ASTM F3398-21

Standard Specification for Face and Ear Protective Devices for Air Soft Sports

SCOPE
1.1 This specification applies to face and ear protective devices (FEPDs) designed for use by participants in the sport of air soft with 6-mm air soft projectiles. These FEPDs are designed to be used in conjunction or in some cases include the eye protection discussed in Specification F2879 to minimize or significantly reduce injury to the face and ears as a result of impact and penetration of air soft projectiles.  
1.2 FEPDs meeting the requirements of this specification offer protection to portions of the face and ears of the user and not necessarily the entire head.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 The following information is provided for the laboratory conducting the test for the protection of their personnel: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2021
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.57 - Eye Safety for Sports

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3398 −21
Standard Specification for
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Face and Ear Protective Devices for Air Soft Sports
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3398; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope F2879 Specification for Eye Protective Devices for Airsoft
Sports
1.1 This specification applies to face and ear protective
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devices (FEPDs) designed for use by participants in the sport 2.2 CSA Standards:
of air soft with 6-mm air soft projectiles. These FEPDs are Z262.6-02 Specifications for Facially Featured Head Forms
designedtobeusedinconjunctionorinsomecasesincludethe Z262.6-14 Specifications for Facially Featured Head Forms
eye protection discussed in Specification F2879 to minimize or 4
2.3 EN Standard:
significantly reduce injury to the face and ears as a result of
EN 168 Personal Eye Protection—Non-Optical Test
impact and penetration of air soft projectiles.
Method—Section 17 Head Forms
1.2 FEPDs meeting the requirements of this specification
offer protection to portions of the face and ears of the user and 3. Terminology
not necessarily the entire head.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded 3.1.1 air soft field, n—areawhereparticipantsactivelytarget
as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in and shoot each other with air soft projectiles using air soft
this standard. guns.
1.4 Thefollowinginformationisprovidedforthelaboratory 3.1.2 air soft gun, n—device specifically designed to expel
conducting the test for the protection of their personnel: This air soft projectiles as the result of the release of energy by
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, compressed air, compressed carbon dioxide (CO ), mechanical
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if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user springs, battery, or a combination thereof as defined in Speci-
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and fication F2748.
environmental practices and determine the applicability of
3.1.3 air soft projectile, n—6 mm projectiles used with an
regulatory limitations prior to use.
air soft gun which is defined in Specification F2679.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.4 cleanable, adv—abilityofanFEPDtobemadereadily
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
free of dirt or grime without being damaged during an
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
appropriatecleaningprocess,suchastheuseofsoapandwater.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.5 dislodgement, n—relating to the movement or shifting
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
during impact testing as described in Section 7 that would
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
result in a gap between the eye protection device used in
conjunction with the FEPD of more than 3.0 mm that did not
2. Referenced Documents
exist prior to the testing or the breaking free of any FEPD
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
components.
F2679 Specification for 6 mm Projectiles Used with Airsoft
3.1.6 eye protective device (EPD), n—device that provides
Guns
protectiontothewearer’seyesagainstspecifichazardsencoun-
F2748 Specification for Airsoft Guns
tered in sports.
3.1.7 face and ear protective device (FEPD), n—device that
provides protection to the wearer’s face and ears against
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This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports
specific hazards encountered in sports.
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.57 on Eye Safety for Sports.
Current edition approved May 1, 2021. Published June 2021. DOI: 10.1520/
F3398-21.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from Canadian Standards Association (CSA), 178 Rexdale Blvd.,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Toronto, ON M9W 1R3, Canada, http://www.csagroup.org.
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Avenue
the ASTM website. Marnix 17, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium, http://www.cen.eu.
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F3398 − 21
3.1.8 FEPD retention component(s),
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