RESOLUTION MSC.

481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)

REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 1

ANNEX 23

RESOLUTION MSC.481(102)
(adopted on 9 November 2020)

REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE

MATERIALS ON LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization

concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.658(16), whereby the Assembly promulgated the

Recommendation on the use and fitting of retro-reflective materials on life-saving appliances
and the Technical specification for retro-reflective materials for use on life-saving appliances
and requested the Maritime Safety Committee to keep this recommendation under review and
to report as necessary to the Assembly,

RECALLING FURTHER that the Assembly, at its thirty-first session, invited the Maritime Safety
Committee to consider proposals to amend resolution A.658(16), with a view to facilitating the
consistent and global implementation of the provisions regarding accelerated weather testing
and to reissue a revised Recommendation as an MSC resolution, given its technical nature
and in order to facilitate future revisions,

MINDFUL of resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly resolved that the functions of
adopting performance standards and technical specifications, as well as amendments thereto,
should be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee on behalf of the Organization,

CONSIDERING that under the provisions of paragraph 1.2.2.7 of the LSA Code life-saving
appliances shall be fitted with retro-reflective material where it will assist in detection and in
accordance with the recommendations of the Organization,

1 ADOPTS the Revised recommendation on the use and fitting of retro-reflective

materials on life-saving appliances and the Technical specification for retro-reflective materials
for use on life-saving appliances, set out in annexes 1 and 2, respectively, to the present
resolution;

2 RECOMMENDS Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the

Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, to make arrangements to ensure that life-saving
appliances are fitted with retro-reflective materials in the manner set out in annex 1 to the
present resolution or in such other manner as is considered by the Administration to be
substantially equivalent;

3 RECOMMENDS that the Technical specification for retro-reflective materials for use
on life-saving appliances set out in annex 2 to the present resolution be considered by
Administrations as a standard for retro-reflective materials, the application of which will
contribute to keeping life-saving appliances at the high level of quality required;

4 AGREES that the Administration may accept life-saving appliances already fitted with
retro-reflective materials in accordance with resolution A.658(16);

5 INVITES the Assembly to revoke resolution A.658(16) and endorse the action taken
by the Maritime Safety Committee.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 2

ANNEX 1

REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE

MATERIALS ON LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

1 Lifeboats and rescue boats

Retro-reflective materials should be fitted on top of the gunwale as well as on the outside of
the boat as near the gunwale as possible. The materials should be sufficiently wide and long
to give a minimum area of 150 cm2 and should be spaced at suitable intervals
(approximately 80 cm from centre to centre). If a canopy is fitted, it should not be allowed to
obscure the materials fitted on the outside of the boat, and the top of the canopy should be
fitted with retro-reflective materials similar to those mentioned above and spaced at suitable
intervals (approximately 80 cm centre to centre). In the case of partially enclosed or totally
enclosed lifeboats, such materials should be placed, as follows:

.1 for detection by horizontal light beams - at suitable intervals at half the height
between the gunwale and the top of the fixed cover;

.2 for detection by vertical light beams (e.g. from helicopters) - at suitable

intervals around the outer portion of the horizontal (or comparable) part of
the top of the fixed cover; and

.3 on the bottom of lifeboats and rescue boats which are not self-righting.

2 Liferafts

2.1 Retro-reflective materials should be fitted around the canopy of the liferaft.
The materials should be sufficiently wide and long to give a minimum area of 150 cm 2 and
should be spaced at suitable intervals (approximately 80 cm from centre to centre) at a suitable
height above the waterline, doorways included, if suitable. On inflatable liferafts, retro-reflective
materials should also be fitted to the underside of the floor, cross-shaped in the centre.
The dimension of the cross should be half the diameter of the liferaft, and a similar cross should
be applied to the top of the canopy.

2.2 On liferafts which are not equipped with canopies, materials which should be
sufficiently wide and long (to give a minimum area of 150 cm2) should be attached to the
buoyancy chamber at suitable intervals (approximately 80 cm from centre to centre), in such a
manner that they are visible both from the air and from a ship.

3 Lifebuoys

Retro-reflective materials of a sufficient width (approximately 5 cm) should be applied around

or on both sides of the body of the lifebuoy at four evenly-spaced points.

4 Buoyant apparatus

Buoyant apparatus should be fitted with retro-reflective materials in the same manner as
liferafts without canopies, always depending on the size and shape of the object. Such
materials should be visible both from the air and from a ship.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 3

5 Lifejackets

Lifejackets should be fitted with patches of retro-reflective materials with a total area of at
least 400 cm2 distributed so as to be useful for search from air and surface craft from all
directions. In the case of a reversible lifejacket, the arrangement should be complied with no
matter which way the lifejacket is put on. Such materials should be placed as high up on the
lifejacket as possible.

