EN 1809:2014+A1:2016
(Main + Amendment)Diving equipment - Buoyancy compensators - Functional and safety requirements, test methods
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard specifies functional, safety requirements and test methods applicable to inflatable type buoyancy compensating devices intended to provide divers with means for controlling buoyancy and if applicable, means for carrying the breathing equipment and/or carrying the weights.
This European Standard is not applicable to other kinds of personal equipment such as life preservers, personal flotation or rescue devices including combined buoyancy and rescue devices.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 08-Mar-2016
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 136 - Sports, playground and other recreational equipment
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 136/WG 7 - Diving accessories for sports skin divers
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 13-Feb-2026
- Completion Date
- 23-Sep-2026
- Directive
- Harmonized Standard2016/425 - Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC
Not Harmonized89/686/EEC - Personal protective equipment (PPE)OJ Ref: C, C 332 OJ Date: 09-Sep-2016
Overview
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 is a European Standard from CEN that defines functional and safety requirements and test methods for inflatable type buoyancy compensating devices (BCs) used in diving. The standard covers inflatable buoyancy compensators that allow divers to control buoyancy and - where applicable - carry breathing equipment and/or weights. It does not apply to life preservers, personal flotation or rescue devices. EN 1809 includes Amendment A1:2016 and supports essential requirements of the PPE Directive.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard specifies mandatory features, performance criteria and laboratory/practical tests, including:
Mandatory features
- Oral inflation device: accessible while wearing gloves; no sharp edges; must withstand a 150 N pull for ~10 s and permit easy mouth inflation (tested per 5.10 / 5.13).
- Compressed-gas inflation: medium-pressure hose and valve with positive actuation (button or automatic); quick-disconnect options; must remain functional at twice rated medium pressure or ≥ (20 ± 1) bar and withstand 30 bar for 60 s. Flow from hose (if quick-connect) ≥ 250 l/min STPD at 10 bar.
- Deflation device(s): at least one manual deflation operable with gloves, providing a buoyancy loss > 20 N/s; flow capacity ≥ maximum inflation flow; pull systems must withstand 150 N for 10 s.
- Pressure relief: prevents overpressurization; internal pressure shall not exceed 50% of burst pressure during tests; minimum burst pressure ≥ 0.5 bar above atmospheric.
- Drainage: entrapped water weight < 2% of maximum buoyancy and ≤ 0.8 kg.
- Harness and carrying system: secure attachment, accommodate body sizes, not impede ballast removal.
Optional features
- Auxiliary inflation devices and integrated ballast systems are covered with specific actuation, flow and accessibility requirements (e.g., auxiliary inflation must produce buoyancy increase > 50 N/s at atmospheric pressure).
Test methods (Clause 5)
- Visual inspection, environmental conditioning (high/low temperature, artificial sea water), hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy measurement, inflator and deflation tests, pressure relief, drainage, flow-capacity checks, practical performance tests and marking/instructions verification.
Applications and users
EN 1809 is essential for:
- Dive equipment manufacturers and designers for product development and compliance
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies performing CE/PPE evaluations
- Procurement officers and safety managers specifying compliant BCs
- Technical writers preparing manuals and labeling that meet marking/instruction requirements
Use the standard to ensure safety, interoperability (e.g., medium-pressure hose/connectors), and reliable in-water performance of inflatable buoyancy compensators.
Related standards
- EN 250 (normative reference) - respiratory diving equipment requirements
- Informative Annex ZA - relationship with PPE Directive 89/686/EEC
- Annex A - artificial sea water composition (conditioning tests)
Keywords: EN 1809, buoyancy compensator, diving equipment, test methods, safety requirements, inflatable BC, CEN standard.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 18-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 23-Dec-2015
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Diving equipment - Buoyancy compensators - Functional and safety requirements, test methods". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies functional, safety requirements and test methods applicable to inflatable type buoyancy compensating devices intended to provide divers with means for controlling buoyancy and if applicable, means for carrying the breathing equipment and/or carrying the weights. This European Standard is not applicable to other kinds of personal equipment such as life preservers, personal flotation or rescue devices including combined buoyancy and rescue devices.
This European Standard specifies functional, safety requirements and test methods applicable to inflatable type buoyancy compensating devices intended to provide divers with means for controlling buoyancy and if applicable, means for carrying the breathing equipment and/or carrying the weights. This European Standard is not applicable to other kinds of personal equipment such as life preservers, personal flotation or rescue devices including combined buoyancy and rescue devices.
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 97.220.40 - Outdoor and water sports equipment. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 1809:2014, EN 1809:2014/FprA1, EN 250:2014, EN 14225-3:2017, EN 14225-2:2017, EN 14225-1:2017. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2016/425, 89/686/EEC; Standardization Mandates: M/031, M/301. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 1809:2014+A1:2016 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Tauch-Zubehör - Tariermittel - Funktionelle und sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen, PrüfverfahrenEquipement de plongée - Bouée d'équilibrage - Exigences fonctionnelles et de sécurité, méthodes d'essaiDiving equipment - Buoyancy compensators - Functional and safety requirements, test methods97.220.40Oprema za športe na prostem in vodne športeOutdoor and water sports equipmentICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 1809:2014+A1:2016SIST EN 1809:2014+A1:2016en,fr,de01-maj-2016SIST EN 1809:2014+A1:2016SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 1809:20141DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 1809:2014+A1
March
t r s x ICS
{ yä t t rä v r Supersedes EN
s z r {ã t r s vEnglish Version
Diving equipment æ Buoyancy compensators æ Functional and safety requirementsá test methods Equipement de plongée æ Bouée d 5équilibrage æ Exigences fonctionnelles et de sécuritéá méthodes d 5essai
TauchæZubehör æ Tariermittel æ Funktionelle und sicherheitstechnische Anforderungená Prüfverfahren This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s v May
t r s v and includes Amendment
s approved by CEN on
s s January
t r s xä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey andUnited Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s x CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s z r {ã t r s v ªA sã t r s x ESIST EN 1809:2014+A1:2016
Artificial sea water composition . 17 Annex ZA (informative)
Relationship between this European Standard and the Essential Requirements of Directive on personal protective equipment (PPE) 89/686/EEC . 18 Bibliography . 19
" Figure 1 — Quick release male connector The inflation device shall remain functional with a medium pressure twice its rated working pressure or at least (20 ± 1) bar. The inflation device shall withstand a medium pressure of at least 30 bar for 60 s. Testing is in accordance with 5.6.2. The medium pressure hoses assembly shall comply with the appropriate requirements of EN 250. If the medium pressure hose is provided with a quick connect coupling, the hose connected to the male part of the quick connect coupling shall have a minimum air flow of 250 l/min STPD, when connected to a constant 10 bar supply. Testing is in accordance with 5.12. The maximum buoyancy, determined in accordance with 5.5, shall be built up at a rate greater than 15 N/s at a minimum medium pressure according to manufacturer's instructions and in no case higher than 6 bar. Testing is in accordance with 5.6.1. 4.2.3 Deflation device 4.2.3.1 The BC shall have at least one manually operated deflation device. Testing is in accordance with 5.13. 4.2.3.2 If deflation devices are manually operated, they shall be activated by one positive manual operation, such as pressing a button or pulling a cord. They shall be operable even when wearing protective gloves (three fingers, (6 ± 1) mm, double-lined). At least one device shall be readily accessible at any stage of operation of the BC. Testing is in accordance with 5.13. 4.2.3.3 The flow capacity of at least one deflation device shall be greater than the maximum flow that may be achieved by any individual inflation device. SIST EN 1809:2014+A1:2016
...