New regulations for offshore suits prompts the development of a new immersion suit for Norway

In response to new immersion suit regulations for mobile offshore installations in Norway, VIKING has developed an immersion suit with built-in buoyancy aid that turns an unconscious wearer from a face down to a face up position in the water in less than 5 seconds and ensures 120mm free board.

Changes in regulations by the Norwegian Sea Transport Authority (Norsk Sjøfartsdirektoratet) intended to save unconscious evacuees from drowning
Immersion suits are designed to protect an evacuee in the water from the effects of the cold water and extend life expectancy. Some immersion suits have built in buoyancy or some uses lifejackets to keep the wearer stabile in the water. However, should the wearer be unable to turn himself face upwards in the water, the suit's buoyancy and temperature protection function may not be enough to save life.

The Norsk Sjøfartsdirektoratet introduced new regulations in addition to those outlined in the LSA code for immersion suits and lifejackets for mobile offshore installations. Immersion suits with built in buoyancy must now be able to turn an unconscious person in the water from a face down position to a face up position within 5 seconds, and provide a free board of at least 120mm.

A lifejacket alone may not be enough to turn the wearer
Turning an unconscious person wearing a lifejacket and an immersion suit is a difficult task. Trapped air in the immersion suit counteracts the turning process of the lifejacket, meaning that standard lifejackets alone are not sufficient. A new type of integrated buoyancy is required – and it needs to function correctly every time.

The asymmetrical inflation chambers in the integrated buoyancy aid on VIKING's new suit, the PS5026, create the necessary turning function. Both chambers inflate at the same time to overcome the problem of air in the suit and making the turning process fast – between 5 and 8 seconds. The new PS5026 comes in a one size and an oversize and has been thoroughly tested and approved. It has generated much interest, and the first order has already been received by VIKING.