6 Immersion suits

6.1 Immersion suits should be fitted with patches of retro-reflective material with a total
area of at least 400 cm2 distributed so as to be useful for search from air and surface craft from
all directions.

6.2 For an immersion suit that does not automatically turn the wearer face up, the back
of the suit should be fitted with retro-reflective material with a total area of at least 100 cm2.

7 General remarks

.1 Retro-reflective materials should be such as will meet the minimum technical

specification given in annex 2.

.2 The illustrations reproduced in this annex are intended to provide

Administrations with examples from which guidance may be taken when
fitting retro-reflective materials in accordance with these recommendations.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 4

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24
Annex 23, page 5

***

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 6

ANNEX 2

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR RETRO-REFLECTIVE MATERIALS

FOR USE ON LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

1 Scope

The present specification describes retro-reflective materials for application to the flexible or
rigid surfaces of life-saving appliances to assist in their detection.

2 Classification

Type I: Flexible materials not for continuous outdoor exposure.

Type II: Highly weather-resistant materials for continuous outdoor exposure.

3 Performance requirements

3.1 Photometric requirements

The minimum coefficient of retro-reflection (R') when illuminated by CIE Standard Illuminant A
(colour temperature 2856 K) should be as specified in table 3.1 for the retro-reflective areas of
new and dry material when tested as described in section 4.2. The brightness of the retro-
reflective material, when tested as described in section 4.9, should be not less than 80% of the
table 3.1 values.

Table 3.1
Minimum coefficient of retro-reflection R' in cd•lx -1•m-2

Entrance angle Observation angles

B1 (B2=0) 0.1° 0.2° 0.5° 1°
5 180 175 72 14
30 140 135 70 12
45 85 85 48 9.4

3.2 Accelerated weathering

Applied to an aluminium test panel, the material should show no significant discoloration,
cracking, blistering or dimensional change, and should have not less than 80% of the specified
minimum reflective intensity values in table 3.1, when tested as described in section 4.10.

3.3 Seawater immersion

Where tested as described in section 4.3, the material should show no evidence of blistering,
delamination or subsurface corrosion. The material should show no evidence of "whitening"
and its retro-reflective intensity should not be reduced below the retro-reflective values in
table 3.1, except within 5 mm of each side of the required cuts.

3.4 Flexibility

There should be no cracking of the retro-reflective material, after conditioning for 4 hours
at -30° C, when bent around a 3.2 mm mandrel and tested as described in section 4.4.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 7

3.5 Tensile strength

Tensile strength N (newton) per 25 mm width:

material without support ≥16 N

material with support ≥330 N longitudinal
for mechanical fastening ≥200 N transverse,

when tested as described in section 4.5.

3.6 Adhesive strength

For adhesive-backed material only. The adhesive strength should be not less than 16 N
per 25 mm width when tested as described in section 4.6.

3.7 Blocking

The material should show no blocking when tested as described in section 4.7.

3.8 Salt spray resistance

The material should show no evidence of corrosion or degradation that would impair its
effectiveness or reduce the coefficient of retro-reflection below the values in table 3.1 after
exposure to a saline mist for 120 hours followed by cleaning with a dilute neutral detergent
solution as described in section 4.8.

3.9 Temperature resistance

The material should show no evidence of cracking, distortion, or loss of coefficient of

retro-reflection below the values in table 3.1 after exposure, in a dry atmosphere, for 24 hours
to a temperature of 65 ± 2°C and subsequent exposure for 24 hours to a temperature
of -30 ± 2°C.

3.10 Fungus resistance

Applied to an aluminium test panel, the material should not support fungus growth, should
show no loss of coefficient of retro-reflection below the levels in table 3.1, and should not be
removable from the test panel without damage, when tested as described in section 4.11.

3.11 Abrasion resistance

Applied to an aluminium test panel, the material should not have less than 50% of the specified
minimum reflective intensity values in table 3.1, when tested as described in section 4.12.

3.12 Soil resistance and cleanability

Applied to an aluminium test panel, the material should not have any significant visible damage
or permanent soiling when tested as described in section 4.13.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 8

4 Test methods and interpretation of test results

4.1 Test conditions and number of samples

Test specimens should be conditioned for 24 hours at a temperature of 23 ± 1°C and 50 ± 5%

relative humidity before being tested. All test results should be interpreted as the average
obtained from testing at least three specimens.

