tion striking material which shall, by a pull of the tear strip, be entirely exposed for striking the friction igniter button. The igniter button shall be non-water soluble or be protected from moisture by a coating of some waterproof substance, and shall be raised or exposed in such manner as to provide positive ignition by the friction striker. The igniter button shall be firmly secured in or on the top of the flare composition; the arrangement shall be such that the ignition will be transmitted to the flare composition. The assembled flare, consisting of tear strip, cap, casing, and upper portion of the handle, shall be sealed and treated to protect the flare from deterioration by moisture. The protective waterproof coating shall be applied so none adheres to the friction striking surface. Special consideration will be given to alternate waterproofing of the signal by means of a water-resistant coating on the signal plus packaging in a sealed plastic waterproof bag satisfactory to the Commandant.

(d) Performance. Signals shall meet all the inspection and test requirements contained in § 160.021-4.

§ 160.021-4 Sampling, inspections, conditioning, and tests.

(a) Classification of tests. The methods of sampling, inspections, and tests conducted upon hand red flare distress signals shall be considered as falling within one of the following general classifications:

(1) Qualification (type or brand approval) tests;

h.

Tensile strength, complete failure... Ignites or burns dangerously. Nonuniform burning intensity.

100

50

50

1.

Chimneys so as to materially obscure the flame.

25

and handle so as to endanger burning the hand. Burning time less than 70 percent of specified time.

100

75

(b) Qualification (type or brand approval) tests. Pre-approval samples, selected in accordance with § 160.021-7 (c), shall be tested in accordance with the testing schedules indicated by subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph to determine qualification for type or brand approval. The cost of the tests shall be borne by the manufacturer.

(1) Operational tests. (1) Subject 18 specimens to water resistance conditioning, paragraph (d) of this section, following which subject them to tests as indicated by Table 160.021-4 (b) (1) (i).

m..

n.

Burning time at least 70 percent but less than 80 percent of specified time.

Burning time at least 80 percent but less than 90 percent of specified time.

Burning time at least 90 percent but less than 100 percent of specified time.

0....

p.

Average candlepower less than 70 percent of that required. Average candlepower at least 70 percent but less than 80 percent of that required.

100

76

Average candlepower at least 80 percent but less than 90 percent of that required.

(ii) No deviations from the requirements are permitted for these tests.

(c) Sampling, inspections, and tests of signals from production lots. The production of hand red flare distress signals produced under an official type or brand approval shall be checked for compliance with this specification in the manner set forth below.

(1) Lot size and sampling procedure. For purposes of sampling the production of hand red flare distress signals, a lot shall consist of not more than 3,000 signals. A new lot shall be started with any change or modification in raw materials or manufacturing methods. Lots shall be numbered serially by the manufacturer, and the lot number shall be plainly and indelibly marked on the label of each signal in the lot. A marine inspector.

shall select at random from each lot a sample consisting of 18 specimen signals for inspection, conditioning, and testing at the place of manufacture.

(2) Inspections (at the place of manufacture). The marine inspector shall be admitted to the place of manufacture and shall familiarize himself with the various operations involved in the manufacturing process and, from observation during manufacture, satisfy himself that hand red flare distress signals are being made in general accordance with this subpart and of materials and parts conforming strictly with the specifications and drawings submitted by the manufacturer and approved by the Commandant. Specimens or samplings of

materials entering into construction may be taken at random, either in the raw material state or during manufacture, by the marine inspector and tests made for compliance with the applicable requirements. The test specimens comprising the sample, selected in accordance with subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, shall be examined by the marine inspector for surface defects.

(3) Production check tests (at the place of manufacture). The manufacturer shall provide a suitable place and the necessary apparatus for the use of the marine inspector in conducting such production check tests as are done at the place of manufacture. Samples from production lots, selected in accordance with subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, shall be tested at the place of manufacture in accordance with the testing schedule provided by paragraph (b) (1) of this section. Any unusual discrepancies shall be considered cause for obtaining an additional sample consisting of 24 specimen signals for tests at a Government laboratory as provided in subparagraph (4) of this paragraph.

