CARE

Inherent Buoyancy PFDs

Care and Maintenance

These are PFDs which use closed cell plastics as a source of Buoyancy. These types of PFDs generally require very little maintenance.

The life of the PFD will be prolonged if routine maintenance is carried out as follows:

  • Wash in warm soapy water after use.
  • Dry thoroughly.
  • Store in dry ventilated position away from direct sunlight and harmful chemicals.
  • Check PFD regularly to ensure it is in good working condition.

Caution: sunshine, chlorine and weathering may cause colours to fade and/or bleed onto other surfaces.

  • Fabric fading can indicate loss of strength.
  • A weathered PFD could tear easily, resulting in a loss of flotation material.
  • If faded, check strength or discontinue use.

Never try to repair your PFD yourself

Inflatable PFDs

These are PFDs which use inflatable chambers as a source of buoyancy. These types of PFDs require some maintenance and care to ensure correct operation.

Your safety will be improved if you know how to care for your PFD.

PRE-WEAR CHECK

  1. Visually inspect for damage.
  2. Check CO2 cylinder is full and screwed in hand tight.
  3. Ensure automatic cartridge (automatic inflation models only) is screwed in hand tight.
  4. Ensure once the operating is rearmed that the indication system is showing completely green in the indication window.
  5. Ensure pull cord is accessible when PFD is worn.
  6. Refer to instructions for RE-ARMING the PFD if the CO2 cylinder is empty or any indicators are red.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

The life of this PFD will be prolonged if routine maintenance is carried out as follows:

After every use:

Wash in warm soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. Store in a dry ventilated position away from direct sunlight and harmful chemicals. Remove automatic cartridge (if fitted) before washing and re-fit when dry.

Every six months:

  1. Inspect CO2 cylinder for corrosion or damage.
  2. Inspect bladder for signs of abrasion and wear.
  3. Inspect stitching, webbing and buckles for signs of excessive wear or abrasion
  4. Inflate bladder using the oral tube and leave overnight, inspect for any air loss or damage.
  5. If there are signs of corrosion, wear, damage or leaks as described above take to a professional service agent.

Never try to repair your PFD yourself

Annually:

Carry out procedures in accordance with the PFD Self Service instructions that were supplied with your PFD.

PFD Self Service Instructions are also available online from ultrapfd.com.au or scan the code below to download to your device.

 

 

Contact your place of purchase or local agent to arrange a professional service. Find a dealer.

Servicing and Re-Arming Instruction

Download inflatable re-arming instructions PDF

download inflatable self-service certificate

MANUAL AS4758 150N INFLATABLE PFD

Ensure you have the correct re-arm kit for the model of PFD. ULTRA MANUAL AS4758 150N PFDs use 33 gram Co2 Cylinders and UML Pro-Sensor manual inflation mechanisms.

The re-arming kit will contain:

One 33 gram Co2 Cylinder type and size.

  • Always refer to the PFD care and maintenance procedures in conjunction with these instructions and keep to maintenance schedule.
  • PFDs should be regularly serviced by an authorized service agent.
  • Re-arming kits should be kept on board for use after an emergency.

If fired manually replace the firing arm into the unit. The arm will click into place, thereby preventing the arm from moving.

Take the new automatic cartridge and screw onto the inflator head in a clockwise direction. Screw right up ensuring there is no gap between the cartridge and the inflator head and then do up hand tight.

Check that the cylinders sealing the gasket in the end of the operating head has been correctly fitted, or replaced if necessary. Check the CO2 Cylinder has not been used and screw into the inflator body in a clockwise direction. Ensure the cylinder is screwed right down and do up hand tight.

Ensure once the operating head is rearmed that the indication system is showing completely green in the indication window.

Refer to instructions to re-pack the PFD correctly

Re-Packing Instructions

150N INFLATABLE PFD

Ensure you have re-armed the PFD according to the previous instructions and all firing indicators are intact.

  1. Deflate the PFD by reversing the oral tube cap and pushing into the end of the oral tube.
  2. Expel all air by tightly rolling up the bladder, repeat the procedure at least once to ensure all air is expelled. Replace cap in it’s normal position.
  3. Ensure PFD is clean and completely dry.
  4. Enclose Co2 Cylinder and inflator body in protective sheath provided.
  5. Lay bladder and cover on a flat surface, smooth out the bladder to remove all wrinkles.
  6. Fold sides of bladder to outer edge and again fold under. Close velcro at sides of cover ensuring pull cord is visible once closed.
  7. Velcro harness back strap in place on the cover.
  8. Fold top of bladder over and close velcro at top of cover to complete the re-packing.

Download re-arming instructions

Download Self-Service Certificate

For more information, please watch this 5 part series YouTube videos of self-maintaining your inflatable life jacket.