DRY SUIT USER`S MANUAL
Contents
1. DRY SUIT USER S MANUAL warnine Read this manual before using this suit Retain the manual in a safe place for the lifetime of the garment Contact the manufacturer if any aspect of the information given in this manual is unclear or you require further information INTRODUCTION Welcome to this User s Manual It is intended for users of Viking dry suits All procedures described in this manual require adequate skill and knowledge in the use of dry suits through training by a qualified and certified instructor In the manual risks to persons or equipment are indicated by the following types of notices A WARNING A warning notice indicates a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided may cause injury or death Warning notices are designed in the style of this notice CAUTION A cautionary notice indicates a situation which may cause damage or malfunction to material or equipment Cautionary notices are designed in the style of this notice A WARNING Diving with a dry suit can be extremely dangerous Do not attempt to use this dry suit without prior training and certification by a quali fied and certified instructor and use of all necessary and appropriate equipment INTRODUCTION Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION Safety instructions Description Description of marking in the suit European CE approval DRESSING Components accessories and spare parts Insulati2. This approval includes the additional requirements for chemical protection See page 43 for further information VII INTRODUCTION A WARNING IMPROPER MAINTENANCE USE OR MISUSE OF THIS DRY SUIT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH Follow established diving safety practice Do not dive over the limits of your ability and training Do not use this suit without being familiar with diving equipment and having had prior qualified training Do not use this dry suit until you have practised and mastered practical dry suit skills including emergency skills in a controlled environment under supervision of a dive instructor certified by a nationally recognised instructional organisation and knowledgeable in the use of dry suits Do not use this suit without evaluating the conditions before every dive and making sure they fit your personal capabilities Regularly service and maintain the suit and its parts Check equipment before and during every dive Improper maintenance use or misuse of this dry suit could cause loss of buoyancy control and exposure to thermal hazards including un controlled descents and uncontrolled rapid ascents body overheating or overcooling resulting in drowning decompression sickness air embolism stroke or seizure Do not use this dry suit until you have read understood and followed all instructions and safety precautions in the User s Manual Never dive without accepting your own responsibility f
3. are available at www vikingdiving com Compatibility Diving suits with latex neck seal and cuffs may be combined with a hood and gloves of your choice Fixed gloves and hoods must be Viking The inflator hose is manufactured with UNF 3 8 coupling and is compatible with all major diving breathing apparatuses See also page 5 and 35 of this manual 44 hS VA TRELLEBORG Trelleborg Protective Products AB Johan Kocksgatan 10 SE 231 81 Trelleborg Sweden Tel 46 0 410 510 0O Fax 46 0 410 518 50 protective trelleborg com www vikingdiving com Trelleborg Protective Products AB 0710
4. not properly stored and maintained Follow the instructions in this chapter 1 Clean the suit Rinse with fresh water or a mild soap solution Do not forget to rinse valves as described in this chapter 2 Dry the suit before storage To dry the inside wrap the suit inside out if necessary 3 Use unscented talcum powder on latex parts Do not use silicone lubricants 4 Lubricate the zipper The only acceptable lubricant is the one recommended by Viking and the zipper manufacturer a fluid and a wax Apply the fluid to the inner elements Use wax sparingly Close and open the zipper carefully twice Under no circumstance should silicone spray be used on the zipper or any other portion of the suit 5 Roll up the suit Roll up the suit starting with the feet The zipper should be open during storage 24 MAINTENANCE 6 Store the suit Fold sleeves around the suit Put the suit in the bag and close it carefully 7 Inspection For suits kept in storage and not in use we recommend annual in spections The inspection can either be performed by an authorised Viking dealer or by the user owner of the suit In the latter case the inspection should at least consist of the following steps Visual inspection for any kind of damage to suit material seams and components Make sure all components are properly attached Perform a pressure test see Pressure testing Check valve function see clause 3 under Valves be
5. repairs allow 3 hours for curing and then carry out another pressure test to ascertain the integrity of the suit CAUTION Risk of damage to the suit material due to over inflating Do not over inflate the suit 16 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Gluing preparations Wherever possible dry suit repairs should be undertaken by a qua lified dry suit repair service If the dry suit owner undertakes any repairs the following procedures should be followed to ensure proper techniques are employed 1 Remove the tape On suits with tape around the latex cuffs remove tape by using cleaning solvents Use heptane or white gas A WARNING Risk of eye injury from contact with solvent Wear proper eye covers to protect your eyes 2 Remove the cuff Pull latex until old glue releases 3 Sand new latex Sand new latex 20 mm 3 4 on inside and when using tape 12 mm 1 2 on outside as well Sand also suit sleeve 25 mm 17 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT 4 Clean with solvent Clean all surfaces to be glued Use heptane or white gas A WARNING Risk of eye injury from contact with solvent Wear proper eye covers to protect your eyes 18 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Gluin 1 Apply two layers of glue Apply two layers of glue with 15 minutes drying time for each layer both on the inside of the new latex cuff and on the outside of the sleeve 2 Attach the new latex cuff Use a bottle or a round p