(4) Production check tests (at a Government laboratory). Tests at a Government laboratory shall be made on not less than one sample from each ten production lots of signals, or not less than once in each year, whichever occurs more frequently. Sampling and inspection shall be made at the place of manufacture as provided by subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph, except that the sample shall consist of 24 specimen signals and shall be in addition to the specimen signals which are tested at the place of manufacture. The sample shall be forwarded prepaid by the manufacturer to the Commandant. Tests at the Government laboratory shall be conducted in accordance with paragraphs (b) (1) and (2) of this section. Failure to meet the requirements shall be cause for discontinuing further production check tests at the place of manufacture until retests of new samples at a Government laboratory show correction of the deficiency found.

(d) Conditioning of test specimens water resistance. Immerse specimen horizontally with uppermost portion of the signal approximately 1 inch below the surface of the water for a period of

24 hours. The test specimen shall function properly after this conditioning. If the signal is protected by alternate waterproofing consisting of a water-resistant coating on the signal plus packaging in a sealed plastic waterproof bag, the 24-hour water immersion conditioning will be conducted while the signal is in the sealed plastic waterproof bag and will be followed by an additional immersion of the bare signal (i. e., after removal from the bag) 1 inch below the surface of the water for a period of 10 minutes.

(e) Ignition and burning characteristics. Test specimens shall ignite and burn properly when the directions on the signal are followed. Test specimens shall not ignite explosively in a manner that might be dangerous to the user or persons close by. Test specimens shall ignite and burn satisfactorily with uniform intensity. The plug separating the flare composition from the handle shall in no case allow flame or hot gases to pass through it or between it and the casing in such manner as might burn the hand while holding the signal by the handle.

(f) Burning time. The burning time of a specimen shall be obtained by stop watch measurements from the time positive flame is emitted until it ceases. Test specimens shall burn in air not less than 2 minutes.

(g) Under water burning. Ignite specimen and let it burn about 5 seconds in air. Submerge the burning signal in water in a vertical position with head down. Obtain under water burning time by stop watch measurements from time of submersion until positive flame emission ceases. The test specimen shall burn under water not less than 5 seconds when subjected to this test.

(h) Waterproofing of igniter button. Remove the cap from the test specimen. Place head of specimen without cap about one inch under the surface of water for approximately 5 minutes. Remove specimen from the water and wipe dry. The specimen shall ignite properly after this submersion.

(1) Bending strength. Place the specimen on supports six inches apart. Attach a weight of 80 pounds to a length of wire. Hang the weight from the supported signal by looping the wire around the signal approximately equidistant from the two points of support. Let the weight hang approximately 5 minutes. The test specimen shall not deflect more than 1⁄4 inch, nor shall the joint between

the casing and the handle fail, when subjected to this test.

(j) Tensile strength. Place the specimen in a chuck firmly holding it about 1⁄2 inch below the cap. Attach a weight of 80 pounds to a length of wire. Hang the weight from the supported signal by looping the wire through a hole bored perpendicular to and through the axis of the handle. Let the weight hang approximately 5 minutes. The test specimen shall not show noticeable distortion, nor shall the joint between the casing and handle fail, when subjected to this test.

(k) Candlepower. The candlepower of each specimen tested shall be measured by a visual photometer or equivalent photometric device, while the specimen is supported in a horizontal position and the photometer is at right angles to the axis of the specimen. Visual candlepower readings shall be observed and recorded at approximately 20 second intervals during the burning of the specimen. The minimum photometric distance shall be 10 feet. Recording photometers shall have a chart speed of at least 1 inch per minute. The candlepower of the specimen shall be computed as the arithmetical average of the readings recorded. The average luminous intensity of a test specimen shall be not less than 500 candlepower.

(1) Elevated temperature, humidity and storage. Place specimen in a thermostatically controlled even-temperature oven held at 90° C. with not less than 90 percent relative humidity for 72 hours. Remove specimens and store at room temperature (20° to 25° C.) with approximately 65 percent relative humidity for 10 days. If for any reason it is not possible to operate the oven continuously for the 72-hour period, it may be operated at the required temperature and humidity for 8 hours out of each 24 during the 72-hour conditioning period. (Total of 24 hours on and 48 hours off.) The signal shall not ignite or decompose during this conditioning. The signal shall ignite and operate satisfactorily following this conditioning.

