Buoyancy Categories

CE Categories - Life Jacket Buoyancy Ratings

It is important that you pick the correct CE Category to suit your type of activity and experience.
Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids are tested and rated to specific European Standards and split into CE categories. These are the universal criteria that define each product and the environment they are suitable for. These are split into four CE categories: 275N, 150N, 100N and 50N.


275 Newton Inflatable Lifejacket	150 Newton Inflatable/Air Foam Lifejacket	100 Newton FOAM Buoyancy Aid	50 Newton FOAM Buoyancy Aid
Yachting Sportsboat Powerboat (including RIBs)	Yachting Sportsboat Powerboat (including RIBs)	Dinghy Sailing Sportsboat Powerboat (including RIBs)	Mainly used for active surface watersports eg: Dinghy Sailing Canoeing Kite Surfing
Swimmers Non-swimmers	Swimmers Non-swimmers	Swimmers and Non-swimmers in Inshore & Coastal waters	Only suitable for competent swimmers
A high performance device for offshore and severe conditions, when maximum protection is required or where heavy waterproof clothing is worn.	For use in all but the most severe conditions	They give a reasonable assurance of safety from drowning in relatively calm waters	Sheltered water use where help is close at hand.
They give improved assurance of safety from drowning to people who are not capable of helping themselves.	They give reasonable assurance of safety from drowning, to people not fully capable of helping themselves.	They give a reasonable assurance of safety from drowning in relatively calm waters	Sheltered water use where help is close at hand.
While they cannot be guaranteed to self-right an unconscious user wearing heavy waterproofs, the buoyancy they provide should ensure they will, in the great majority of cases.	May not immediately self-right an unconscious user wearing heavy waterproof clothing. Equivalent performance to previous BSI Approved Lifejackets.	Not guaranteed to self-right an unconscious user wearing waterproof clothing and should not be expected to protect the airway of an unconscious person in rough water.	Only provides support to conscious people who can help themselves.
*EN 399*	*EN 396*	EN 395	*EN 393*