Life jackets can save lives in an emergency - provided they work properly. Regular professional maintenance is therefore essential for automatic lifejackets. Most manufacturers recommend having their lifejackets checked by experts every two years. However, not everyone who offers maintenance is qualified to do so. Lifejackets can vary considerably in terms of design and equipment. If you want to be on the safe side, you should therefore carefully check who you entrust with your life-saving equipment.
Costs and duration of maintenance
The prices for professional lifejacket maintenance vary between 30 and 50 euros depending on the provider, plus any necessary spare parts. The processing time also varies depending on the maintenance centre and season. As a rule, it takes around two weeks to check a lifejacket. However, neither price nor duration should be the decisive criterion when choosing a maintenance centre. The qualification of the staff is more important.
Find qualified maintenance centres
If you want to be on the safe side, check the manufacturer's website. All qualified maintenance centres are usually listed there. The manufacturers attach great importance to ensuring that the staff at these centres know their waistcoats inside out and train them regularly. They also only supply these partners with original spare parts. Self-appointed experts are not supplied with spare parts and are not informed about technical changes. They also lack the necessary maintenance manuals.
Risks of improper maintenance
If you leave your lifejacket in unqualified hands for maintenance, you run the risk of it being returned inadequately checked and possibly fitted with unsuitable spare parts - without realising it. The consequences can be fatal in an emergency. Professional maintenance includes checking the float for leaks, checking the CO2 cartridge, trigger mechanism and mouth valve for functionality and replacing wearing parts. All seams and straps are also inspected.
Optimum maintenance time
Basically, if you return your waistcoat for servicing at the end of the season, you can usually expect to get it back before the start of the season. However, every year in February and March, the waistcoats pile up at the maintenance centres. During this peak period, the processing time can increase to four to five weeks - for many water sports enthusiasts, the season has already begun. An alternative is therefore to have maintenance carried out in the summer, when the workshops are less busy.
Why regular maintenance is important
Regular maintenance of lifejackets is necessary regardless of the frequency of use, as the material ages even when not in use. The buoyancy chamber can become brittle and seams can become porous, which means that the seal is no longer guaranteed. There is also a risk that the release elements in the automatic system will lose their effectiveness over time. Many critical faults are not recognisable to laypersons or cannot be checked by them. In an emergency, the waistcoat could then fail.
Service life and maintenance intervals
Lifejackets should be used for a maximum of 15 years, provided they are serviced every two years. After ten years, the waistcoats must be sent directly to the manufacturer for an annual inspection. Even with regular maintenance, owners and guests should familiarise themselves with their waistcoats and check them before starting a trip or occasionally during the season. A spare set with trigger and CO2 cartridge should always be on board so that a waistcoat that has been triggered can be reactivated.
Checklist for lifejacket maintenance
- Do the indicators on the automatic release unit show green? If the indicator is red, action is required.
- Is the cellulose tablet in the automatic release unit intact? It must not be swollen or crumbly.
- Is the gas cartridge screwed in tightly? It can loosen if worn frequently.
- Can salt or sand be seen on the float? They lead to chafe marks and ultimately to leaks.
- Is the waistcoat packed correctly? The float must not be constricted by internal straps and the automatic release mechanism must not be wrapped in it.
- Are the seams, straps and fasteners intact? UV radiation damages the material.