6. ILY Acids Ac H SO 50 aqueous 7664 93 9 Inorganic acid Bases Bs NaOH 50 aqueous 1310 73 2 Alkaline solution Polar solvent Ps lsopropanol 67 63 0 Alcohol Hydrocarbon Hc Toluene 0 05 aqueous 108 88 3 Aromatic hydrocarbon Fuel oils F Liquid B 70 iso octane Petroleum 30 toluene Liquid F 80 paraffin oil Diesel 20 1 methyl naphthalene aviation fuel Note The fuel oils B and F are as described in ISO 1817 1999 Viking HDS test result CHEMICAL PERMEATION BT TIME EN 14225 2 MINUTES PROTECTION Material Seam Zipper INDEX Sulphuric acid H SO 50 aqueous gt 480 gt 480 gt 480 High Sodium hydroxide NaOH 50 aqueous gt 480 gt 480 gt 480 High lsopropanol gt 480 gt 480 gt 480 High Toluene 0 05 aqueous gt 480 gt 480 gt 480 High Liquid B 127 126 48 High low Liquid F gt 480 gt 480 gt 480 High BT Breakthrough 43 APPENDIX Customer information to be provided at the point of sale In accordance with EN 14225 2 we provide the following information which is intended to be made available at the point of sale Risks conditions and limitations of use Please see the information in following sections WARNING on page IX of this manual Safety instructions on page IV of this manual Warning on allergic reactions on page V of this manual Size designations For sizes see the marking in the suit which is explained on page VII of this manual Charts of available sizes
7. NTAMINATED WATER DIVING Foreword Our goal with this chapter is to provide you with the information on Viking dry suits needed to make informed decisions to help ensure protection for the diver in contaminated water diving environments In certain circumstances your best decision may be not to dive A WARNING When possible diving in contaminated water should be avoided If you are not trained for this type of diving operation do not attempt it The information in this chapter does not provide all the information or training needed to plan a dive operation The diving supervisor and the diver must take responsibility for the safety of the diver based on a risk assessment of the actual conditions at the dive site The data contained here has been developed from tests conducted under controlled laboratory conditions not in actual diving environments The user must determine the applicability of these test results for the actual exposure anticipated The test results are specific for Viking materials and components Com parisons to the performance of other manufacturers diving equipment cannot be made 36 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING Suggested diving systems The following diving systems offer varying amounts of protection There are uses environments and chemicals for which these systems are unsuitable It is the responsibility of the diving supervisor and the diver to review the available data and verify that the
8. UTION Risk of severe damage to the dry suit or its equipment leading to malfunction if the suit is not properly serviced Service must be undertaken even if the suit is not in regular use 26 MAINTENANCE Disposal All suits that are damaged beyond repair and cannot be made to pass all inspections and checks described above must be taken out of service and disposed of The proper method of disposal will depend on local regulations In general the suit should be treated as rubber waste and as such the proper method of disposal is normally incineration or landfill For suits that are contaminated with chemicals local regulations for the chemicals in questions must be taken into account 2T DRY SUIT DIVING Technique 1 Before you go into the water Before you go into the water put on the dry suit as described in the chapter on Dressing Make sure all equipment is in place and fully functional 2 Go into the water Enter the water feet first with the outlet valve closed and with a little air in the suit to assure positive buoyancy for surface flotation 3 Check buoyancy for proper weighting Empty your separate bouyancy compen sation device buoyancy aid BCD See your BCD manual Open the valve com pletely by turning the valve lid counter clockwise Raise the valve to the highest point allowing air to exhaust A WARNING Diving with a dry suit can be extremely dangerous Do not attempt to use
9. ation by Trelleborg Viking However just because a piece of equipment visually appears to be in good condition the performance cannot be guaranteed A WARNING Damage of diving equipment due to exposure to contaminants can not always be identified by visual inspection Caution must always be used before reusing equipment that has previously been exposed to chemical environments 40 hS CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING The assessment shall consider the severity of the chemical exposure including such factors as Duration of the exposure Concentration of the hazardous materials Toxicity of the hazardous materials IDLH PEL TLV recommendations Skin absorption and cancer notations Acute and systemic toxicity poison suspect carcinogen carcinogen teratogen The assessment shall consider the chemical affinity between the hazar dous materials and the dry suit including Breakthrough times Permeation rates Discoloration or other manifestations of the contamination Degradation If there is any question if the dry suit can continue to be used Trel leborg Protective Products AB should be contacted for advice Please call to obtain an authorization before returning any suits IDLH Immediately dangerous to life and health Environments that pose an immediate threat to life or health PEL Personal exposure limit TLV Threshold limit value Specifies the ceiling limit of a toxic substance an average perso
