ASTM F589-00
(Specification)Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powder Guns
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powder Guns
SCOPE
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers non-powder guns, commonly referred to as BB guns, air guns, and pellet guns, which propel a projectile by means of energy released by compressed air, compressed gas, mechanical spring action, or a combination thereof, and is to be used in conjunction with Specification F590.
1.2 Special-purpose match precision and adult guns, as classified in 6.1 and 6.2, are exempt from the performance requirements for trigger mechanisms (see 8.3), safety mechanisms (see 8.4), and drop tests (see 8.5).
1.3 Special-purpose training guns, as classified in 6.3, are exempt from the performance requirements for the safety mechanism (see 8.4).
1.4 Limitations -This consumer safety specification does not cover the following categories of gun products: cl custom-made non-powder guns (see 3.1.2.6); or replica guns (see 3.1.2.15); tranquilizer dart guns; toy products such as rubber-band guns, cork guns, pop guns, rubber-tip dart guns, or pea and bean shooters; other recreational-type guns such as blow guns, spear guns, catapult guns (also identified as sling shots), bows, crossbows, or carbide guns; nonrecreational guns such as those used by law enforcement, scientific, or military agencies; nor industrial and consumer tools such as paint-ball guns, staple guns, or conduit guns.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard; the SI units in parentheses are provided for information only.
1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 9, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.
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Designation: F 589 – 00
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
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Non-Powder Guns
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 589; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This consumer safety specification is intended to address the primary causes of injuries involving
non-powder guns and projectiles. Information concerning these injuries was obtained from data
collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission,
consumer sounding boards, and the manufacturers’ knowledge of the product and experience with
consumer injuries.
Adetailed analysis of the 101 in-depth investigations conducted by the Commission reveals that in
92 % of the accidents, the product operated as it was intended. Most injuries were caused by
carelessness or intentional shooting. Some injuries resulted from children who were too young to
realize the inherent hazards of non-powder guns, who had their parents’ approval but were
unsupervised. Meetings with consumer sounding boards indicated a need for the consumer to
understand the power of the various non-powder guns and the seriousness of non-powder gun injuries.
To perform as intended, a non-powder gun requires a level of power which, if misused, can cause
serious injury. This consumer safety specification is intended to reduce the hazards associated with
non-powder gun use. This specification cannot control careless use or eliminate all hazards of misuse,
but does provide for warnings of specific hazards and instructions for proper handling, use, and
storage. Terminology is standardized in this specification, so that conforming products will be
identified in the same manner, and critical dimensions are standardized to assure safe interchange-
abilityofprojectilesandpropellantsinallconformingnon-powderguns.Productperformancehazards
are identified and requirements are established to minimize these hazards.
This consumer safety specification is written within the current state-of-the-art of non-powder gun
technology.Theintentistorevisethisconsumersafetyspecificationwheneversubstantiveinformation
becomes available which justifies revising existing requirements or adding new requirements.
1. Scope 1.3 Special-purpose training guns, as classified in 8.3, are
exempt from the performance requirements for the safety
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers non-powder
mechanism (see 4.4).
guns, commonly referred to as BB guns, air guns, and pellet
1.4 Limitations—This consumer safety specification does
guns, which propel a projectile by means of energy released by
not cover the following categories of gun products: cl custom-
compressedair,compressedgas,mechanicalspringaction,ora
made non-powder guns (see 3.1.2.6); or replica guns (see
combination thereof, and is to be used in conjunction with
3.1.2.15); tranquilizer dart guns; toy products such as rubber-
Specification F 590.
band guns, cork guns, pop guns, rubber-tip dart guns, or pea
1.2 Special-purpose match precision and adult guns, as
and bean shooters; other recreational-type guns such as blow
classified in 8.1 and 8.2, are exempt from the performance
guns, spear guns, catapult guns (also identified as sling shots),
requirements for trigger mechanisms (see 4.3), safety mecha-
bows, crossbows, or carbide guns; nonrecreational guns such
nisms (see 4.4), and drop tests (see 4.5).
as those used by law enforcement, scientific, or military
agencies; nor industrial and consumer tools such as paint-ball
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This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
guns, staple guns, or conduit guns.
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.06 on
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Safety Standards for Nonpowder Gun Products.
as the standard; the SI units in parentheses are provided for
Current edition approved March 10, 2000. Published May 2000. Originally
published as F 589 – 78. Last previous edition F 589 – 92. information only.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F 589
1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the 3.1.2.9 magazine—a device used in a gun to store projec-
test method portion, Section 9, of this specification: This tiles.
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
3.1.2.10 non-powder gun—a device specifically designed to
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user discharge BB’s, pellets, or darts b
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