹)
35	67	73	78	84	90	95	101	106	112	118	123	129	134	(¹)
36	69	75	81	86	92	98	104	109	115	121	127	132	138	(¹)
Over 36	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)	(¹)

¹ Determine amount of fibrous glass from formula (2) contained in § 160.048-4(c)(2) .

(2) All buoyant cushions more than 2 inches thick, and all buoyant cushions 2 inches thick which are of shapes different from those covered by paragraph (c)(1) of this section, shall be filled with kapok or fibrous glass as determined in the following formulas:

Amount of kapok (ounces) = A * t ÷ 22.5 (1)

Amount of fibrous glass (ounces) = A * t ÷ 12.5 (2)

Where:

A = Top surface area of cushion in square inches as determined from measurements taken along finished edges.

t = Thickness of boxing or gusset of finished cushion in inches.

(d)Pad covers for buoyant material. Before being inserted in the outer cover the buoyant material shall be placed in waterproof vinyl film pad covers which shall be heat-sealed tight. The heat-sealed pad seams shall show an adhesion of not less than 8 pounds when one inch strips cut across and perpendicular to the seams are pulled apart at a rate of separation of the clamping jaws of the test machine of 12 inches per minute. Each cushion shall contain not less than four pads and all pads in a cushion shall contain approximately equal portions of the total amount of buoyant material in the cushion. The buoyant material may be inserted directly into the vinyl film pad covers, or may first be packed in bags made of print cloth or other suitable material and then inserted into the vinyl film pad covers. The pads shall be of such size as to adequately fill the outer cover, and prior to sealing, the pads shall be evacuated of air sufficiently that when sat on the pads will not "balloon" excessively because of the pressure in the pad covers. For 15" * 15" * 2" cushions the four vinyl film pad covers shall each be cut approximately 12" wide * 12" long or approximately 8" wide * 18" long shall have a sealed area of approximately 125 square inches; shall contain not less than 5 ounces of kapok or 9 ounces of fibrous glass each; and the volume displacement of the individual heat-sealed pad inserts shall be 5¹/₂ pounds each, plus or minus ¹/₂ pound, when tested in accordance with the method set forth in § 160.048-5(e)(1) , except that the pad covers shall not be slit open, and the period of submergence shall be only long enough to determine the displacement of the pads.

(e)Grab straps. Grab straps shall be attached as shown on Dwg. No. 160.048-1 and shall finish 20 inches long and 1 inch wide at opposite ends. The grab straps, if formed from cover material shall be folded and stitched together so as to produce a double thickness with raw edges turned under. Other means will be given special consideration.

(f)Seams and stitching. Seams shall be constructed with not less than a ³/₈ inch border between the seam and the edge of the cover materials. All stitching shall be a lock stitch, 7 to 9 stitches per inch, except as follows: Chain stitching 6 to 8 stitches per inch, with 20/4 thread on top and 40/3 thread on the bottom, will be acceptable in constructing straps.

(g)Workmanship. All cushions shall be of first class workmanship and shall be free from defects materially affecting their appearance or serviceability. Cushions classified as "seconds" or "irregular" will not be acceptable under this specification.

46 C.F.R. §160.048-4

CGFR 65-37, 30 FR 11583, Sept. 10, 1965