10. e face ope ning and pull hood and neckseal over the head Pull the suit material but avoid pul ling the latex directly particularly with the finger nails 5 Release latex cuffs Release cuffs by gripping the material of the suit and pull in a smooth and easy move ment Pull the suit material if necessary but avoid pulling the latex directly particularly with the finger nails 6 Step out of the suit Note Information on how to take care of the suit afier diving is given in the chapter on MAINTENANCE 11 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Gluing general rules Wherever possible dry suit repairs should be undertaken by a qualified dry suit repair service If the dry suit owner undertakes any repairs the following procedures should be followed to ensure that proper techniques are employed Repairing a drysuit Do not inhale glue or hardener See warnings in this manual and on glue container Use only glue recommended by Trelleborg Other types of glue may damage the suit material For minor repair patching use glue polyurethane suits or vulcanisa tion solution rubber suits supplied with the Trelleborg repair kit Gluing preparation Ensure damaged area is dry Clean the surface to be glued Remove remains of old loose glue oil and grease Thoroughly sand down all new dry suit parts where they will be glued Clean sanded area with heptane or white gas Gluing Apply a thin layer of glue on both surfaces to be gl
11. ediately Show label where possible Use only in well ventilated conditions 1 Cloth tape 2 Suit material coated side 3 Fabric 4 Latex Glue Harmful Highly flammable Harmful by inhalation Contains Toluene and Butanone Irritating to eyes and respi ratory system Keep container in a well ventilated place Keep away from sources of ignition No smoking Do not breathe fumes Avoid contact with eyes Do not empty into drains Take precautionary measures static discharges 13 14 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Tools for repairs These wooden tools are handy equipment for major repairs of latex parts A Cylinder with spherical top for exchange of latex hoods and neckseals B Topped cone for exchange of latex cuffs All measurements in cm and inches 15 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Pressure testing Pressure testing To determine the position of a leak damaged area of the suit carry out a pressure test as follows 1 Seal openings Seal neck opening by for example placing a suitable sized ball in the neck seal Make sure the seal stretches and grips the ball Seal cuffs by for example placing an empty plastic bottle in each of the cuffs making sure the latex grips the bottles 2 Inflate and find leaks Inflate the suit and locate the leak by using soapy water or by partial submergence of the suit in water Mark the leak with a chalk before deflating the suit Verify repairs After
12. h a Viking rubber band DRESSING Pre dive equipment checks 1 Trim the seals The neck seal on a new suit must be adjusted to fit the diver approx 20 smaller than the circumference of the neck Trim carefully in small increments using a long sharp pair of scissors Lubricate the seals with pure unscen ted talcum powder when donning the suit so as to reduce friction against your skin A WARNING Failure to trim the neck seal may result in choking leading to injury or death 2 Connect the inflator hose to the valve Check visually to make certain that there is no damage or contamination to the con nector house valve head hose or O rings A WARNING Do not use other gas than air for inflation of the suit Using oxygen enriched gas for inflation one is in risk of fire and explosion Using argon there is a risk of this gas getting into a full face mask and the breathing system through the hood This has to be avoided because the effect of breathing argon is more narcotic than what nitrogen is when under increased partial pressure N WARNING Diving with defective equipment can cause injury or death Do not dive ifany equipment fails to function as intended Have them repaired or replaced at an authorised dive shop DRESSING 3 Check the valve function Connect air to the inlet valve and operate the valve Check that the valve opens and closes properly The suit wi
13. hin 1 Locate the leak Carry out a pressure test as described in the section on Pressure testing 2 Cleaning Sanding The suit must be dry Wash hands oil and grease must be removed Clean damaged area by rubbing with sand paper and remove loose particles Apply three layers of glue allowing 15 minutes drying time per layer 3 Patching Choose a suitable sized patch and re move the backing Apply vulcanisation solution rubber suits or two layers of glue polyurethane suits on the patch and the suit Allow to dry and apply the patch to cover the damaged area Risk of severe damage to the dry suit or its equipment leading to malfunction if the suit is not properly serviced Service must be undertaken even if the suit is not in regular use 21 22 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT 4 Fixing the patch Use a roller over the glued area to press out any air bubbles and to make sure the surfaces are firmly bonded Pay special attention to the areas where the glued parts cross over tape 5 Talcum powder rubber suits only Neutralize excessive solution with unscented talcum powder 6 Verify repairs After repairs allow 3 hours for curing then carry out a pressure test to as certain the integrity of the suit as described in the section on Pressure testing 23 MAINTENANCE Storage and maintenance CAUTION Risk of severe damage to the dry suit or its equipment leading to mal function if the suit is
