What are the requirements of Anti- Exposure Suit as per SOLAS?

An anti-exposure suit shall permit the person wearing it:

  • to climb up and down a vertical ladder of at least 5 m in length;
  • to jump from a height of not less than 4.5 m into the water with feet first, without damaging or dislodging the suit, or being injured;
  • to swim through the water at least 25 m and board a survival craft;
  • to don a lifejacket without assistance; and
  • to perform all duties associated with abandonment, assist others and operate a rescue boat.

An anti-exposure suit shall be fitted with a light complying with the requirements for life jackets.

An anti-exposure suit shall:

  • if made of material which has no inherent insulation, be marked with instructions that it must be worn in conjunction with warm clothing;
  • be so constructed, that when worn as marked, the suit continues to provide sufficient thermal protection following one jump into the water which totally submerges the wearer and shall ensure that when it is worn in calm circulating water at a temperature of 5°C, the wearer’s body core temperature does not fall at a rate of more than 1.5°C per hour, after the first 0.5 hours.

A person in fresh water wearing an anti-exposure suit complying with the requirements of this section shall be able to turn from a facedown to a face-up position in not more than 5 seconds and shall be stable face-up. The suit shall have no tendency to turn the wearer face-down in moderate sea condition.