ASTM_F_2439_-_06_2011.pdf

Designation:F243906(Reapproved 2011)An American National StandardStandard Specification forHeadgear Used in Soccer1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2439;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONSoccer is a sport with inherent risks.Participation in the sport implies acceptance of risk of injury.This specification was developed to address forces of some of the incidental(non-ball)head impactsthat may occur while engaging in soccer.Although headgear satisfying this specification may providelimited protection against heading impacts which are generally sub-concussive,heading impacts arenot addressed by this specification.In addition,the issue of multiple sub-concussive impacts is notaddressed here.NoteProtection provided by headgear satisfying this specification is not equivalent tothe protection provided by rigid“helmets”used in many other sports activities.Headgear that meetsthese standard specifications may not provide significant protection in some head impact situations.This specification is intended to be used with other standards and documents listed in theReferenced Documents.1.Scope1.1 This specification defines performance requirements forheadgear used for participation in the sport of soccer.Thetechnical requirements in this specification do not address theadministrative requirements of soccer governing bodies,so itshould not be assumed that any headgear satisfying thisspecification will be acceptable for use in sanctioned soccerevents.1.2 This specification is intended to reduce the forces fromexternal physical sources reaching the defined impact area ofthe head in impacts that may occur in the sport of soccer.Noheadgear can provide protection against all impacts,foresee-able or not.This specification does not address the potential forinjury from any type of impact.The tests specified in thisspecification are laboratory simulation tests only,and do notpurport to create situations identical to the impacts that mayoccur during the playing of soccer.1.3 All testing and requirements of this specification shallbe in accordance with Test Methods F1446,except where notedherein.In the event of a discrepancy between the requirementsof this specification and those of Test Methods F1446,thisspecification shall prevail.1.4 Partial utilization of this specification is prohibited.Anystatement of compliance with this specification shall be acertification that the headgear meets all of the requirements ofthis specification in its entirety.Headgear that fails to meet anyone of the requirements of this specification is considered tohave failed the specification and should not be sold with anyindication that it meets parts of the specification.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1446 Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used inEvaluating the Performance Characteristics of ProtectiveHeadgear2.2 Other Documents:349 CFR Part 572,Subpart E Anthropometric Test DummiesProcedures for Assembly,Disassembly,and Inspection(PADI)of the Hybrid III 50th Percentile Dummys NineAccelerometer Array Head(NAAH)with RedundantHead C.G.Accelerometers1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on SportsEquipment,Playing Surfaces,and Facilities and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets.Current edition approved Nov.1,2011.Published February 2012.Originallyapproved in 2006.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F2439 06.DOI:10.1520/F2439-06R11.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration(NHTSA),4007th St.,NW,Washington,DC 20590.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 impact areathe region of the headform within whichthe center of each impact footprint must fall.F14464.Significance and Use4.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide reliableand repeatable test methods for the evaluation of headgear forsoccer.Headgear satisfying this specification is intended toreduce forces reaching the head in some of the impacts thatmay occur in soccer.5.Apparatus5.1 Apparatus used for this testing shall be