31 OCTOBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 5347

enable a liferaft to maintain its form when loaded with a full complement of persons and equipment.

(5) Activation of the inflation system shall be capable of being carried out by 1 person with a single action.

(6) The gas cylinder, valve, and operating head shall be fitted on the outside of a liferaft.

(7) The inflation system shall not be damaged in stowage and shall operate in a satisfactory manner throughout the air temperature range –30°C to +65°C.

(8) The inflation system shall operate in a satisfactory manner throughout a seawater temperature of –1°C to +30°C.

(9) The gas cylinder, cylinder valve, and operating head shall be constructed with compatible materials, which are suitable for use in a marine environment.

(10) Gas cylinders, cylinder valves, and operating heads of aluminium alloy shall not be accepted unless they have been tested in salt water to the satisfaction of the Director.

33. Gas—(1) The gas used in the inflation system shall be non-toxic.

(2) It shall provide a high rate of inflation, and shall be sufficiently free from icing at the outlet during expansion to prevent damage or malfunction of the inflation equipment.

(3) If the gas used is carbon dioxide its dryness shall comply with TYPE 1, SECTION ONE of British Standard 4105 or approved equivalent Standard.

(4) The filling ratio (weight of gas to the weight of water required to fill a cylinder at 15°C) shall comply with the requirements of British Standard BS 5355 or approved equivalent Standard.

(5) The excess gas from the relief valves must not be discharged into the liferaft.

34. Gas Cylinders—(1) The gas cylinder shall be constructed to the standard laid down in the relevant part of British Standard 5045: Specification for Transportable Gas Containers or approved equivalent.

(2) The gas cylinder shall be periodically inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the relevant part of British Standard 5430 or approved equivalent.

(3) Recharging of the gas cylinder shall be carried out at a filling station acceptable to the Director.

(4) The neck of the gas cylinder shall be suitably threaded to take an approved type of cylinder valve.

(5) If the gas used is carbon dioxide the gas passages to give maximum rate of flow must not permit expansion, and a siphon tube shall be led from the cylinder valve into the cylinder so that the open end is immersed in liquid when the cylinder is in its operational position.

(6) To allow for variation in the accuracy of scales a tolerance in the gross mass of ±14 grams is permissible when a gas cylinder is check weighed.

(7) Charged gas cylinders shall have a gas capacity of 1.1 kg or greater when check weighed shall not be deficient in gas by more than 56 grams. Charged cylinders with a gas content of less than 1.1 kg shall not be deficient in gas by more than 28 grams.

(8) The gas cylinder shall be permanently marked with:

(a) date of manufacture; serial number, and name or mark of the manufacturer;
(b) standard or specification to which it is manufactured;
(c) date of testing and test pressure;
(d) tare mass of cylinder, and valve;
(e) minimum designed water capacity in litres.

(9) The gas cylinder after charging shall be clearly stencilled with:

(a) tare mass;
(b) details of gas charge;
(c) total mass of cylinder, valve and contents.

35. Gas Cylinder Valve—(1) The cylinder valve shall be fitted with a safety relief device which will operate between 18MPa and the test pressure of the cylinder.

(2) Threads on the cylinder valve for attachment of the high pressure hoses and operating head shall be fitted with protective caps to provide protection during storage and transit.

(3) A cylinder valve constructed from aluminium alloy shall be anodised.

(4) The cylinder valve when attached to an approved gas cylinder and operationally charged shall be capable of being stowed for a period of 17 months without damage, metal fatigue, or leakage making due allowance for changes in temperature.

(5) The cylinder valve shall be constructed of materials which will not be damaged by inflation of the liferaft, transit in a liferaft container, or routine servicing in a service station.

36. Gas Cylinder Operating Head—(1) The connection between the operating head and the liferaft painter shall be so arranged that the load is wholly taken by the operating mechanism until the valve is operated. When the valve has fully opened the load on the painter shall be transferred to the liferaft towing patch or bridle.

(2) The operating head at a cylinder pressure of 8.6 MPa shall fully open with a force not exceeding 150 newtons and a travel of not more than 200mm at an ambient temperature of 18–20°C.

(3) The operating head shall be fitted with a positive means of retaining the valve in the open position and include an indicator which will clearly show whether or not the valve has been operated.

(4) Attachment of the operating head to the gas cylinder shall be arranged so that there will be no tendency during fitting to slacken the cylinder valve.

(5) The operating head shall be made from non-corrodible materials.

(6) An operating head constructed from aluminium alloy shall be anodised.

(7) If a pulley arrangement is used in the operating mechanism the cable shall be protected with a flexible conduit to prevent kinking of the cable, and abrasive damage to the liferaft fabric.

(8) The operating head shall be sealed against the ingress of water.

37. High Pressure Hose Assembly—(1) A high pressure hose shall be used to connect the gas bottle to the liferaft inlet manifold on the buoyancy chambers.

(2) It shall be constructed of natural or synthetic rubber or other suitable material having a smooth bore and some form of reinforcement.

(3) It shall be fitted with end connectors of sufficient strength to withstand a degree of over tightening acceptable to the Director.

(4) Where nipples are inserted into the ends of the hose they shall be suitably shaped to prevent damage or abrasion to the inner lining, and provide a smooth gas flow.

(5) The outer casing of the hose shall be suitably protected against damage or abrasion.

(6) The hose shall have a minimum bursting pressure of 21MPa at an ambient temperature 18–20°C and 4.2 MPa at a temperature of –45°C.

(7) The hose shall operate in a satisfactory manner throughout an air temperature range of –45°C to +65°C.

(8) The hose shall be capable of being bent through 180 degrees.