46 CFR § 160.174-11 - Performance.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s160.174-11"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "46 CFR § 160.174-11 - Performance."
title_number: 46
title_name: "Shipping"
section_number: "160.174-11"
section_name: "Performance."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "Q"
subchapter_name: "EQUIPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND MATERIALS: SPECIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL"
part_number: "160"
part_name: "LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3703, 4302; E.O. 12234; 45 FR 58801; 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; and DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
cfr_part: "160"
---
# 160.174-11 Performance.
(a) *Thermal protection.* The thermal protective aid must be designed to protect against loss of body heat as follows:
(1) The thermal conductivity of the material from which the thermal protective aid is constructed must be not more than 0.25 W/(m−°K).
(2) The thermal protective aid must prevent evaporative heat loss.
(3) The aid must function properly at an air temperature of −30 °C (−22 °F) to + 20 °C (68 °F).
(b) *Donning Time.* Each thermal protective aid must be designed to enable a person to don the aid correctly within one minute after reading the donning and use instructions described in § 160.174-15(a).
(c) *Storage Temperature.* A thermal protective aid must not be damaged by storage in its storage case at any temperature between −30 °C (−22 °F) and + 65 C (149 °F).
(d) *In water performance.* The thermal protective aid must be designed to permit the wearer to remove it in the water within two minutes, if it impairs ability to swim.
(e) *Water penetration.* The fabric from which the thermal protective aid is constructed must maintain its watertight integrity when supporting a column of water 2 meters high.
(f) *Oil resistance.* Each thermal protective aid must be designed to be useable after 24 hours exposure to diesel oil.