ASTM F1543-96

Standard Specification for Shock Attenuation Properties of Fencing Surfaces

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers shock absorption properties of fencing surfaces as measured by a drop test. The minimum performance standard for shock absorption is defined. Guidelines for other features and properties of fencing surfaces are described.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.3 This specification does not purport to address all the safety concerns, if any, associated with fencing surfaces and will not prevent all surface-related injuries. It is the responsibility of the user of the surfaces to establish appropriate safety and health practices, including, but not limited to, foot movement, footwear (shoes), and training practices. Specific precautionary statements are given in Notes 4 and 5.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1995
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.52 - Miscellaneous Playing Surfaces

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1543-96(2002)e1 - Standard Specification for Shock Attenuation Properties of Fencing Surfaces
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1543 – 96
Standard Specification for
Shock Attenuation Properties of Fencing Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1543; 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.
1. Scope strip or other shock-absorbing layer, which, in turn, is placed
on a permanent floor.
1.1 This specification covers shock absorption properties of
3.1.3 g—the acceleration of matter due to gravity at the
fencing surfaces as measured by a drop test. The minimum
surface of the earth.
performance standard for shock absorption is defined. Guide-
3.1.4 G—the ratio of the magnitude of missile deceleration
lines for other features and properties of fencing surfaces are
during impact to the acceleration of gravity, g. Hence, G values
described.
are dimensionless.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3.1.5 G —the maximum value of G encountered during
max
standard.
impact.
1.3 This specification does not purport to address all the
3.1.6 G (av)—the arithmetic average of the set of G -
max max
safety concerns, if any, associated with fencing surfaces and
values measured as stipulated in Section 5.
will not prevent all surface-related injuries. It is the responsi-
3.1.7 shock attenuation—the deceleration of an object upon
bility of the user of the surfaces to establish appropriate safety
impact on a surface or other object, measured in units of g.
and health practices, including, but not limited to, foot move-
3.1.8 strip—the fencing surface, defined in 3.1.2, above, is
ment, footwear (shoes), and training practices. Specific pre-
normally referred to as the strip (piste), in fencing.
cautionary statements are given in Notes 4 and 5.
4. Classification
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 Types:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1.1 Type I—Concrete,
E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
4.1.2 Type II—Covered concrete (for example, with lino-
3. Terminology
leum tiles, or rubber runners),
4.1.3 Type III—Hardwood on concrete,
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4.1.4 Type IV—Plywood on concrete,
3.1.1 acceleration (deceleration)—the instantaneous time
4.1.5 Type V—Hardwood on floor joists,
rate of change of velocity. This is either positive (acceleration)
4.1.6 Type VI—Plywood on hardwood,
or negative (deceleration).
4.1.7 Type VII—Raised plywood,
3.1.2 fencing surface—the area for performing fencing
4.1.8 Type VIII—Other surfaces such as synthetic gym
bouts, competitions, or any other fencing exercises. A fencing
floors or recycled rubber composite,
surface, usually referred to as the fencing strip or piste, is
4.1.9 Type IX—Rubber runners (strips) on various flooring
defined in the U.S. Fencing Association’s (USFA’s) rule book.
types, except concrete, and
It measures 1.8 to 2.0 m wide by 14 m long, often with added
4.1.10 Type X—Copper or steel fencing strips on various
width and length for run-off, that at the ends should be 1.5 to
flooring types, except concrete.
2 m. The fencing surface may be an area outlined by tape or
paint on an existing surface or it may be a separate strip that
5. Performance Requirements and Test Method
can be placed on an existing surface, such as a rubber runner or
5.1 Shock Attenuation—Fencing surfaces consisting of con-
a metallically-conducting mesh or sheet on a gym floor. This
crete alone, or concrete covered with conventional tile, or with
specification includes composite arrangements in which, for
sheet floor covering, or with thin vinyl, or rubber runners do
example, a grounded metallic strip is placed on top of a rubber
not provide adequate shock absorption (Floor Types I through
IV). To comply with this specification such surfaces shall not
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports
be used for the sport of fencing. It is not recommended that
Equipment, Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
shock attenuation is enhanced by placing a rug under a metallic
F08.52 on Fencing.
or rubber strip. While this reduces the G value, the shoe
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1996. Published May 1996. Originally
published as F 1543 – 94. Last previous edition F 1543 – 95. depresses the surface and creates a ridge around the shoe,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
causing increased risk of tripping.
Fencing Rules, 1991 Edition, United States Fencing Association, Inc., One
5.1.1 Quantitatively, it is specified herein that the peak
Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5774.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 1543
length of the strip and for one location at each edge at the
center line of the strip, as indicated in Fig. 2. Perform one drop
test per location. Report the average of all seven peak values as
G (av).
max
5.1.1.4 The average of the seven test values, G (av),
max
should be less than 800. No single G measurement should
exceed 900.
NOTE 2—Typical G values using this test procedure encountered for
max
concrete (Types I through IV) range from 1300 to 1500; hardwood on
floor joists (Type V) range from 300 to 700 (placing rubber runners or
metallic strips directly on hardwood floors, Types IX and X, causes a
much smaller variation in test values than are caused by measuring
direc
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