ASTM F1446-13

Standard Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of these test methods is to provide reliable and repeatable tests for the evaluation of various types of protective headgear. Use of these test methods in conjunction with the specific individual performance standards is intended to reduce the likelihood of serious injury and death resulting from impacts to the head sustained by individuals participating in sports, recreation, and other leisure activities in which protective headgear is worn.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover laboratory equipment, procedures, and basic requirements pertinent to testing protective headgear. Deviations or additions, or both, to these test methods will be specified, as required, in individual ASTM performance standards.  
1.2 Requirements—The protective headgear is to be tested under specified environmental conditions for the following:  
1.2.1 Impact attenuation (the limiting of head acceleration) of the protective headgear, and  
1.2.2 Strength and stability of the retention system and its attachment to the protective headgear.  
1.2.3 Special tests for particular protective headgear uses will be specified in the individual performance standards to be used in conjunction with these test methods.  
1.3 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2013
• ICS: 13.340.20 - Head protective equipment
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.53 - Headgear and Helmets

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
Designation:F1446 −13 AnAmerican National Standard
Standard Test Methods for
Equipment and Procedures Used in Evaluating the
1
Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1446; 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
These test methods specify equipment and procedures used for testing protective headgear.
Individual ASTM performance standards (standard specifications) will use these procedures and
equipment. Test conditions, pass-fail criteria, and other performance requirements will be specified in
the individual performance standards, tailored to the needs of a particular activity (for example,
bicycling, skateboarding, skiing, etc.).
These test methods were developed using resources in medical, scientific, mechanical engineering,
human factors, and biomechanical fields. However, it is recognized that it is not possible to write a
protective headgear performance standard that will result in headgear that can protect against injury
or death in all accidents. It is also recognized that serious injury or death can result from both low-
and high-energy impacts, even when protective headgear is worn.
These test methods incorporate aspects of other recognized headgear performance standards. They
draw from work done by others where appropriate for these test methods. These standards are
referenced within this standard test method. It should be noted that these test methods specify
laboratory tests of completed headgear to measure its ability to reduce head acceleration during use
and other selected parameters.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 These test methods cover laboratory equipment,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
procedures, and basic requirements pertinent to testing protec-
tive headgear. Deviations or additions, or both, to these test
2. Referenced Documents
methods will be specified, as required, in individual ASTM
2
performance standards.
2.1 ASTM Standard:
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
1.2 Requirements—The protective headgear is to be tested
ASTM Test Methods
under specified environmental conditions for the following:
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1.2.1 Impact attenuation (the limiting of head acceleration)
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
of the protective headgear, and
F2220 Specification for Headforms
1.2.2 Strength and stability of the retention system and its
3
2.2 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard:
attachment to the protective headgear.
218 S7.1.8 Motorcycle Helmets
1.2.3 Special tests for particular protective headgear uses
4
will be specified in the individual performance standards to be 2.3 SAE Standard:
used in conjunction with these test methods.
SAE J211 Recommended Practice for Instrumentation for
Impact Tests—Requirements for Channel Class 1000
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. ForAnnual Book ofASTM
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and are the direct responsibility the ASTM website.
3
of Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets. Available from National HighwayTraffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA), 400
Current edition approved May 1, 2013. Published June 2013. Originally 7th St., NW, Washington, DC 20590.
4
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F1446 – 12. DOI: Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth
10.1520/F1446-13. Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F1446−13
3. Reference Table
3.1 For references to these test methods, the standard terms
for reference are listed in bold type in Table 1 with the items to
consider for each method. For conditions and anvils, use the
standard term listed in Table 1. Referring to section numbers in
these test methods is not the recommended method for refer-
ence.
4. Terminology
4.1 Definitions:
4.1.1 basic plane, n—an anatomical plane (Frankfort Hori-
zontal Plane) that includes the superior rim of t
...

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: F1446 − 12 F1446 − 13 An American National Standard
Standard Test Methods for
Equipment and Procedures Used in Evaluating the
1
Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1446; 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
These test methods specify equipment and procedures used for testing protective headgear.
Individual ASTM performance standards (standard specifications) will use these procedures and
equipment. Test conditions, pass-fail criteria, and other performance requirements will be specified in
the individual performance standards, tailored to the needs of a particular activity (for example,
bicycling, skateboarding, skiing, etc.).
These test methods were developed using resources in medical, scientific, mechanical engineering,
human factors, and biomechanical fields. However, it is recognized that it is not possible to write a
protective headgear performance standard that will result in headgear that can protect against injury
or death in all accidents. It is also recognized that serious injury or death can result from both low-
and high-energy impacts, even when protective headgear is worn.
These test methods incorporate aspects of other recognized headgear performance standards. They
draw from work done by others where appropriate for these test methods. These standards are
referenced within this standard test method. It should be noted that these test methods specify
laboratory tests of completed headgear to measure its ability to reduce head acceleration during use
and other selected parameters.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover laboratory equipment, procedures, and basic requirements pertinent to testing protective headgear.
Deviations or additions, or both, to these test methods will be specified, as required, in individual ASTM performance standards.
1.2 Requirements—The protective headgear is to be tested under specified environmental conditions for the following:
1.2.1 Impact attenuation (the limiting of head acceleration) of the protective headgear, and
1.2.2 Strength and stability of the retention system and its attachment to the protective headgear.
1.2.3 Special tests for particular protective headgear uses will be specified in the individual performance standards to be used
in conjunction with these test methods.
1.3 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standard:
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
F2220 Specification for Headforms
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and are the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2012May 1, 2013. Published January 2013June 2013. Originally approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 20112012 as
F1446 – 11a.F1446 – 12. DOI: 10.1520/F1446-12.10.1520/F1446-13.
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
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F1446 − 13
3
2.2 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard:
218 S7.1.8 Motorcycle Helmets
4
2.3 SAE Standard:
SAE J211 Recommended Practice for Instrumentation for Impact Tests—Requirements for Channel Class 1000
3. Reference Table
3.1 For references to these test methods, the standard terms for reference are listed in bold type in Table 1 with the items to
consider for each method. For conditions and anvils, use the standard term listed in Table 1. Referring to section numbers in these
test methods is not the recommended method for reference.
4. Te
...