Please email your questions about RFD's marine safety and survival products and services to your nearest RFD office, listed below.

What does RFD stand for?

• The name of the gentleman that originally formed RFD was Reginald Foster Dagnall.

What does EPIRB stand for?

• Emergency position indicating radio beacon.

What does SOLAS stand for?

• Safety Of Life At Sea. This acronym is used by the international shipping community and is used as a generic term for describing a minimum standard of equipment and procedures.

What's the difference between a lifejacket and buoyancy vest/aid?

• A lifejacket has increased buoyancy which includes a collar designed to keep your head out of the water. If necessary it will turn an unconscious person over from a face down position in the water.
• A buoyancy vest (or aid) has 25% less buoyancy and does not have a collar. They are generally used for active water sports.

What benefits do I receive for purchasing a lifejacket with the NZ standard's "S" mark versus no "S" mark?

• Lifejackets/buoyancy vests/aids displaying this symbol have been manufactured to a minimum standard. This standard guarantees the purchaser that all components used in the manufacture meet minimum performance specifications as determined by NZ Standards/Bureau Veritas (NZ) Ltd.

What does the emergency pack of a liferaft contain?

• This will depend on what the liferaft's intended use. For example a commercial passenger vessel needs will vary from a coastal leisure vessel. Common items include food, water, pyrotechnics, first aid kit, bellows, sea sick tablets, paddles, torch, sea anchor, bailer and emergency instructions.

How often does a liferaft need to be serviced?

• Again this depends upon the liferafts intended use. Any commercial vessel's liferaft is required to be serviced annually. Non commercial / leisure liferafts need to be serviced annually, unless indicated otherwise by the manufacturer. However these must also comply with local regulations. E.g. Yachts having to meet a specified racing category.

How long will a liferaft last?

• Modern liferafts of synthetic material (e.g. polyurethane) with regular servicing can be expected to last 15 - 20 years.
• Older liferafts of rubber composition can expect a lesser life span and are markedly affected by heat and humidity.

What is the life of a flare (pyrotechnic)?

• Manufactures date these products with a 3-year life. However flares may need to be replaced before this depending on how they are stowed.

What is the difference between flares?

• Red hand flares are designed to be held in the hand to pin point your position. Burn time = 1 minute. Candlepower = 15,000.
• White hand flares whilst designed to be held in the hand are intended to be an anti collision signal. Burn time = 1 minute. Candlepower = 15,000.
• Orange hand smoke torches are designed to be a hand held day time distress signal. Their effectiveness is determined by the amount of wind present. Burn time = 1 minute x dense orange smoke.
• Buoyant orange smokes are designed to operate whilst floating in the water. They are a day time signal excellent for marking your position and also indication wind direction and strength to assist helicopter. Burn time = 4 minutes x dense orange smoke.
• Parachute distress rockets are designed to indicate a distress situation where line of sight is impaired. E.g. over the horizon. Burn time = 40 seconds. Candlepower = 40,000, attaining a height of 300 meters.