(m) Spontaneous ignition. Place the specimen in a thermostatically controlled even-temperature oven held at 75° C. for 48 consecutive hours. Signals shall not ignite or undergo marked decomposition.

(n) Chromaticity. In order to determine that light from the specimen may be termed "vivid red" (ISCC-NBS

method of designating colors, RP1239), two identical test plates of white cardboard about 12" x 24" are used. Except for a negligible amount of stray daylight, the first test plate is illuminated by light from the specimen placed at a distance of about 5 feet. The second test plate is illuminated only by light from an incandescent lamp operated at a color temperature close to 2,848 K at a distance of about one foot. The first test plate is viewed directly, the second through combinations of Lovibond red, yellow, and blue glasses selected so as to approximate a chromaticity match. By separating the test plates by a wide unilluminated area (subtending at the observer about 45°), it is possible to make determinations of chromaticity in terms of the standard I. C. I. diagram (Mixture Diagram According to the 1931 International Commission on Illumination Standard Observer and Coordinate System) with an uncertainty in x or y not greater than 0.005, in spite of fluctuations in candlepower of the specimen by factors as high as 2 or 3. The light shall be vivid red, i. e., show values in terms of the I. C. I. Standard Observer and Coordinate System of not less than 0.61 for the x-coordinate and not more than 0.34 for the y-coordinate for any of the determinations made during the positive flame emitting period.

(0) Lot

acceptance or rejection. When the marine inspector has satisfied himself that the hand red flare distress signals in the lot are of a type officially approved in the name of the manufacturer and meet the requirements set forth in this subpart, each of the smallest packing cartons or boxes (usually containing one dozen signals) in which the signals are sealed prior to shipment, shall be plainly marked with the words: "Inspected and Passed, (date), (port), Inspector's initials, U. S. C. G." A lot shall be rejected when the average percentage of failure, as computed by the table shown in paragraph (b) (1) of this section, exceeds 15 percent. When notice is received by the marine inspector that specimen signals have failed to meet the requirements of the production check tests at a government laboratory, further production check tests at the place of manufacture shall be discontinued until retests of adjusted samples show correction of the deficiency found. Signals from rejected lots may, when permitted by the marine inspector, be reworked by the manufacturer to correct

the deficiency for which they were rejected and be resubmitted for official inspection. Signals from rejected lots may not, unless subsequently accepted, be sold or offered for sale under representation as being in compliance with this specification or as being approved for use on merchant vessels.

[CGFR 54-16, 19 F.R. 4985, Aug. 6, 1954, as amended by CGFR 58–31, 23 FR. 6884, Sept. 6, 1958]

§ 160.021-5 Labeling and marking.

(a) Labeling. Each hand red flare distress signal shall bear a label securely affixed thereto, showing in clear, indelible black lettering on a red background, the following wording and information: (Company brand or style designation)

HAND RED FLARE DISTRESS SIGNAL

500 Candle power-2 Minutes Burning Time

USE ONLY WHEN AIR CRAFT OR VESSEL IS SIGHTED DIRECTIONS Pull tape over top of cap. Remove cap and ignite flare by rubbing scratch surface on top of cap sharply across igniter button on head of signal. CAUTION Stand with back to wind and point away from body when igniting or flare is burning.

(Month and year manufactured) (Lot
No. ------)

Manufactured by (Name and address of manufacturer)

U. S. Coast Guard Approval No.

for Merchant Vessels.

(b) Other marking. There shall be die-stamped, in the side of the wooden handle in figures not less than 1 inch high, numbers indicating the month and year of manufacture, thus: "6-54" indicating June, 1954. In addition to any other marking placed on the smallest packing carton or box containing hand red flare distress signals, such cartons or boxes shall be plainly and permanently marked to show the date of manufacture and lot number.

§ 160.021-6 Container.

(a) General. Containers for stowage of hand red flare distress signals in lifeboats and life rafts on merchant vessels are not required to have specific approval or to be of special design, but they shall meet the following test for watertightness when closed, and shall be capable of being opened and reclosed hand-tight to meet the same watertightness test. The materials shall be copper, brass, bronze,

or equally corrosion-resistant to salt water and spray. The type container illustrated by Drawing Number 160.021-6 (a) is recommended for most purposes.