14. iece of wood inside the sleeve as a form to ease the installation of the new latex cuffs Apply the new latex cuff Avoid streching the latex cuff Attach by using two opposite points and work your way around one side at atime Pull it loose and begin again if it becomes uneven There must be no folds or crea ses the latex should lie smoothly along the cuff When the latex is properly at tached secure it by pressing firmly with the roller 19 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT 3 When using tape apply two coats of glue to the area it will cover on the outside 4 Apply tape Apply the tape half on suit and half on latex cuff to cover the joint bet ween latex and suit material Smooth with a roller Overlap cloth tape 5 Apply talcum powder Neutralize excessive glue with un scented talcum powder especially on the inside of the latex part 20 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT 6 Verify repairs After repairs allow 3 hours for curing then carry out a pressure test to ascertain the integrity of the suit as described in the section on Pressure testing 7 Service your suit and its parts on regular basis Let an authorised Viking dealer service your dry suit valves inflator hose zipper and seals on regular basis and for more complicated repairs At least one service a year must be undertaken but more frequently if the suit is in heavy or extraordinary use CAUTION REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Patc
15. ing the valve to exhaust some air Your buoyancy will decrease and you will slowly sink Stop your descent To prevent further venting of suit air return to normal swimming position and if ne cessary add a little air to the suit to regain neutral buoyancy 9 Ascending Slow your ascent While ascending or swimming towards shallow water the outlet valve will release expanding suit air in proportion to the decrease in ambient pressure If you are properly weighted you should be able to control your rate of ascent simply by raising or lowering your upper left arm and the exhaust valve To slow your ascent lift your upper left arm so the valve is at the highest point and can exhaust air freely Additional venting If additional venting is necessary fully open the valve counter clockwise or the valve can be manually depressed to obtain the same result 30 DRY SUIT DIVING Extra lift during ascent If you want extra lift during ascent simply lower the valve by bringing your upper left arm to your side If further lift is needed turn the valve lid slightly clockwise Inflator valve free flowing If the inflator valve starts to free flow at an uncontrolled rate discon nect the inflator hose Emergency ascent If you are unable to inflate the suit or if the suit is leaking air dump the weight belt to gain positive buoyancy 10 On the surface On the surface immediately close the outlet valve by turning it cloc
16. it feet first This may be easier to do from a sitting position 3 Adjust the cuffs Put your arms one at a time through the sleeves and slide your hands into the latex cuffs so the seals are smoothly seated on your wrist Pull the suit material if necessary but avoid pulling directly on the latex particu larly with the finger nails DRESSING 4 Pull the hood over your head Put your hands from the outside of the hood and neckseal Pull apart and slide the hood onto your head 5 Adjust the neckseal and hood Adjust the neckseal by folding it smoothly downwards around your neck Make certain there are no wrinkles or folds which could allow water to enter Also adjust the hood around your face so that your mask will attach to your face skin only Make certain there is no hair or thermal innerhood sticking out under the hood 6 Close the zipper Make sure that the person who closes your zipper is careful not to catch any underwear material in the zipper teeth 7 Connect the inflator hose Make certain that the inflator hose does not interfere with the operation of or access to any other equipment DRESSING Check before entering the water 1 Connect the inflator hose to the valve Check that the inflator hose is properly con nected to the valve Check for damage and contamination 2 Inflate the suit Inflate the suit so you feel air entering the suit 3 Vent exhaust air Open the outlet valve by turni
17. jury or death Do not dive if any equipment fails to function as intended Have them repaired or replaced at an authorised dive shop DRESSING Hoods The hood protects your head and neck from getting cold Choose a proper hood best fit ted for the conditions where you dive Gloves and mitts Keep your hands warm in order to be able to control your equipment during the dive Use dry gloves or mittens with separate liners that together with cuff rings can connect to the suit Gloves with wool liners will protect down to approx 10 C In colder water mittens or better insulated gloves are recommended A WARNING Diving with new and unfamiliar equipment can be extremely dange rous Always practise your dry suit diving skills with new equipment under controlled conditions supervised by a qualified and certified instructor DRESSING Installation of cuff rings 1 Insert the inner ring Insert the plastic inner ring with grooved edge first down the sleeve until the forward edge rests under the latex cuff a little below the sleeve end 2 Place the outer ring Slide the rubber outer ring over the latex cuff and inner ring locking it into place by pressing it up and over the edge of the inner ring The distal edges of both cuff rings will be even when they are properly seated 3 Put on the gloves Put on the latex gloves and pull the rolled edge over the lip of the outer cuff ring to form a seal Secure wit
