46 C.F.R. § 160.066-12
Operational tests.
Cite as 46 C.F.R. § 160.066-12 (2026)
(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.