ISO 25649-4:2017

Overview

ISO 25649-4:2017 - Floating leisure articles for use on and in the water: Part 4 defines additional specific safety requirements and test methods for Class B devices (e.g., swim seats, rings with interior seat segments, fantasy-shaped floats with body openings). It is intended to be used together with ISO 25649-1 (classification, materials, general requirements and test methods) and ISO 25649-2. The standard covers materials, performance, consumer information and in‑water behaviour for Class B floating leisure articles whether buoyancy is achieved by inflation or inherent buoyant material.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and classification: Applies to Class B devices that provide a buoyant structure with one or more body openings into which the user is partly immersed (typical applications: pools, protected lakes, sheltered seashores).
• Sizing requirements: Rules for sizing of sub‑types (B1 - close-fit “swim seats”; B2.1/B2.2 - loose fit or sitting-on types) including test probes/manikin alternatives.
• Strength and structural tests: Requirements and test methods for the strength of the complete device (e.g., whole‑device load tests).
• In‑water performance: Static and dynamic stability tests, separate procedures for different user-age groups (children and adults), and requirements for behaviour when fully inflated.
• Residual buoyancy and retention of function: Criteria to ensure remaining buoyancy if a buoyancy chamber is defective.
• Escape and entrapment: Tests and measures to reduce body entrapment and leg/foot entanglement in case of capsizing.
• Child testing and manikins: Guidance on use of human test subjects (child anthropometrics cited) and optional manikin testing (Annex A) to replicate real‑world scenarios. The document references child anthropometric data (e.g., representative sizes for children of ~5 and ~9 years).
• Exclusions and examples: Lists exclusions and product examples forming Class B (Annex B). Note guidance such as minimum dimension conventions (e.g., reference to ≥1.2 m rule in guidance).

Practical applications

• Product design and development: Engineers and designers use the standard to design safe Class B leisure articles and select materials and buoyancy systems.
• Testing and certification: Test laboratories and conformity assessors apply the specified test methods for strength, stability and residual buoyancy.
• Regulatory compliance and procurement: Manufacturers, retailers and procurement officers reference ISO 25649-4 to demonstrate compliance and provide consumer information and warnings.
• Safety management and risk assessment: Facility managers (pools, lakeside operators) and product safety teams use the standard to understand risks (capsizing, entrapment, drifting) and mitigation measures.

Who should use this standard

• Manufacturers of floating leisure articles (swim seats, rings, fantasy floats)
• Product designers and R&D teams
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
• Regulators, safety officers and procurement specialists
• Retailers and importers responsible for product compliance

Related standards

• ISO 25649-1 (classification, materials, general requirements)
• ISO 25649-2 (general test methods)
• EN 13138 series (buoyant aids for swimming instruction) - referenced for related test manikins and requirements

Keywords: ISO 25649-4:2017, floating leisure articles, Class B devices, swim seats, safety requirements, test methods, buoyancy, in‑water performance, residual buoyancy, entrapment.