Title 46

SECTION 160.066-12

160.066-12 Operational tests.

§ 160.066-12 Operational tests.

(a) The procedure for conducting operational tests is described in figure (1).

(1) An “accept lot” decision must be reached in order to pass the operational tests.

(2) If a “reject lot” decision is reached, the entire lot is rejected.

(3) Signals from “reject lots” may be reworked by the manufacturer to correct the deficiency for which they were rejected and be resubmitted for inspection. Records shall be kept of the reasons for rejection, the reworking performed on the “reject lot”, and the result of the second test. Signals from “reject lots” may not, unless subsequently accepted, be sold or offered for sale as being in compliance with this specification.

(b) Each signal selected for the operational tests must be conditioned by:

(1) Being submerged under at least 25 mm (1 in.) of water for 24 hours without any protection other than its waterproofing; or

(2) If waterproofing is provided by a sealed plastic bag or other waterproof packaging, submersion under 25 mm (1 in.) of water for 24 hours in the packaging, followed immediately by submersion under 25 mm (1 in.) of water for 10 minutes with the signal removed from the packaging.

(c) After each signal selected has undergone the conditioning required by paragraph (b) of this section it must be fired as described by the manufacturer's operating instructions. The following data as observed must be recorded for each signal:

(1) Burning time of the pyrotechnic candle;

(2) Color;

(3) Whether the pyrotechnic candle burns out above, at, or below the level of launch.

(d) A signal fails the operational tests if:

(1) It fails to fire,

(2) The pyrotechnic candle fails to ignite,

(3) The pyrotechnic candle continues to burn after it falls back to the level of launch,

(4) The observed color is other than vivid red, or

(5) The burning time is less than 5.5 seconds.

(e) A lot is rejected if a “reject lot” decision is reached using Figure (1) and Table 1 after completion of the operational tests.

Table 1 - Accept and Reject Criteria for Operational Test Lots

Lot size	Individual sample size	Sample	Cumulative sample size	Accept ¹	Reject ¹
280 or	8	First	8	( ²)	4
less.		Second	16	1	5
		Third	24	2	6
		Fourth	32	3	7
		Fifth	40	5	8
		Sixth	48	7	9
		Seventh	56	9	10
281 to	13	First	13	( ²)	4
500.		Second	26	1	6
		Third	39	3	8
		Fourth	52	5	10
		Fifth	65	7	11
		Sixth	78	10	12
		Seventh	91	13	14
501 to	20	First	20	( ²)	5
1,200.		Second	40	3	8
		Third	60	6	10
		Fourth	80	8	13
		Fifth	100	11	15
		Sixth	120	14	17
		Seventh	140	18	19
1,201 to	32	First	32	1	7
3,200.		Second	64	4	10
		Third	96	8	13
		Fourth	128	12	17
		Fifth	160	17	20
		Sixth	192	21	23
		Seventh	224	25	26
More	50	First	50	2	9
than		Second	100	7	14
3,200.		Third	150	13	19
		Fourth	200	19	25
		Fifth	250	25	29
		Sixth	300	31	33
		Seventh	350	37	38

¹ Cumulative number of failures.

² Lot may not be accepted. Next sample must be tested.