SOLAS and MED Approval
The Marine Equipment Directive (MED) defines safety and approval requirements for marine equipment used within the EU. Immersion suits fall within its scope.
The technical basis for approval is derived from the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the LSA Code (Life Saving Appliances), which define performance requirements for life-saving equipment.
SOLAS-approved immersion suits are divided into two thermal performance categories:
Six-hour suit
One-hour suit
SOLAS and EN ISO 15027 approvals are separate regulatory frameworks, although their requirements are partially aligned. A suit may carry both approvals or only one.
SOLAS requirements include high visibility; therefore, approved suits are typically manufactured in bright colours (e.g. orange).
The Red Ensign (wheel mark) is the UK equivalent of the EU MED wheel mark.
