1.1 The purpose of these guidelines is to establish
standardised procedures and minimum levels of service for the testing
and maintenance of satellite EPIRBs to ensure maximum reliability
whilst minimising the risk of false distress alerting.
1.2 The guidelines are intended to be applicable
both to 406 MHz EPIRBs and to L-band EPIRBs, as either type may be
carried to comply with the requirements of SOLAS
regulation IV/7.1.6. EPIRBs may include 121.5 MHz transmitters,
or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers.
1.3 The guidelines also apply to service exchange
EPIRBs which should be properly encoded to match the appropriate registration
database.