ASTM F2397-18

Standard Specification for Protective Headgear Used in Combative Sports

ABSTRACT
This specification delas with the performance requirements for head protection used for training and competition in martial arts such as karate, wushu, and taekwondo, where normal contact between participants may be repeated, but is limited to a level that is not intended to produce injury. These activities typically take place in indoor or outdoor environments where the temperature is moderate. This specification recognizes the desirability of a lightweight and streamlined construction, and ventilation; however it is a performance specification, and is not intended to restrict design. Headgears shall be tested for the following and using the following test methods: reference marking, configuration, materials, projections, vision, retention test, stability or roll-off test, low-energy falling impact test, high-energy falling impact test, low-energy striking impact test, high-energy striking impact test, and high and low speed errors. The apparatus which shall be used are the test headforms, stability test instruments and equipment, falling impact test instruments and equipment, and striking impact instruments and equipment. The significance and use, conditioning environments, and test schedule are also detailed.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers performance requirements for head protection used for training and competition in combative sports such as karate, wushu, and taekwondo, where normal contact between participants may be repeated, but is limited to a level that is not intended to produce injury. These activities typically take place in indoor or outdoor environments where the temperature is moderate. This specification recognizes the desirability of a lightweight and streamlined construction, and ventilation; however, it is a performance specification, and is not intended to restrict design.  
1.2 All testing and requirements of this specification shall be in accordance with Test Methods F1446, except where noted in this specification.  
1.3 Partial utilization of this standard is prohibited. Any statement of compliance with this specification shall be a certification that the product meets all of the requirements of the specification in its entirety. A product that fails to meet any one of the requirements of this specification is considered to have failed the specification, and shall not be distributed or sold with any indication that it meets parts of the specification.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5 The following safety caveat applies to the chemical, mechanical, or physical, or a combination thereof, test methods described herein and is meant specifically for those performing the tests (in an effort to provide them with notice to take the appropriate precautions when conducting the tests): 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.  
1.6 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-Sep-2018
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.53 - Headgear and Helmets

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F2397-09(2015) - Standard Specification for Protective Headgear Used in Martial Arts
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Referred By: ASTM F2374-22 - Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Operation, and Maintenance of Inflatable Amusement Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Referred By: ASTM F2747-19 - Standard Guide for Construction of Sand-based Rootzones for Golf Putting Greens and Tees
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018

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:F2397 −18 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
1
Protective Headgear Used in Combative Sports
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2397; 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 ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.1 This specification covers performance requirements for
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
head protection used for training and competition in combative
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
sports such as karate, wushu, and taekwondo, where normal
contact between participants may be repeated, but is limited to
2. Referenced Documents
a level that is not intended to produce injury. These activities
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
typically take place in indoor or outdoor environments where
F1446 Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in
the temperature is moderate. This specification recognizes the
Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective
desirability of a lightweight and streamlined construction, and
Headgear
ventilation; however, it is a performance specification, and is
not intended to restrict design.
3. Terminology
1.2 All testing and requirements of this specification shall
3.1 See Test Methods F1446.
beinaccordancewithTestMethodsF1446,exceptwherenoted
4. Significance and Use
in this specification.
4.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide reliable
1.3 Partial utilization of this standard is prohibited. Any
and repeatable test methods for the evaluation of protective
statement of compliance with this specification shall be a
headgear for combative sports training and competition. Inju-
certification that the product meets all of the requirements of
ries resulting from accidentally hard hand-to-head impacts,
the specification in its entirety.Aproduct that fails to meet any
foot-to-head impacts, and head-to-ground impacts may be
one of the requirements of this specification is considered to
decreased in severity and, in some cases, prevented. No
have failed the specification, and shall not be distributed or
headgear can protect against all impacts, foreseeable or not.
sold with any indication that it meets parts of the specification.
Forces resulting from strikes to the head due to kicks, punches,
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
and falls are not well understood. The mechanism of possible
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
injury is not addressed in this specification.
standard.
5. Certification
1.5 The following safety caveat applies to the chemical,
mechanical,orphysical,oracombinationthereof,testmethods 5.1 See Test Methods F1446.
described herein and is meant specifically for those performing
6. Apparatus
the tests (in an effort to provide them with notice to take the
appropriate precautions when conducting the tests): This stan- 6.1 Test Headforms—Headforms to be used for the stability
and falling impact tests in this specification are as defined in
dard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if
any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user Test Methods F1446. The appropriate size headform shall be
selected for the headgear to be tested. For the striking impact
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and
environmental practices and determine the applicability of tests in this specification, it is acceptable to use the appropriate
size Hybrid III head- and neck-forms.
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
6.2 Stability Test Instruments and Equipment—Stability test
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
instruments and equipment shall be in accordance with the
requirements of the roll-off test described in Test Methods
F1446.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
2
Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2018. Published November 2018. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F2397 – 09 (2015). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Do
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F2397 − 09 (Reapproved 2015) F2397 − 18 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
1
Protective Headgear Used in Martial ArtsCombative Sports
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2397; 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
1.1 This specification covers performance requirements for head protection used for training and competition in martial
artscombative sports such as karate, wushu, and taekwondo, where normal contact between participants may be repeated, but is
limited to a level that is not intended to produce injury. These activities typically take place in indoor or outdoor environments
where the temperature is moderate. This specification recognizes the desirability of a lightweight and streamlined construction, and
ventilation; however, it is a performance specification, and is not intended to restrict design.
1.2 All testing and requirements of this specification shall be in accordance with Test Methods F1446, except where noted in
this specification.
1.3 Partial utilization of this standard is prohibited. Any statement of compliance with this specification shall be a certification
that the product meets all of the requirements of the specification in its entirety. A product that fails to meet any one of the
requirements of this specification is considered to have failed the specification, and shall not be distributed or sold with any
indication that it meets parts of the specification.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 The following safety caveat applies to the chemical, mechanical, or physical, or a combination thereof, test methods
described herein and is meant specifically for those performing the tests (in an effort to provide them with notice to take the
appropriate precautions when conducting the tests): 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 safety, health, and
healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F1446 Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear
3. Terminology
3.1 See Test Methods F1446.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide reliable and repeatable test methods for the evaluation of protective headgear
for martial artscombative sports training and competition. Injuries resulting from accidentally hard hand-to-head impacts,
foot-to-head impacts, and head-to-ground impacts may be decreased in severity and, in some cases, prevented. No headgear can
protect against all impacts, foreseeable or not. Forces resulting from strikes to the head due to kicks, punches, and falls are not
well understood. The mechanism of possible injury is not addressed in this specification.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2018. Published February 2015November 2018. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20092015
as F2397 – 09.F2397 – 09 (2015). DOI: 10.1520/F2397-09R15.10.1520/F2397-18.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F2397 − 18
5. Certification
5.1 See Test Methods F1446.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Test Hea
...