18. kwise and add a little air to the suit for flotation In rough conditions you may need buoyancy aid on the surface Use your separate buoyancy compensator aid rather than adding extra air to the suit N WARNING Do not use other gas than air for inflation of the suit Using oxygen enriched gas for inflation one is in risk of fire and explosion Using argon there is a risk of this gas getting into a full face mask and the breathing system through the hood This has to be avoided because the effect of breathing argon is more narcotic than what nitrogen is when under increased partial pressure A WARNING Risk of fatal injury from air embolism or decompression sickness due to rapid ascent Do not attempt to use your suit as a lifting device Dropping the load may cause uncontrolled and rapid ascent DRY SUIT DIVING Valves 1 Outlet valve Our patented outlet valve is located on the upper left arm of the suit within easy reach of the right hand for adjustment as well as for automatic air dumping when the diver is upright It is located well out of the way of harnesses and other equipment On ascent providing the diver is properly weighted and the valve is properly adjusted the outlet valve dumps air automatically to maintain perfect buoyancy control and helps to prevent an uncontrolled ascent A properly adjusted valve will give you handsfree buoyancy control The outlet valve can be adjusted to maintain the positive p
19. ll inflate if the valve is working properly 4 Check the zipper Check that the zipper opens and closes pro perly and that no material such as underwear fiber or lint is caught in the zipper s teeth Check that the zipper is free from dirt and sand Lubricate the zipper if necessary Use only lubricant recommended by Viking and the zipper manufacturer Silicon spray is dangerous to your zipper and suit Note See also the chapter on maintenance for more thorough information on how to lubricate the zipper 5 Assembly of hose to low pressure port The inflator hose must be connected to a LOW pressure port on the regulator s first stage or to another source of low pressure air Maximum working pressure is 15 BAR 225 psi The inflator hose is manufac tured with UNF 3 8 coupling Note Avoid sharp bends in the hose Do not bend the hose below a minimum radius of 4 cm 1 5 6 Stiff latex in cold weather use Cold and low temperatures make the latex parts stiff and brittle Warm them up gently with something that keeps a temperature of 37 C to 40 C to make them smooth and easy to put on just before use DRESSING Dressing instruction 1 Take off all jewellery It is important to remove all rings watches and necklaces and other items which could tear the latex seals CAUTION Sharp objects can tear the suit material with risk of leakage or mal funtion Remove all sharp objects 2 Step into the su
20. low Any sign of damage leak or malfunction means the suit must not be used Any suit that does not pass the inspection completely must be re paired or if not possible to repair taken out of service and discarded CAUTION Risk of severe damage to dry suit parts made of rubber leading to leakage and taring if the suit is exposed to ozone or solvents The dry suit must be stored away from light with no ozone generators electrical equipment or chemical solvents present 25 MAINTENANCE Valves 1 Maintenance outlet valve After each dive rinse with fresh water to make sure no salt sand or other particles are trapped in the sealing surface 2 Maintenance inlet valve After each dive rinse the inlet valve and the inflator hose with fresh water Keep the valve and hose connected and pressurised while rinsing with fresh water Inspect the valve and hose making sure no dirt is stuck between the housing and push button 3 Check that valves are functioning To check if the valves are functioning inflate suit with inlet valve and release air manually through the outlet valve Check that each valve opens and closes properly 4 Service your suit on a regular basis Let an authorised Viking dealer service your suit and its parts valves inflator hose zipper and seals on a regular basis At least one annual service must be undertaken but more frequently if the suit is in heavy or extraordinary use CA
21. n cause skin irritation and allergic reactions to individuals sensitive to these materials Consult medical advise if in doubt A WARNING Diving with a dry suit can be extremely dangerous Do not attempt to use this dry suit without prior training and certification by a quali fied and certified instructor and use of all necessary and appropriate equipment INTRODUCTION Description A dry suit is a suit which protects its wearer by the exclusion of water and contaminants when underwater Latex seals are attached to the body of the suit at the neck and cuffs to prevent water from entering whilst submerged Various types of underwear can be worn under the suit depending on water temperature depth and diver activity The conservation of body heat using thermal protection in cold deep water is vitally important to the safety and efficiency of divers professional and amateur alike The following chapters describe in detail how to use maintain and carry out certain repairs to your dry suit A WARNING The suit itself does not have a depth limit but all diving at large depths is potentially dangerous and requires special training skills and know how A WARNING Do not use other gas than air for inflation of the suit Using oxygen enriched gas for inflation one is in risk of fire and explosion Using argon there is a risk of this gas getting into a full face mask and the breathing system through the h