(b) Watertightness test for containers. Whenever question arises as to the watertightness of a container, the following test may be made to determine whether it is satisfactory in this respect. Open the container, remove the contents, insert colored blotting paper as a lining, re-close container as tightly as possible by hand (no wrenches or special tools permitted), submerge container with top about one foot below the surface of the water for two hours, remove container from water, wipe off excess moisture on outside, then open the container and examine the blotting paper and entire interior for evidence of moisture penetration. If any moisture or water is evidenced, the container is not satisfactory.

(c) Marking of container. Containers shall be embossed or bear a brass or equivalent corrosion-resistant nameplate, or otherwise be suitably and permanently marked, to plainly show in letters not less than 2-inch high the following wording: "HAND RED FLARE DISTRESS SIGNALS". No additional marking which might cause confusion as to the contents shall be permitted. The vessel's name ordinarily is painted or branded on equipment such as this container, and nothing in this subpart shall be construed as prohibiting same. § 160.021-7 Procedure for approval.

(a) General. Hand red flares distress signals for merchant vessels are approved only by the Commandant

(MMT), United States Coast Guard, Washington, D.C., 20226. Correspondence pertaining to the subject matter of this specification shall be addressed to the Commander of the Coast Guard District in which the factory is located.

(b) Manufacturer's plans and specifcations. In order to obtain approval, submit detailed plans and specifications including a complete bill of material, assembly drawing, and parts drawings descriptive of the arrangement and construction of the signal, to the Commander of the Coast Guard District in which the factory is located. Each drawing shall have an identifying drawing number, date, and an identification of the signal; and the general arrangement or assembly drawing shall include a list of all drawings applicable, together

with drawing numbers and alteration numbers. The alterations shall be noted with the date of alteration or new drawing numbers and dates shall be assigned. At the time of selection of the preapproval sample, the manufacturer shall furnish to the marine inspector 4 copies of all plans and specifications, corrected as may be required, for forwarding to the Commandant.

(c) Preapproval sample. After the first drawings and specifications have been examined and found to appear satisfactory, a marine inspector will be detailed to the factory to observe the production facilities and manufacturing methods and to select at random, from not less than 50 signals already manufactured, a sample of not less than 24 specimens which will be forwarded prepaid by the manufacturer to the Commandant for the necessary conditioning and tests in accordance with § 160.0214(b) to determine compliance with this subpart for qualification for type or brand approval for use on merchant vessels. Costs of these tests of the preapproval sample shall be borne by the manufacturer.

[CGFR 54-16, 19 F.R. 4935, Aug. 6, 1954, as amended by CGFR 62-17, 27 F.R. 9044, Sept. 11, 1962; CGFR 65-16, 30 F.R. 10898, Aug. 21, 1965]

Subpart 160.022—Signals, Distress, Floating Orange Smoke (5 Minutes), for Merchant Vessels

AUTHORITY NOTE: The provisions of this Subpart 160.022 interpret or apply R.S. 44178, as amended, 4426, as amended, 4488, as amended, 4491, as amended, secs. 1, 2, 49 Stat. 1544, 1545, as amended, sec. 3, 54 Stat. 847, as amended, sec. 3, 68 Stat. 675; 46 U.S.C. 391a, 404, 481, 489, 367, 1333, 50 U.S.C. 198; E.O. 11239; Treasury Department Orders 120, July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 6521; 167-14, Nov. 26, 1954, 19 F.R. 8026; 167-20, June 18, 1956, 21 FR. 4894; 167-88, Oct. 26, 1959, 24 FR. 8857.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Subpart 160.022 contained in CGFR 54-16, 19 F.R. 4938, Aug. 6, 1954, unless otherwise noted. § 160.022-1 Applicable specifications.

(a) Specifications. There are no other specifications applicable to this subpart.

(b) Copies on file. Copies of the approved plans and certificate of approval shall be kept on file by the manufacturer. § 160.022-2 Type.

(a) Floating orange smoke distress signals specified by this subpart shall be of one type which shall consist essentially