Testing and Inspecting your EPIRB
EPIRBs are subject to possibly the most demanding requirements of any shipborne equipment. Despite prolonged periods of continuous exposure to extreme weather conditions, with minimal maintenance attention, they are required to be ready to work without flaw, first time, in an emergency. EPIRB equipment design has developed to the point where exceptionally high effectiveness and reliability have become the norm, but such a demanding level of reliability can only be assured over a long period of time by a program of testing and maintenance which, although it need not be frequent or expensive, must be rigorously applied and conducted.
Inspecting your EPIRB is one of the most important tests you can provide to your vessel’s suite of safety equipment. The EPIRB is exposed to the elements at all times yet must be able to perform properly at a moment’s notice. For that reason, your EPIRB and its ancillary devices should be inspected monthly to ensure that they are always ready to work.
Vessel inspectors, EPIRB manufacturers, and service engineers report a worrying number of cases where equipment has been found incorrectly setup, or poorly maintained. This is of particular concern since it is unlikely to be apparent to the crew that the equipment may not work in an emergency.
If you have a 406 MHz EPIRB their signal can be instantly detected by geostationary satellites. This means that even a brief inadvertent signal can generate a false alert. To avoid getting a call from the Coast Guard make sure that when you test your EPIRB you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations carefully. Many false distress alerts continue to be caused by human error during the testing and maintenance of EPIRBs and their ancillary devices, as well as through mishandling by inexperienced persons.
Throughout the inspection and testing process, great care must be taken to avoid the transmission of a false distress alert.
Inspection of the EPIRB Housing
HRU Expiration Date
EPIRB Lanyard
Checking for Physical Damage
Proper Registration
EPIRB Battery Expiration Date
Batteries must be replaced by the date indicated on the EPIRB label using the model specified by the manufacturer. It should be replaced by a dealer approved by the manufacturer. If the replacement battery is not the proper type, the EPIRB will not operate for the duration specified in a distress.
SELF-TESTING YOUR EPIRB
Most EPIRBs have a visible test switch that is usually spring loaded so it cannot be left on inadvertently and thus reduce the life of the battery. A light will indicate that the test circuits are operating correctly. Sometimes this light will also activate the strobe light. It is recommended that the self-test switch be held for no more than 2 flashes of the strobe light or no longer than 1 minute after the first self-test mode burst transmission.
When operating a 406 MHz EPIRB self-test, the EPIRB is allowed to radiate a single burst which is specially coded so that it is ignored by the COSPAS-SARSAT system. The EPIRB must never be tested by actual operation. If it is accidentally activated in the transmit mode, then it should be turned off at once and the false alert cancelled by calling the nearest U.S. Coast Guard Station and have them contact the nearest Rescue Coordination Center.