Ansell VIKING HWS User manual
VIKING™OWNER'S MANUAL
for Hot Water Suits
VIKING™HWS
Hot Water Suit
CONTENTS
1. Safety considerations.............................................................................. 4
1.1 Denitions of important signal words used in this manual ........ 4
1.2 Description of marking in the suit............................................................... 5
1.3 Pre-dive check list................................................................................................. 6
1.4 Important safety information ........................................................................ 6
2. Description of suit..................................................................................... 7
3. Approvals ....................................................................................................... 8
3.1 EU type approval................................................................................................... 8
4. Intended use................................................................................................. 9
4.1 Limitations of use .................................................................................................. 9
5. Selecting and tting a hot water suit..........................................10
6. Donning and dofng..............................................................................10
6.1 Putting on the Hot Water Suit......................................................................10
6.2 Removing the Hot Water Suit......................................................................10
7. Storage...........................................................................................................10
8. Inspection.....................................................................................................11
9. Cleaning........................................................................................................11
10. Disposal......................................................................................................11
11. Technical information.......................................................................12
11.1 Suit material, seams and components ................................................12
11.2 Sizes ..........................................................................................................................13
11.3 Suit colour.............................................................................................................13
11.4 Overview of VIKING™HWS..........................................................................14
12. VIKING™ Hot Water Suit limited warranty.............................15
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1. Safety considerations
• This manual is valid only for VIKING™Hot Water Suit (HWS).
• All procedures described in this manual require adequate skill and knowledge in the use
of a hot water suit.
• If your equipment fails to work as intended: Do not use it; have the problems corrected by
a qualied dive shop or distributor.
1.1 Denitions of important signal words used in this manual
Throughout this manual, the following signal words will be used to call your attention to
conditions, practices or techniques that may directly affect your safety:
!!! DANGER !!!
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
!! WARNING !!
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in death or serious
injury.
! CAUTION !
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may cause damage to
material or equipment.
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1.2 Description of marking in the suit
111
212
3 4 13
5
6 7
14
15
8
910
#1: Product description and country of origin
#2: Suit model
#3: Size
#4: Pictogram with measurements in centimeters, see chapter 11
#5: Article number of suit
#6: The suit’s individual batch number
#7: Date of manufacture
#8: Suit manufacturer
#9: Address of suit manufacturer
#10: QR code linking to EU Declaration of Conformity page on manufacturer’s website
#11: Warning sign
#12: Warning text
#13: Request to read instructions in this Owner’s manual before using the suit and cleaning
instructions (see chapter 14)
#14: CE-mark, see chapter EU type approval.
#15: Standard to which the product is certied
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1.3 Pre-dive check list
These guidelines are recommended by Ansell. Follow them for your safety and incorporate
them in your routine as a mandatory pre-dive check list.
1. Know your equipment and emergency procedures. Read the user manuals for all your
equipment.
2. Check your zipper, ON/OFF valve, internal and external water tubing before each dive.
3. Know your limitations and do not exceed them.
!! WARNING !!
Diving with a hot water suit can be extremely dangerous. Do not attempt to use this hot water
suit without prior training and certication by a qualied and certied instructor, and use of all
necessary and appropriate equipment.
!! WARNING !!
Risk of skin irritation and allergic reactions. The suit materials can cause skin irritation and
allergic reactions to individuals sensitive to these materials. Consult a medical professional if
in doubt.
1.4 Important safety information
!! WARNING !!
Improper maintenance, use or misuse of this suit may result in death or serious injury.
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 qualied training.
Do not use this suit until you have practised and mastered practical hot water suit diving skills,
including emergency skills in a controlled environment under supervision of a dive instructor
certied by a nationally recognized instructional organization and knowledgeable in the use
of hot water suits.
Do not use this suit without evaluating the conditions before every dive and making sure they
t your personal capabilities. Check equipment before and during every dive.
Do not use this hot water suit until you have read, understood and followed all instructions
and safety precautions in the Owner's Manual.
Never dive without accepting your own responsibility for safety on every dive.
If the Owner's Manual is unavailable or lost, another copy can be obtained by writing the
manufacturer, or downloaded at http://protective.ansell.com/en/Downloads/Manuals/Viking/
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2. Description of suit
VIKING™ HWS is:
• NOT a dry suit, and has different applications than a dry suit
• Designed for long duration or saturation diving in cold or cool water temperatures, and
may be spending up to 4-6 hours working in water, and/or similar amounts of time in a
diving bell
• Made from an abrasion resistant and extremely hard-wearing material
• Fed by heated water from the surface, which circulates inside the suit
!! WARNING !!
