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Personal Flotation Device Certifications

Demonstrate your personal floatation devices’ compliance to safety and performance requirements with our testing and certification services.
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Personal flotation device testing and certification services

Technological advancements, evolving regulatory requirements, and a growing market preference for quality products that meet specific safety standards are creating new opportunities and challenges in the personal floatation devices market.

As the global safety science leader, UL Solutions can help you optimize new potentials and mitigate risks. Our testing and certification services can help you to bring safer, innovative PFDs confidently and efficiently to your target markets, and maintain compliance in marketplaces where you already have a presence.

Meeting regulatory requirements for personal flotation devices

UL Solutions offers testing and certification for PFDs to regulatory requirements and standards in the U.S., Canada and Europe. To meet federal carriage requirements in the U.S. and Canada, we work with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Transport Canada (TC) to test devices that are intended to be used on both commercial and recreational vessels.

You can rely on our decades of experience in PFD testing, and our global regulatory expertise, to help you determine what tests and certifications are applicable to your business needs.

UL Solutions* is a recognized independent testing laboratory for PFDs in accordance with the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 46 CFR.

UL Solutions** is an EU Notified Body for the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation and the Marine Equipment Directive for lifejackets, buoyancy aids, immersion suits and thermal protective aids, and can issue certificates for the CE mark and the Wheel mark.

Additionally, UL Solutions laboratories are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing laboratories by IAS an ILAC MRA Signatory under TL-304 for testing to the LSA Code 2017 for Marine Equipment and EN ISO 12402 series of standards for EU and UK Market Access.

We can provide research-only testing and marketing claims verification testing as well.

Partnering with UL Solutions for your PFD testing needs

We can help you mitigate business risks, and communicate your dedication to safety and reliability to regulatory authorities and the marketplace.

As a single-source provider we can work with you to reduce redundant testing and associated costs, expedite time to market, and simplify the process of updating certifications when you upgrade your products.

Additionally, our deep expertise in this area enables our dedicated PFD team to deliver exceptional, knowledge-based customer service that is unparalleled in the industry. You can trust that we’ll work closely with you and your team to keep you informed on impending changes in regulatory requirements that impact your markets and help ensure a smooth and efficient certification process in compliance with all applicable industry standards.

*UL LLC is appointed by the US Coast Guard and Transport Canada.

**UL International (Netherlands) B.V. is accredited by RvA and appointed by the Dutch Government to work as a Notified Body under Notified Body number 2821. EUROPA - European Commission - Growth - Regulatory policy - NANDO

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In the News - Regulatory Updates for Retail and Consumer Products

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Related resources

Extreme Testing of Immersion Suits for Survival in Polar Waters

UL Solutions partnered with White Glacier on meeting the immersion suit survivability standards and helping increase survival rates under the most challenging conditions.

FAQ on Selling Personal Flotation Devices in Global Markets

A personal flotation device (PFD) expert from UL Solutions answers questions about how to successfully gain access to the U.S., Canadian, EU and U.K. markets.

Volunteer for Lifejacket, Personal Flotation Devices Swim Tests

Participate in swim tests in North Carolina, U.S., to help UL Solutions evaluate lifejackets and personal flotation devices and promote public safety.

Download our resource

UK and European Market Access for Marine Products

Starting from 01 January 2020, the U.K. officially exited the European Union (EU) and that was the start of the Implementation period (IP) to allow both the EU and the U.K. to establish the processes to handle the changes for customs, immigration etc. The Implementation Period ended 31 December 2020. The transition period began 1st January 2021 and for Marine Products lasts until 1st January 2023.
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