ASTM F1979-09

Standard Specification for Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball

ABSTRACT
This specification establishes testing procedures and critical characteristics of 0.68 caliber paintballs which help define whether a paintball is suitable for use in the sport of paintball. Furthermore, the specification establishes minimum warning and package labeling to help ensure that the paintballs are used in a safe manner and that the risk of injury is reduced. Tests shall be performed to conform with the requirements specified in accordance with the following test methods: paintball compatibility with polycarbonate and paintball impact breakage test.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification establishes testing procedures and critical characteristics of 0.68 caliber paintballs which help define whether a paintball is suitable for use in the sport of paintball. Furthermore, the specification establishes minimum warning and package labeling to help ensure that the paintballs are used in a safe manner and that the risk of injury is reduced.
1.2 This specification does not cover non-recreational paintballs, for example, those used by law enforcement, scientific, military, or theatrical entities.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 This specification does not purport to address all of the safety issues associated with the sport of paintball. It is the responsibility of the user of this specification to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2009
• ICS: 97.220.99 - Other sports equipment and facilities
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.24 - Paintball and Equipment

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1979-04 - Standard Specification for Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Replaced By: ASTM F1979-10 - Standard Specification for Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2010
• Referred By: ASTM F3100-15(2023) - Standard Practice for Low Impact Paintball Field Operation
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2773-13(2021) - Standard Practice for Transfilling Compressed Air or Nitrogen and Safe Handling of Small Paintball Cylinders
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2184-10(2022) - Standard Guide for Installation of Paintball Barrier Netting
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2856-12(2020) - Standard Practice for Transfilling and Safe Handling of Small CO<inf>2</inf> Cylinders for Use in Paintball
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2679-15(2023) - Standard Specification for 6 mm Projectiles Used with Airsoft Guns
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2573-06(2022) - Standard Specification for Low Velocity Resilient Material Projectile
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2271-11(2023) - Standard Specification for Paintball Marker Barrel Blocking Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1776-22 - Standard Specification for Eye Protective Devices for Paintball Sports
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2272-23 - Standard Specification for Paintball Markers
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2278-19(2023) - Standard Test Method for Evaluating Paintball Barrier Netting
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1777-19(2023) - Standard Practice for Paintball Game Site Operation
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F2801-19(2023) - Standard Practice for Paintball Player Safety Briefing
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation: F1979 – 09
Standard Specification for
1
Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1979; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This specification sets forth a set of guidelines and testing procedures for the manufacturing of 0.68
caliber paintballs. The goal is to provide paintball manufacturers with a specification that promotes
safety in the sport of paintball.
1. Scope 2.1.1.1 Discussion—The mass of one cubic centimeter of
water is approximately equal to 1 g.
1.1 This specification establishes testing procedures and
2.1.2 fill material, n—liquid inside of a paintball.
critical characteristics of 0.68 caliber paintballs which help
2.1.3 paintball, n—spherical ball, commonly with a diam-
define whether a paintball is suitable for use in the sport of
eter of 17.3 mm (0.68 in.), comprised of a shell and a fill, and
paintball. Furthermore, the specification establishes minimum
designed to be expelled from a paintball gun.
warning and package labeling to help ensure that the paintballs
2.1.4 paintball marker, n—device specifically designed to
are used in a safe manner and that the risk of injury is reduced.
discharge paintballs.
1.2 This specification does not cover non-recreational paint-
2.1.5 shell—rigid to semirigid material (generally of gela-
balls, for example, those used by law enforcement, scientific,
tin) that encapsulates the fill of a paintball.
military, or theatrical entities.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3. General Requirements
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1 pH of Fill Material—The pH of the fill material used in
only.
the paintball shall measure between 4.0 and 8.0 as measured
1.4 This specification does not purport to address all of the
using a 10 % solution of the fill in distilled water. Measure-
safety issues associated with the sport of paintball. It is the
ments shall be made using a properly calibrated pH meter. See
responsibility of the user of this specification to establish
Fig. 1 for the pH scale and pH levels for some common items.
appropriate safety and health practices and to comply with all
3.2 Paintball Fill Compatibility With Polycarbonate—
applicable laws and regulations.
When tested in accordance with Section 4, no more than one of
2. Terminology the three polycarbonate tensile bars exposed to the fill material
shall develop a visible crack that is greater than 6.5 mm (0.256
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
in.) in length.
2.1.1 cubic centimeter, n—commonly used unit of volume
3.3 Maximum Weight—The paintballs shall not weigh more
extending the derived SI-unit cubic meter and corresponding to
than 3.5 g.
the volume of a cube measuring 1 3 1 3 1 cm.
3.4 Fill Color Limitations—The paintballs shall not contain
fill material with a color mimicking that of human blood.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports
3.5 Diameter of Paintball—The diameter of the paintball as
Equipment and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F08.24 on
measured both polar and at the seam shall measure between
Paintball and Equipment.
16.5 mm (0.650 in.) and 18 mm (0.709 in.).
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2009.PublishedJuly2009.Originallyapproved
in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as F1979 – 04. DOI: 10.1520/
F1979-09.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F1979 – 09
FIG. 1 The pH Scale
3.6 Impact Breakage—The impact breakage of the paintball provides a relative indicator of the reaction that a polycarbon-
shall be tested in accordance with Section 5. All ten of the ate lens would have to the paintball fill material being tested.
paintballs that impact the target shall break upon impact.
3.7 Environmental Safety—Paintballs shall not contain en-
vironmentally hazardous or toxic substances as defined in
2
CERCLA Regulations 40CFR302.4; SARA Toxic Chemical
3 4
List Section 313; Clean Air Act , Section 112B; and RCRA
5
Regulations 40FRR261.24 through 40CFR261.33.
TEST METHODS
4. Paintball Compatibility with Polycarbonate
4.1 Scope—This test method is intended to determine the
compatibility of the paintball fill with polycarbonate, the
plastic material currently universally used for protective eye-
wear lenses in paintball.
FIG. 2 Tensile Bar Shown Without Wrapping
4.2 Summary of Test Method—This test method involves
ben
...

