1.1 These requirements cover immersion suits intended for United States Coast Guard (USCG) approval under 46 CFR 160.171.

1.2 The suits covered by these requirements are intended to reduce the occurrence of shock to the wearer upon entering cold water and retard the onset of hypothermia (reduce the rate of body heat loss during periods of immersion in water). Immersion suits are required by the USCG to provide thermal protection properties in accordance with USCG regulations [see Thermal Protection Test, Section 22 in this standard and 46 CFR 160.171-17(d)].

1.3 These requirements cover immersion suits that incorporate auxiliary, inflatable means to provide buoyancy as well as suits that rely only on inherently buoyant material to provide the required flotation characteristics.