Interruption of the hot water supply even for a very short period of time may lead to a rapid
loss of core body temperature, and eventually hypothermia may set in. A backup water heater
system must be available at all times during a hot water suit dive.
The suits are as standard tted with:
• Nylon front zipper
• Rubber tubing inside the suit, with holes drilled at intervals along the tube
• Hot water valve, positioned on the right hip of the suit body
• Two front mounted pockets, positioned on the thighs
• Velcro attachment points on sleeves and lower legs, for attachment of hot water gloves
and boots (not included)
There are no seals attached to the hot water suit.
Each suit comes supplied as standard with the following items:
• Carry bag
• Owner's manual
!! WARNING !!
A hot water suit must be used in conjunction with a hot water suit liner. This will help eliminate
hot spots which could cause skin burns, and will help provide the diver with some thermal
insulation, should the supply of heated water fail.
For more information about materials, components & accessories, see chapter 11.
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3. Approvals
3.1 EU type approval
The VIKING™ suits are CE marked according to the EU Regulation 2016/425 on Personal
Protective Equipment. The suits full the applicable harmonised standards as listed below.
Suit Standard Certicate number
VIKING™HWS EN 14225-3:2017 19A0098WUS01
The suit has been tested and approved by notied body No 0403;
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 b, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Link to EU Declarations of Conformity page on Ansell Protective Products’ website:
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4. Intended use
A hot water suit is intended for long duration diving periods, including saturation diving in
cold or cool water temperatures.
These suits are fed by heated water from the surface, which circulates inside the suit, and
reaches the divers body through holes drilled in rubber tubing, which is tted throughout
the suit.
Temperature is regulated by the diver communicating with the surface team, and the water
ow can be controlled by the diver by means of a valve tted on the thigh of the suit.
A hot water suit must be used in conjunction with a hot water suit liner. This will help
eliminate hot spots which could cause skin burns, and will help provide the diver with some
thermal insulation, should the supply of heated water fail.
The hot water suit should be used with hot water gloves and boots (sold separately), which
are attached to the suit by means of Velcro xings on the suit, and on the gloves and boots.
Hot water suits are generally used in conjunction with an air breathing helmet or band mask.
The following chapters describe how to use and maintain your hot water suit.
4.1 Limitations of use
Usual limitations of use (air or mixed gas breathing) will apply, depending on the depth at
which the suit will be used.
!! 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.
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5. Selecting and tting a hot water suit
The suit should be tried on over the under garment to be used, to ensure a full range of
movement is possible.
6. Donning and dofng
6.1 Putting on the Hot Water Suit
1. First, put on the undersuit.
2. Unzip the nylon centre zip, put your legs into suit and pull up to the chest.
3. Insert arms one at a time.
4. Close the zipper.
5. Attach the hot water hose to the valve banjo tting.
6. Attach boots with Velcro.
7. Finally, t gloves with Velcro.
6.2 Removing the Hot Water Suit
Take off the suit in reverse order of that described for donning above.
7. Storage
The suit should be dried fully in between dives.
! CAUTION !
Continued drying at high temperatures in an industrial dryer may lead to shrinkage of the
neoprene material.
Store either on a hanger away from sunlight, or roll loosely and store in a bag away from
heat and sunlight.
11
8. Inspection
Before and after each dive, the suit should be inspected for damage to the zipper,
ON/OFF valve, internal and external water tubing. Any damage should be assessed
to ensure the suit is usable. If in doubt, do not use.
9. Cleaning
The suit should be washed with clean water or a mild soap solution after use in sea water.
Afterwards, rinse thoroughly in cool, clean water and then air dry.
! CAUTION !
Continued drying at high temperatures in an industrial dryer may lead to shrinkage of the
neoprene material.
10. Disposal
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 landll. The valve should be removed rst, and disposed of separately.
For suits that are contaminated, local regulations for the contaminants in question must be
taken into account.
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11. Technical information
11.1 Suit material, seams and components
Suit part/
Component Description
Suit material
Base material: 5 mm neoprene
Exterior: Rotex nylon with a PU top coating
Underarm panels: 3 mm neoprene, for maximum freedom of movement
Seams Double glued and stitched with a heavy grade polyester thread.
Lower torso seam additionally coated for protection against abrasion.
Zipper Nylon zipper, placed vertically on the front of the upper body.
Pockets 3 mm neoprene with Rotex nylon exterior and PU top coating.
4 eyelets are built into each pocket for the attachment of accessories.
Reinforcements Polyurethane (PU) reinforcements on elbows and knees.
Tubing
Internal diamond prole rubber tubing, covered with a layer of
neoprene for comfort. Strategically placed holes are drilled into the
tubing. The tube is attached to the hot water valve.