22. n in reasonable health may be exposed to repeatedly on a daily basis with no ill effects These benchmarks are set and revised on an annual basis by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists A WARNING When possible diving in contaminated water should be avoided Ifyou are not trained for this type of diving operation do not attempt it 41 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING Data contained in this chapter has been developed from tests conducted under controlled laboratory conditions not in actual diving environ ments The user must determine the applicability of these test results for the actual exposure anticipated The test results are specific for Viking materials and components Com parisons to the performance of other manufacturers diving equipment cannot be made There are uses environments and chemicals for which these systems are unsuitable It is the responsibility of the user to review available data and verify the system for the intended use 42 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING EN 14225 2 chemical hazard protection approval data EN 14225 2 contains requirements for dry diving suits offering pro tection from chemical hazards The Viking HDS is approved to these requirements Test data are given below For further information see EN 14225 2 or consult an authorized Viking dealer or Trelleborg Protective Products AB EN 14225 2 test chemicals CATEGORY SYMBOL CHEMICAL CAS NR CHEMICAL FAM
23. nature 5 Never dive alone Dive with a buddy who has a thorough under standing of your dry suit system Do always have people on land or in a boat that are able to help you in case of emergency A WARNING Risk of injury due to reduced body functions when diving in cold water Water or air temperatures below 70 F 21 C constitute cold water diving Water or air temperatures below 40 F 5 C constitute ice diving Ice diving is dangerous and requires special equipment training preparation and procedures IV INTRODUCTION Safety instructions 6 Use the correct amount of insulation for the water conditions you are diving in and your exercise rate 7 Your weighting should allow you to make a decompression at ten feet at the completion of your dive with a tank containing 500 psi of air or less Determine the appropriate weight needed to attain neutral buoyancy by for example a pool dive Weight yourself at neutral buoyancy with an empty tank An increased salinity in the water requires more weight 8 Check your valves hose zipper and seals before each dive 9 Perform preventive maintenance and repairs on the suit regularly At least once a year have the suit valves and hose serviced by a qualified dealer service but more frequently if the suit is in heavy or extraordinary use 10 Know your limitations and do not exceed them AN WARNING Risk of skin irritation and allergic reactions The dry suit materials ca
24. ng clothing and equipment Installation of cuff rings Pre dive equipment checks Dressing instruction Check before entering the water Undressing REPAIRING A DRY SUIT Gluing general rules Pressure testing Gluing preparations Gluing Patching MAINTENANCE Storage and maintenance Valves Disposal DRY SUIT DIVING Technique Valves Hose II IV VII VIII ON WN KR Ne ry 12 16 17 19 22 24 26 27 28 32 35 INTRODUCTION 6 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING Foreword Suggested diving systems Gloves Decontamination Recommendations and considerations Inspection EN 14225 2 chemical hazard protection approval data _ APPENDIX Customer information to be provided at point of sale __ MI 36 37 38 39 40 43 44 INTRODUCTION Safety instructions These guidelines are recommended by Viking Follow them for your safety and incorporate them in your routine as a mandatory pre dive check list If your equipment fails to work as intended DO NOT USEIT HAVE THE PROBLEMS CORRECTED BY A QUALIFIED DIVE SHOP 1 Complete a dry suit diving course led by a certified instructor and maintain proficiency by regular dives 2 Use a buoyancy compensator device for surface flotation and for your safety 3 Know your equipment and emergency procedures Read the User s Manuals for all your equipment 4 Practice your dry suit diving skills under controlled conditions until they become second
25. ng the valve lid counter clockwise and bend down to force excess air out of the outlet valve and ensure that it functions properly 4 Close the outlet valve Close the valve by turning the lid clock wise A WARNING Diving with defective equipment can cause injury or death Do not dive ifany equipment fails to function as intended Have them repaired DRESSING 5 Depress the valve Release air from outlet valve by depressing the valve to make sure the valve is functio ning 6 Check the zipper Let your diving buddy check that your zipper is properly closed 7 Always wear a buoyancy aid Always wear a separate buoyancy compensa tor or buoyancy aid BCD 8 Finally check the water condition again before entering the water A WARNING Falling into water with the dry suit open can cause injury or drowning since the dry suit will quickly be filled by water Always keep the suit or replaced at an authorised dive shop zipper properly closed when you are near deep water or on a boat 10 DRESSING Undressing 1 Disconnect inflator hose Disconnect the inflator hose before remo ving other equipment 2 Open the zipper If the zipper sticks do not force it Investigate the problem and remove ob stacles 3 Before taking off a latex hood Put your hands inside the suit between the neckseal and your neck Push out the latex and pull over your head 4 Take off the hood Grasp the neckseal through th
