How Often Should You Check Your Lifejacket?

Posted on 6th October 2025

Essential Inspection and Servicing Guide for Marine and Aviation Safety

image of sailor at sea in storm. importance of regular checks of lifejackets.

Ensuring your personal flotation device remains fully functional can mean the difference between rescue and risk. Regular periodic lifejacket safety checks protect lives by identifying wear, punctures or faulty inflation before they compromise buoyancy. In this concise guide, you will learn when to perform self-inspections, why annual professional servicing matters, how UK and international regulations influence your schedule and when to replace vital components. You’ll also discover how Universal Safety’s expert lifejacket servicing and genuine rearming kits underpin every step of your maintenance routine.

How Often Should You Perform Lifejacket Inspections and Maintenance?

Lifejacket inspections combine routine self-checks with scheduled professional servicing to maintain buoyancy and regulatory compliance. Performing visual and functional assessments monthly or before each use prevents unnoticed damage, while annual certified servicing ensures technical integrity through pressure tests and part replacements.

What is the Recommended Frequency for Lifejacket Self-Inspection?

Self-inspection means checking your lifejacket’s essential features at least once a month and immediately before every outing.

  • Examine outer cover and webbing for tears or UV degradation.
  • Verify CO₂ cylinder tightness and corrosion-free connections.
  • Confirm indicator or oral inflation valve shows green or holds air for 24 hours.

Completing these monthly and pre-use checks supports immediate safety and links naturally to the deeper inspections covered below.

How Often Should You Schedule Professional Lifejacket Servicing?

Professional lifejacket servicing should occur at least once every 12 months or sooner if your lifejacket has been deployed or stored in harsh conditions. This schedule aligns with manufacturer guidelines and marine safety standards:

  1. Annual Hydrostatic Test – Validates automatic inflation via water pressure.
  2. Pressure Bladder Examination – Detects leaks through chamber fill and hold time.
  3. Component Replacement – Swaps expired capsules, lights and reflective tape.

Adhering to yearly service intervals enhances reliability and ensures Universal Safety’s certified technicians restore every device to peak performance.

Annual Servicing and Regulatory Compliance for Marine Lifejackets

Maritime regulations, such as those from the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), mandate annual professional servicing for inflatable lifejackets on commercial vessels. This ensures the lifejackets remain in optimal condition, verifying component integrity and buoyancy, and preventing malfunctions.
This research directly supports the article's claims about the necessity of annual professional servicing and its alignment with MCA and SOLAS standards for marine safety.

What Are the Differences Between Daily, Monthly, and Annual Checks?

Before each voyage, monthly and annual procedures target distinct maintenance goals.

Check IntervalFocus AreaKey Action
Daily/Pre-UseVisual IntegrityLook for abrasions, stitching failures and buckle function
MonthlyFunctional PerformancePerform oral inflation test and fire the inflation mechanism manually
AnnualComplete Professional ServiceUndergo hydrostatic release test, cylinder fill and certificate issuance
importance of inspecting and maintaining life jackets

What Are the Key Steps in a Lifejacket Self-Inspection?

A systematic self-inspection reveals hidden flaws and supports ongoing safety readiness. Follow a clear order: visual inspection, CO₂ and inflation assessment, then oral inflation testing.

How Do You Visually Inspect Webbing, Stitching, and Buckles?

Begin self-inspection by ensuring structural integrity:

  • Inspect webbing straps for fraying, UV discoloration or loose ends.
  • Check stitching along seams for unravelling or skipped stitches.
  • Operate buckles and zips to confirm smooth engagement and release.

Consistent visual checks preserve harness strength and set the stage for inflation testing.

How Should You Check the CO₂ Cylinder and Inflation Mechanism?

Next, evaluate your inflation components to confirm readiness:

  • Hand-tighten the CO₂ cylinder to full engagement, then apply slight torque to detect slippage.
  • Inspect cylinder surface for dents, rust or corrosion.
  • Manually actuate the firing head (if safe) to verify trigger alignment without discharging.

Verifying cylinder security and mechanism condition prevents deployment failures and leads into full bladder tests.

When Should You Perform an Oral Inflation Test?

Oral inflation testing is recommended monthly to detect leaks in the bladder. Inflate fully, close the valve and leave for 24 hours:

  1. Inflate until firm through the oral tube.
  2. Submerge bladder in water or observe for pressure loss.
  3. Deflate and repack once integrity is confirmed.

Passing this test confirms air retention, connecting your self-inspection to professional pressure examinations.

What Does Professional Lifejacket Servicing Include and Why Is It Important?

Professional servicing ensures every internal component meets strict safety standards, reducing failure risk and supporting regulatory audit requirements. Universal Safety’s accredited service restores buoyancy performance and issues a certificate of compliance.