Narrow gauge neoprene tubing is placed at wrists and ankles to allow
water to ow into the hot water gloves and boots.
Hot Water Valve
3 ow settings; HIGH (approx. 49 l/min), MED (approx. 44 l/min) & LOW
(approx. 36 l/min) and a dump mode*. The valve has a unique “click”
function, and is designed specically for VIKING™.
Inlet valve Standard banjo tting, which attaches to a QD 1/2" MPT tting,
attached to the water supply hose.
Gloves (optional)
5 mm neoprene gauntlet gloves with reinforced palms and Velcro
attachment points.
Sizes: Medium (MED), Large (LGE) and X-Large (EXL)
Footwear (optional) 5 mm neoprene boots with a rubber outsole and Velcro attachments.
Sizes: Medium (MED), Large (LGE) and X-Large (EXL)
* The three ow rates are obtained by a restriction of the ow inside the valve, whereas the dump mode
simply directs the complete ow into the surrounding water.
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11.2 Sizes
VIKING™ HWS is available in the following size range:
• Regular sizes: Small (SML), Medium (MED), Large (LGE), Extra Large (EXL),
Extra Extra Large (XXL)
• Tall sizes: Small Tall (TSM), Medium Tall (MET), Large Tall (LGT), Extra Large Tall (EXT),
Extra Extra Large Tall (XXLT)
See http://protective.ansell.com for details including a measuring guide.
!! WARNING !!
A hot water suit should always be worn with an undersuit in order to prevent the risk of
burning or scalding the diver with water which is too hot.
11.3 Suit colour
Black with contrasting grey stitching.
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11.4 Overview of VIKING™HWS
1. COLLAR
2. ZIP
3. VALVE
4. POCKET
5. PU KNEE PAD
6. TUBE
7. PU ELBOW PAD
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12. VIKING™ Hot Water Suit limited warranty
Ansell Protective Solutions AB (Ansell) warrants that your VIKING™ Hot Water Suit will be
free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year.
If any VIKING™ Hot Water Suit (or component) is found to be defective under normal use
and care during an applicable warranty period, Ansell will repair, replace or refund the
purchase price of the VIKING™ Hot Water Suit, free of charge, at the sole discretion of
Ansell. This is the exclusive remedy provided by Ansell under this warranty. To obtain
warranty service, either contact your local authorised dealer, visit http://protective.ansell.
com or contact Ansell Customer Service on telephone number +46 (0)10 205 1800. If a
repair is performed at no charge under this warranty, the date of purchase by the ultimate
purchaser remains as the date for the start of the warranty. A new warranty period does not
begin when service is performed.
The decision to repair, replace or refund the purchase price of the VIKING™Hot Water
Suit will be made after receipt of the Suit, satisfactory proof of purchase, documentation
specifying the claimed defect, requested action and all relevant information. Suits without
a copy of the purchase receipt will not be covered under this warranty.
VIKING™ Hot Water Suits must always be worn and cared for in accordance with the Ansell
Use and Care instructions contained in the applicable Owner's Manual included with each
VIKING™ Hot Water Suit. The above warranties are VOID if any VIKING™Hot Water Suit
has been subjected to misuse, abuse, unauthorised alterations, improper or incorrectly
performed maintenance, fading from sunlight or unauthorised repair or service.
This is a limited warranty. The above warranties are the sole and exclusive warranties
made by Ansell with respect to its VIKING™ Hot Water Suits. The warranty or product
guarantee cannot be prolonged by anything stated in the Owner's Manual. Ansell makes
no other warranties express, implied, or statutory; including without limitation any implied
warranty of tness for a particular purpose or merchantability.
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In no event shall Ansell be liable for any punitive, exemplary, or consequential damages,
anticipated or lost prots, incidental damages, loss of time, or other indirect losses or
expenses that arise from any cause relating to its Hot Water Suits, regardless of the form
of the action, whether in tort (including negligence), contract, strict liability or otherwise,
and regardless of whether the company has been advised of the possibility of such
consequential damages. Notwithstanding any contrary provision, in no event shall the total
liability of Ansell (together with the liability of its ofcers, directors, employees, and agents)
exceed the purchase price actually paid for the suit that gives rise to such liability. The
foregoing disclaimers are subject to any applicable law that regulates product warranties.
To obtain warranty service, contact your local authorised dealer or call Customer Service
at +46 (0)10 205 1800.
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K78 103 445 ANSELL 1911 [EN]
Ansell, ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Ansell Limited or one of its afliates.
©2019 Ansell Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Ansell Protective Solutions AB
Arenagatan 8B
215 33 Malmö, Sweden
Tel. + 46 (0)10 205 1800
http://protective.ansell.com
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