26. ood This has to be avoided because the effect of breathing argon is more narcotic than what nitrogen is when under increased partial pressure A WARNING Risk of injury due to reduced body functions when diving in cold water Water or air temperatures below 70 F 21 C constitute cold water diving Water or air temperatures below 40 F 5 C constitute ice diving Ice diving is dangerous and requires special equipment training preparation and procedures VI INTRODUCTION Description of marking in the suit Field 1 Brand name Field 2 Model Field 3 CE approval number of no tified body see page VIII Field 4 Size Field 5 Pictogram with measure ments in centimetres Field 6 Request to read instructions in User s Manual Field 7 Washing instructions Field 8 Article number of suit Field 9 The suit s individual batch number Field 10 Suit manufacturer Field 11 Address suit manufacturer Field 12 Warning text see page IX Vil INTRODUCTION European CE approval The Viking suits have been tested and approved by notified body no 0403 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Department of Physics Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A FIN 00250 Helsinki Finland The suits are CE marked and have EC type approval under the Council Directive 89 686 EEC on personal protective equipment The Viking HDS has been tested and approved to the European standard on drysuits EN 14225 2 2005
27. or safety on every dive If the User s Manual is unavailable or lost another copy can be obtained by writing the manufacturer or be downloaded from www vikingdiving com IX DRESSING Components accessories and Spare parts Each Viking suit is supplied with Bag Suspenders Inflator hose User s manual Repair kit including zipper lubricant and talcum powder In addition to the above a full range of accessories and spare parts are available please refer to the Viking price list Viking catalogue and or website www vikingdiving com for details DRESSING Insulating clothing and equipment Thermal protection underwear In order to protect the diver from cooling which could result in re duced body functions it is highly important to dress correctly under the dry suit A The neck area and shoulders are very important to protect Each individual has different abilities to preserve the body heat Adjust your clothing choice of type thickness and amount of insulating layers after your activity level weather and water temperature Wear sports underwear C covering wrist to shoulder next to the body B and over this an insulating dress D It is of vital importance to have the right buoyancy for maximum insulating protection NOTE See also the chapter on dry suit diving for more thorough information on how to adjust weights for the right buoyancy A WARNING Diving with defective equipment can cause in
28. pecific chemical encountered This decision may only be made by people educated for this task and with a good working knowledge in chemistry In the absence of such knowledge the minimum decontamination shall consist of rinsing or spraying the garment with water and scrub bing lightly with a soft bristled brush using Simple Green 10 1 water Crystal Simple Green or Simple Green All purpose Cleaner This process shall be repeated at least twice The health and safety of the diver both during and after the deconta mination process and the health and safety of the personnel applying the decontamination agent must be taken into consideration After removal the drysuit must be placed in a suitable container for subsequent cleaning additional decontamination inspection or disposal 39 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING Inspection An assessment of the need for additional decontamination shall be made if the dry suit is to be reused after it has been exposed to hazar dous materials and initially decontaminated A close visual inspection of any diving equipment used in contaminated water is essential once the gear has been decontaminated During the inspection the diver should look for any of the following Brittleness of the material Colour changes in the material Swollen material Any of the above conditions should make you immediately suspect the equipment may have been damaged and should not be used again without further examin
29. ressure inside the suit Air can also be dumped at any time by depressing the valve lid A WARNING The outlet valve is critical to safety Risk of valve malfunction which may result in unability to ascend during dive if the valve is tampered with The outlet valve does not contain any user serviceable parts Replacement should be made by your authorised dealer A WARNING Diving with defective equipment can cause injury or death Do not dive if any equipment fails to function as intended Have them repaired or replaced at an authorised dive shop DRY SUIT DIVING 2 Increase Buoyancy To increase buoyancy simply lower the outlet valve and add a small amount of air to the suit or turn the outlet valve lid clockwise which will increase the pressure setting and add a small amount of air to the suit 3 Decrease buoyancy To decrease buoyancy simply raise the outlet valve by lifting yor left upper arm or turn the valve lid counter clockwise which will reduce the pressure setting By depressing the valve lid air can be dumped at any time regardless of the pressure set ting providing the valve is at the highest point of the suit and the suit air has free access to the outlet valve CAUTION The manufacturer does not guarantee the function of the valve moun ted in other types of suits The valves and hoses are designed to work together and cannot be used separately or together with other valve t