4.2 Photometric performance

The photometric performance should be measured using the general procedure recommended
by CIE Report No.54, 1982. The sample dimensions should be 150 mm by 150 mm. Entrance
and observation angles should be as specified in table 3.1. Readings should be taken at not
greater than 30° increments as the observation half-plane is rotated about the reference axis
(i.e. at rotation angles (ε) of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°,120°, 150° and 180°). Each measured value
should be the average of the readings for all of the required samples.

4.3 Seawater immersion

4.3.1 Prepare a 75 mm x 150 mm test panel.

(A) material without support: After removing protective liner paper, apply
specimens to a clean aluminium panel surface, using a hand-roller for
application.

(B) material with support for mechanical fastening: Tape edges of test
specimens to a clean aluminium panel.

4.3.2 The retro-reflective material on each test panel is cut with a sharp knife from each
corner diagonally opposite so that an "X" is formed. The cuts must be made completely through
the material to the metal panel.

4.3.3 Immerse the test panels to half-length in a 4% (by weight) saltwater solution (4 g NaCl
dissolved in 96 ml distilled water) at 25°C, using a glass beaker covered by a glass plate. After
a 16-hour immersion period, remove the panels from the beaker, rinse salt deposits from the
panels, and examine the sample following a 10-minute recovery period and again after 4 hours
for compliance with the requirements described in section 3.3.

4.4 Flexibility

4.4.1 Condition test specimen for 4 hours in a cold chamber at -30°C. A 3.2 mm mandrel
should be conditioned at the same temperature. The sample should be bent over the free-
standing mandrel, gently applying gloved finger pressure.

4.4.2 For material without support, remove protective liner and talc the adhesive to prevent
sticking.

4.5 Tensile strength

Prepare three test samples 25 mm in width and 150 mm in length. Insert samples into the grips
or jaws of the testing machine so that the load is distributed evenly across the width of the
samples and the initial test length is 100 mm. Determine tensile strength at a speed of 300 mm
per minute. Record average tensile strength at break in newtons per 25 mm width for all three
test samples. For material without support, remove protective liner paper before inserting
samples in the tensile tester.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 9

4.6 Adhesive strength (for material without support only)

4.6.1 Prepare three test samples 25 mm in width and 200 mm in length for each type of
surface to which the material is to be applied. Remove protective liner paper for 80 mm in
length and apply test specimens to the test surfaces. Test surfaces should be aluminium, GRP,
each type of lifejacket and lifebuoy that the material is to be used on, and inflatable liferaft
buoyancy tube material. Test surfaces should be 50 mm in width, 90 mm in length, and of the
thickness normally used and should be properly cleaned by wiping the surface with a suitable
solvent.

4.6.2 Apply test specimens with a solid brass roller, 80 mm in diameter and 40 mm in width
covered with rubber approximately 6 mm thick and having a hardness of 80 ± 1 RHD and a
total mass of approximately 2 kg. Use three passes for roller application and allow to have
a 120 mm free overlap strip to be used for inserting into the jaw clamp of the testing instrument.
One test panel should be immersed in distilled water in a covered container for 16 hours before
adhesive strength testing and the other test panel should be immersed in salt water (4% NaCl
by weight) in a covered container for 16 hours before adhesive strength testing (this test
method is required only for retro-reflective material that is designed for use with an adhesive.
If a particular test panel used in testing results in a test failure, the retro-reflective material
should not be approved for attachment to material of the type used in the test panel). Peel back
at an angle of 180° at a speed of 300 mm per minute. Record adhesive strength in newtons
per 25 mm width. Repeat the adhesive strength tests on samples subjected to the weathering
test in section 4.10.

4.7 Blocking

Stack two 100 mm x 100 mm pieces of material, retro-reflective face to retro-reflective face,
between two pieces of glass plate 3 mm thick of the same size as the samples and place in an
air-circulating oven operating at 65°C. Place an 18 kg weight centrally on the top glass plate
and close the oven. After 8 hours, remove the test assembly from the oven, take the retro-
reflective material from between the plates and cool for 5 min. Separate the two pieces of retro-
reflective material and examine for evidence of adhering or peeling of the surface.

4.8 Salt spray resistance

4.8.1 Prepare test specimens as described in section 4.3 (A) and (B), respectively, and
expose them to a salt spray chamber.

