Lifejackets Sign

Lifejackets Sign – SOLAS Life Saving Appliance LA0028

Every SOLAS-classed vessel carries lifejackets in quantities matched to its certified complement, stowed in lockers and cabins throughout the ship, and each stowage point needs a clear marker showing both what is stowed there and how many. The LA0028 lifejackets sign is the photoluminescent marker that does exactly that: a green background carrying the internationally recognised lifejacket pictogram alongside a quantity panel, glowing brightly enough to guide crew and passengers to the equipment even after main lighting has failed.

Because this pictogram communicates through shape and colour rather than language, it works identically for a multinational crew, a port state control inspector, or a passenger who has never read a safety manual. That universal readability is exactly why SOLAS Chapter III and the LSA Code call for this style of marking at every life-saving station aboard a vessel, and it is why shipowners standardise on the same sign fleet-wide.

Why Lifejackets Signs Matter

Lifejackets are only useful if they can be found instantly and in the correct quantity. In an abandon-ship situation, a crew member or passenger scanning a cabin, alleyway locker, or muster station should not have to guess which locker holds lifejackets or how many are stowed there. The lifejackets sign removes that guesswork, turning a general search into a direct sightline to the equipment. This is especially critical on passenger vessels where lifejacket lockers are distributed across multiple deck levels and cannot all be seen from one vantage point.

The sign also plays a role well beyond the moment of an incident. During musters, safety rounds, and flag-state or class surveys, inspectors check that every lifejacket stowage point is correctly marked, that quantities match the vessel’s safety plan, and that nothing has been removed or relocated without the signage being updated. A missing, faded, or mismatched lifejackets sign is a common finding on port state control inspections, and rectifying it after the fact is far more disruptive than fitting a compliant sign during the original outfit.

Compliance and Certification

This sign is manufactured to the pictogram format required under SOLAS Chapter III and the LSA Code, which set out the equipment carriage and marking requirements for life-saving appliances on ships of all classes. The photoluminescent substrate meets IMO photoluminescence performance standards, meaning the sign continues to glow for an extended period after the loss of ambient light, satisfying low-location and emergency-lighting marking expectations that class societies look for during survey.

Using the correct, unaltered pictogram also keeps a vessel’s safety plan consistent with what is physically fitted onboard. Safety plans, muster lists, and crew familiarisation drills all reference standard symbols and stowage counts, so a sign that departs from the recognised lifejackets icon or shows an incorrect quantity can create confusion during an audit or, worse, during an actual emergency response.

Installation Recommendations

Mount the LA0028 sign directly above or immediately adjacent to the lifejacket locker it identifies, at a height and angle that keeps it visible from the main walking line in that cabin, alleyway, or muster station. Position the sign clear of furniture, doors, or fittings that could shadow it, since photoluminescent material needs direct exposure to ambient or emergency lighting to charge properly.

Clean the surface before fitting with marine-grade adhesive or mechanical fixings appropriate to the substrate — painted steel, GRP, or cabin joinery — and update the quantity indicator whenever the number of lifejackets stowed at that location changes.

• Standard sizing to match IMO sign format requirements, with a clear quantity panel for stowage counts
• Photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) pigment for visibility during blackout or smoke-obscured conditions
• UV-stable and saltwater-resistant construction rated for continuous exterior marine exposure
• Self-adhesive backing plus optional screw-fixing points for secure mounting on vertical or curved surfaces
• Rigid, corrosion-resistant substrate that resists cracking and fading through repeated weather cycling

Fit LA0028 wherever lifejackets are stowed and keep a spare in the ship’s safety locker so a damaged sign can be replaced without delay — a small, inexpensive item that keeps a vessel’s life-saving equipment easy to find and audit-ready.

Lifejackets signage is one part of a complete life-saving and emergency marking package. Explore our Hazard Signs range for onboard hazard identification, or the Fire Fighting Signs range to complete marking of fire-fighting stations and appliances throughout the vessel.