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.
An American National Standard
Designation:F1979–04 Designation: F 1979 – 09
Standard Specification for
1
Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1979; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This specification sets forth a set of guidelines and testing procedures for the manufacturing of 0.68
caliber paintballs. The goal is to provide paintball manufacturers with a specification that promotes
safety in the sport of paintball.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification establishes testing procedures and critical characteristics of 0.68 caliber paintballs which help define
whether a paintball is suitable for use in the sport of paintball. Furthermore, the specification establishes minimum warning and
package labeling to help ensure that the paintballs are used in a safe manner and that the risk of injury is reduced.
1.2 This specification does not cover non-recreational paintballs, for example, those used by law enforcement, scientific,
military, or theatrical entities.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 This specification does not purport to address all of the safety issues associated with the sport of paintball. It is the
responsibility of the user of this specification to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to comply with all applicable
laws and regulations.
2. Terminology
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 fill—liquid inside of a paintball. cubic centimeter, n—commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic
meter and corresponding to the volume of a cube measuring 1 3 1 3 1 cm.
2.1.1.1 Discussion—The mass of one cubic centimeter of water is approximately equal to 1 g.
2.1.2 paintball—spherical ball, commonly with a diameter of 17.3 mm (0.68 in.), comprised of a shell and a fill, and designed
to be expelled from a paintball gun. fill material, n—liquid inside of a paintball.
2.1.3 paintball gun—device specifically designed to discharge paintballs. paintball, n—spherical ball, commonly with a
diameter of 17.3 mm (0.68 in.), comprised of a shell and a fill, and designed to be expelled from a paintball gun.
2.1.4 paintball marker—device specifically designed to discharge paintballs. The device is sometimes referred to as a paintball
gun. paintball marker, n—device specifically designed to discharge paintballs.
2.1.5 shell—rigid to semirigid material (generally of gelatin) that encapsulates the fill of a paintball.
3. General Requirements
3.1 pH of Fill Material—The pH of the fill used in the paintball shall measure between 4.5 and 7.5 as measured using a 10%
solution of the fill in distilled water. Measurements shall be made using a properly calibrated pH meter. —The pH of the fill
material used in the paintball shall measure between 4.0 and 8.0 as measured using a 10 % solution of the fill in distilled water.
Measurements shall be made using a properly calibrated pH meter. See Fig. 1 for the pH scale and pH levels for some common
items.
3.2 Paintball Fill Compatibility With Polycarbonate—When tested in accordance with Section 4, no more than one of the three
polycarbonate tensile bars exposed to the fill material shall develop a visible crack that is greater than 6.5 mm (0.256 in.) in length.
3.3 Maximum Weight— The paintballs shall not weigh more than 3.5 g.
3.4 Fill Color Limitations—The paintballs shall not contain fill material with a color mimicking that of human blood.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F08.24 on
Paintball and Equipment.
Current edition approved Nov.June 1, 2004.2009. Published November 2004.July 2009. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 19992004 as
F1979–99.F 1979 – 04.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F1979–09
FIG. 1 The pH Scale
3.5 Diameter of Paintball—The diameter of the paintball as measured both polar and at the seam shall measure between 16.5
mm (0.650 in.) and 18 mm (0.709 in.).
3.6 Impact Breakage— The impact breakage
...