30. system is appro priate for the intended use Viking HDS 1000 suit Attached vulcanized rubber dry hood Magnum or Turbo Attached cuff ring system or Viking Bayonet glove system Attached dry gloves see below Full face mask with positive pressure system and double exhaust valves Viking HDS 1500 suit with attached helmet yoke and valves Attached cuff ring system or Viking Bayonet glove system Attached dry gloves see below Demand helmet and double exhaust valves in the suit Viking HDS 1500 suit with attached helmet yoke no neck seal or valves Attached cuff ring system or Viking Bayonet glove system Attached dry gloves see below Free Flow helmet air hat 37 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING Gloves For contaminated water diving the HDS rubber mittens 2 finger and 3 finger rubber mittens are recommended Being made from the same material they offer the same protection as the Viking HDS suit 38 CONTAMINATED WATER DIVING Decontamination Recommendations and considerations Decontamination shall be performed on the scene when a dry suit has been exposed to or potentially exposed to hazardous materials On scene decontamination shall be performed while the suit is still being worn to minimize potential contamination of the wearer during removal Due to the vast number of chemicals and their different properties no guaranteed decontamination procedure exists The best way to decon taminate must be decided for the s
31. this dry suit without prior specialized training and certification by a qualified and certified diving instructor Use all necessary and appropriate equipment 28 DRY SUIT DIVING 4 Weights Add weight until you are slightly negative 0 5 1 0 kg 1 2 lbs heavier than neutral Normally the diver will need 8 14 kg 18 30 lbs of weight depending on the type of underwear worn diving equipment used and type of diving being done Remember to add the weight you will need to com pensate for the weight you will lose through consumed tank air Your weighting should allow you to make a decompression at ten feet at the completion of your dive with a tank containing 500 psi of air or less You should now be properly weighted 5 Allowing you to descend When you are ready to descend open the outlet valve turn the lid counter clock wise Raise your upper left arm so the outlet valve is at the highest point allowing suit air to exhaust 6 Relieve suit squeeze When you have descended a couple of metres yards turn the valve lid clockwise 1 4 turn and add as little air to the suit as needed to relieve suit squeeze 7 Gain neutral buoyancy While swimming at the same depth you do not have to adjust the outlet valve Gain neutral buoyancy and swim relaxed 29 DRY SUIT DIVING 8 Descending If you wish to descend roll over on your right side so the outlet valve and left shoul der is at the highest point allow
32. ued Let dry for 15 minutes Apply a second layer of glue and let dry a minimum of 15 minutes or until tacky 12 REPAIRING A DRY SUIT REPAIRING A DRY SUIT How to mix the Trelleborg 2 compo nent glue Neutralizing Immediately before use the hardener Neutralize excessive glue by applying unscented talcum should be mixed thoroughly with the powder glue Add 1 part hardener to 10 parts glue Use the measuring cup provided The Curing mixed glue can be used only as long as it Curing time will vary with is fluid approximately 2 hours room temperature At 20 C 68 F a minimum of 60 mi A WARNING The glue and hardener may be harmful to your health by inhalation nutes is required but the repair area should not be stressed for 3 hours and will be fully cured in 24 hours If possible avoid using the or skin contact or contact with your eyes Read warning note below and follow the instructions on the kit A WARNING Hardener Harmful Contains Diphenylmethane 4 4 Diisocyanate and Ethy suit for 24 hours after a major repair lacetate Contains Isocyanates See information supplied by the Manufacturer Harmful by inhalation Irritating to eyes respiratory system and skin May cause burning sensation by inhalation In case of contact with eyes rinse immediately with plenty of water end seek medical advice In case of accident or if you feel unwell seek medical advice imm
33. ypes 33 DRY SUIT DIVING 4 Inflator valve The Viking inflator valve is operated by an easy to reach large push button It is a one way valve which prevents the escape of suit air from the suit if the inflator hose is disconnected from the valve The valve can be easily removed for cleaning and maintenance Should it become clogged with mud or salt flush it thoroughly with water and blow it dry with air from the suit inflator hose Only non aerosol silicone lubricants should be used on the inflator valve and only in the hole of the male connector A WARNING Diving with defective equipment can cause injury or death Do not dive if any equipment fails to function as intended Have them repaired or replaced at an authorised dive shop CAUTION The manufacturer does not guarantee the function of the valve moun ted in other types of suits The valves and hoses are designed to work together and cannot be used separately or together with other valve types 34 DRY SUIT DIVING Hose 1 Assembly of hose to low pres sure port The inflator hose must be connec ted to a LOW pressure port on the regulator s first stage or to another G 7 source of low pressure air Maximum working pressure is 15 Bar 225 psi The inflator hose is manufactured with UNF 3 8 coupling 2 Storage of hose Avoid bending the hose too shar ply Do not bend the hose below ee the minimum radius of 4 cm 1 5 35 CO
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