According to the provisions included in the U.S. Coast Guard Regulations for Personal Flotation Devices, <u>the "serviceable condition"</u> is the one that requires that vessels are kept usable or functional for their intended purpouse, this means, "in good working conditions", so that it is ready in case there is an emergency and the equipment need to be used in a rush.
If any of the following damages are observed in a vessel, it will be considered out of order: rips or tears, broken or corroded hardware, permanently compressed materials, rotted components and detached or broken oral inflation tubes.