What Are the Main Components Checked During Professional Servicing?

During a certified service, technicians examine:

  • Inflation bladder and CO₂ cylinder for leaks or damage.
  • Hydrostatic release unit for activation threshold accuracy.
  • Automatic firing capsule and manual activation mechanism status.
  • Integrated lights, reflective tape and whistles for operational readiness.

Thorough component checks reinforce your lifejacket’s reliability under stress.

How Does Professional Servicing Ensure Regulatory Compliance?

Annual servicing by an approved station aligns with MCA, SOLAS and ISO standards by:

  • Conducting hydrostatic pressure tests at mandated depths.
  • Documenting inspection outcomes in service certificates.
  • Replacing expired parts to satisfy aviation (EASA/FAA) or maritime directives.

Compliance-driven service delivers legal assurance and supports fleet audit requirements.

What Are the Benefits of Using an Approved Service Station?

Choosing a certified service centre offers:

  1. Expertise and Traceability – Trained technicians record every action and part used.
  2. Genuine Parts – Approved stations fit manufacturer-specified capsules and lights.
  3. Service Warranty – Confidence through a warranty on workmanship and replaced components.

These benefits translate into guaranteed performance and peace of mind on any vessel or aircraft.

How Do UK and International Regulations Affect Lifejacket Inspection Frequency?

Inspection schedules vary with regulatory frameworks. Understanding marine and aviation rules helps you plan checks and avoid penalties.

What Are the MCA and SOLAS Requirements for Marine Lifejackets?

UK and SOLAS directives mandate:

  • Annual Servicing for all inflatable jackets on commercial vessels.
  • Visual Pre-Use Checks before each departure for recreational craft.
  • Five-Year Hydrostatic Capsule Replacement on hydrostatic units.

Meeting these intervals ensures compliance with coastguard and shipping regulations.

How Do EASA and FAA Guidelines Influence Aviation Lifejacket Checks?

Aviation regulations require:

  • Annual Professional Inspection for all onboard life vests.
  • Pre-Flight Functional Checks by crew on manual activation vests.
  • Five-Year Hydrostatic Tests for emergency breathing system (EBS) jackets.

Adhering to these intervals guarantees readiness for over-water operations.

Lifejacket Component Lifespans and Aviation Regulatory Frameworks

Inflatable lifejacket components, such as automatic inflation capsules and hydrostatic release units, have recommended replacement periods, typically every 2 to 5 years, while CO₂ cylinders require inspection for corrosion and tightness rather than a fixed expiry. Aviation authorities like the FAA defer to manufacturer specifications for life vest inspection intervals, whereas EASA requires manufacturers to establish comprehensive procedures for inspection, testing, and repair to ensure ongoing functionality.
This citation verifies the article's details on component expiry dates and the influence of aviation regulations (EASA/FAA) on lifejacket inspection schedules.

What Are the Differences Between Leisure and Commercial Lifejacket Regulations?

Leisure users follow manufacturer and ISO 12402 guidelines, while commercial operators must meet:

  • Mandatory service intervals and documentation.
  • Approved station certification and audit-grade record-keeping.
  • Stricter expiry controls on automatic capsules and lights.

Understanding these distinctions helps tailor your maintenance plan.

When Should You Replace Lifejacket Components and Rearming Kits?

Timely replacement of wear-sensitive parts preserves full functionality and buoyancy guarantees.

How Do You Identify Expiry Dates for CO₂ Cylinders and Automatic Capsules?

Expiry dates appear stamped or labelled:

  • Automatic inflation capsules typically expire after three years.
  • Hydrostatic release units carry a five-year service life.
  • Surface-mounted lights often require replacement every five years.

Monitoring stamped dates on each component prevents unexpected failures.

Where Can You Purchase Genuine Lifejacket Rearming Kits?

Universal Safety supplies approved rearming kits containing CO₂ cylinders, inflation capsules, hydrostatic units and lights. Ordering genuine parts ensures compatibility with your lifejacket model and maintains certification validity.

This direct access to quality rearming kits supports uninterrupted safety readiness.

How Often Should Hydrostatic Release Units and Lights Be Replaced?

Replace hydrostatic release units and integrated lights at five-year intervals or sooner if activation thresholds drift. Regular replacement guarantees reliable deployment and visibility, rounding out your complete maintenance cycle.

Regular self-inspections and annual professional servicing work hand in hand to keep your lifejacket in optimal condition. By following manufacturer guidelines, adhering to MCA, SOLAS, EASA and FAA requirements, and sourcing genuine rearming kits from Universal Safety, you ensure both compliance and confidence every time you head out on the water or take to the skies. Prioritise these periodic safety checks and book your next expert service to stay ahead of potential issues and protect lives.

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