4.8.2 The test should consist of five periods of 22 hours' exposure each, separated by an
interval of 2 hours during which samples are allowed to dry. The saline mist should be
produced by atomizing, at a temperature of 35 ± 2°C, a saline solution obtained by dissolving
five parts of NaCl in 95 parts of water, containing not more than 0.2% of impurities.

4.9 Photometric performance when wet

An unweathered 150 mm x 75 mm specimen should be mounted in a vertical plane, with

the 150 mm dimension oriented horizontally. Apply sufficient water so that the entire specimen
surface is covered by a continuous moving film of water. Measure the coefficient of
retro-reflection at 0.2° observation angle and 5° entrance angle. An example of an appropriate
test apparatus is shown in figure 1.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 10

4.10 Accelerated weathering

4.10.1 The photometric performance of the material should be determined according to

section 4.2 after the material has been exposed in a sunshine carbon arc weatherometer for
the following periods:

Type I material: 750 h

Type II material: 1,500 h

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 11

4.10.2 Alternative light sources other than a carbon arc may be used and exposure times for
such sources should give an equivalent degree of accelerated weathering. Accelerated
weathering should follow the test methodology in accordance with an international standard
acceptable to the Organization.*

4.10.3 After exposure, the material should be examined for the requirements and
characteristics in section 3.2.

4.11 Fungus resistance

4.11.1 Prepare three 75 mm x 75 mm test panels as described in section 4.3 (A). Prepare
three additional test panels as described in section 4.3 (B), using non-rusting, non-staining
clips or fasteners (in lieu of tape) to hold the material flat. Expose the panels to mildew, using
the soil burial method, for a period of 2 weeks. The microbial activity of the soil should be
verified by exposing untreated cotton fabric of 400 g/m2 to 475 g/m2 to the soil bed for the first
5 days. The soil should be considered to be satisfactory if this control sample loses not less
than 50% of its original tensile strength during this exposure.

4.11.2 At the end of the exposure period, the test panels should be removed from the soil
bed, gently washed to remove soil, and wiped with a soft cloth wet with a 70% ethanol solution.
Condition the panels under standard conditions for 48 hours. Test the photometric
performance of the specimens as described in section 4.2 and, when finished, attempt to
remove the material from the test panel.

4.12 Abrasion resistance

4.12.1 An apparatus is required which should consist of an electric motor mounted on a flat
metal plate, and a mechanism through which the motor will impart a reciprocating motion to a
brush lengthwise across the full length of a test panel clamped to the plate. Prepare one test
panel 150 mm wide x 425 mm long, as described in section 4.3 (A). Mount the panel firmly on
the test apparatus and place the brush on the panel.

4.12.2 The block of the brush should be aluminium, 90 mm long x 40 mm wide and 12.5 mm
thick. The brush stock should be stiff, black, butt-cut Chinese hog bristle. There should
be 60 holes on the block, 4 mm in diameter, solidly filled with bristle. The bristles should
extend 20 mm beyond the block to form an abrading surface as nearly planar as possible.
The total weight of the brush should be 450 ± 15 g. Weights may be fastened to the top of the
brush to attain this weight.

4.12.3 Start the motor. The apparatus should be adjusted so that the brush travels at a rate
of 37 ± 2 cycles (74 ± 4 strokes) per minute. Remove the panel after 1,000 brush strokes and
wipe with a clean, soft cloth. Test the photometric performance of the material, as described
in section 4.2.

4.13 Soil resistance and cleanability

Prepare a test panel 150 mm x 150 mm, as described in section 4.3 (A). Soil the panel by
applying a film, 90 mm wide x 0.075 mm thick, of thoroughly mixed soiling medium across the
middle of the test panel. The soiling medium should consist of a mixture of 8 g carbon black,
60 g mineral oil and 32 g odourless mineral spirits. Cover the soiled area for 24 hours with a

*
Refer to the recommendations by the International Organization for Standardization, in particular ISO
4892-1:2016, and ISO 4892-2:2013 or ISO 4892-3:2016 or ISO 4892-4:2013.

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES
MSC 102/24/Add.1
Annex 23, page 12

laboratory watch glass or similar device. Uncover the material and wipe off the soiling medium
with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Wet the material with mineral spirits and wipe with a cloth soaked
in mineral spirits. Wash with a 1% (by weight) solution of detergent in warm water, rinse, and
dry with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Examine the sample for compliance with section 3.12.

***

MSC 102-24-Add.1.docx
 RESOLUTION MSC.481(102) (adopted on 9 November 2020)
REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON THE USE AND FITTING OF RETRO-REFLECTIVE
MATERIALS ON LIVE-SAVING APPLIANCES