Immersion Suit Donning Time — The 2 Minute Rule

How Many Minutes Does It Take to Don an Immersion Suit?

How many minutes does donning an immersion suit take? It is one of the most searched questions about immersion suits and the answer is both simple and important.

Under SOLAS requirements — specifically the IMO Life-Saving Appliances Code Chapter 2, Section 2.3.1.1 — an immersion suit must be capable of being donned without assistance within 2 minutes. This includes any associated clothing and a lifejacket if the suit is designed to be worn with one.

Two minutes. That is the SOLAS requirement and it is the standard every approved immersion suit must meet.

Is Two Minutes Actually Achievable?

Yes — but only with practice. The first time most people put on an immersion suit it takes considerably longer than two minutes. By the third or fourth time, with familiarity, two minutes becomes comfortable.

I have donned immersion suits in training and drills more times than I can count. Fresh to a specific suit — it takes longer. Familiar with that exact suit — two minutes is achievable without rushing.

This is why regular drills matter. The SOLAS requirement assumes the wearer knows what they are doing. If you have never donned the specific suit on your vessel before, two minutes is not realistic. Familiarise yourself with it before you ever need it in an emergency.

Why Does the Donning Time Matter?

In a real emergency — fire, flooding, collision — the situation can deteriorate faster than most people expect. A vessel can sink in minutes. A fire can make the deck uninhabitable in seconds. The two minute donning requirement exists because it is the realistic outer limit of how long you may have to get a suit on before conditions make it impossible.

A suit that takes five minutes to don is a suit you may never successfully get into. The two minute standard is not arbitrary — it reflects real-world emergency timelines.

The Donning Process — In Time Order

Here is the approximate time breakdown for a competent donner:

0:00 — Remove from bag and identify zip position. 10 seconds.
0:10 — Sit down. Feed legs in, feet to the bottom of the suit. 30 seconds.
0:40 — Stand, arms in, hood up, hair tucked in. 20 seconds.
1:00 — Zip up carefully, check for trapped material. 30 seconds.
1:30 — Check all fastenings, velcro, splash cover. 20 seconds.
1:50 — Buddy check. 10 seconds.
2:00 — Suited and ready.

That timeline assumes you know the suit and have done it before. Add 60 to 90 seconds if it is your first time with that specific suit.

The Biggest Time Wasters

The zip — the most common cause of lost time. Immersion suit zips are deliberately stiff to create a watertight seal. Rushing the zip causes it to catch on clothing or the suit material, requiring you to back off and re-approach. Slow is fast with the zip.

Not sitting down — trying to step into an immersion suit while standing is slower and more difficult than sitting. Always sit down.

Unfamiliar suit — every suit is slightly different. The clasps, the splash cover, the glove system. Ten seconds of familiarisation before you start saves sixty seconds of confusion during donning.

What Affects Donning Time?

Familiarity with the specific suit — the single biggest factor. Know your suit.

Clothing underneath — bulky clothing makes donning slower. The suit is designed to be worn over normal clothing, not over heavy foul weather gear.

Conditions — donning a suit on a heeled, moving deck in the dark is significantly harder than donning one on a flat surface in a training pool.

Suit condition — a well-maintained suit with a lubricated zip dons faster than a neglected one. Check and lubricate your zip regularly.

FAQs

What is the SOLAS immersion suit donning time requirement?
Under SOLAS LSA Code Chapter 2, Section 2.3.1.1 — an immersion suit must be capable of being donned without assistance within two minutes including any associated clothing and lifejacket.

What happens if you cannot don it in two minutes?
The two minute requirement applies to the suit’s design and approval — it must be capable of being donned in two minutes by a competent person familiar with the suit. In a real emergency, take the time you need. An improperly donned suit is more dangerous than a slow but correctly donned one.

How often should you practise donning an immersion suit?
At every opportunity offered — every drill, every training session. If you are offered a chance to practise, always say yes. Familiarity is what gets you to two minutes.

Always refer to current SOLAS and IMO documentation for immersion suit requirements. Source: IMO LSA Code Chapter 2, Section 2.3.1.1 — imo.org.