ASTM F355-95

Standard Test Method for Shock-Absorbing Properties of Playing Surface Systems and Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of certain shock-absorbing characteristics, the impact force-time relationships, and the rebound properties of playing surface systems. This test method is applicable to natural and artificial playing surface systems and to components thereof. Typical playing surfaces are wrestling mats, football fields, soccer fields, playgrounds, and so forth.Note 1—This test method may also be used to measure the shock-attenuation properties of materials used as protective padding, such as the padding on trampoline frames, football goal posts, gymnasium wall, shoulder pads, body padding, and so forth. It should not be used, without some modifications, to test the finished products.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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: 09-Nov-2001
• ICS: 97.200.40 - Playgrounds
• Technical Committee: F08 - Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities
• Drafting Committee: F08.52 - Miscellaneous Playing Surfaces

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F355-01 - Standard Test Method for Shock-Absorbing Properties of Playing Surface Systems and Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F381-16 - Standard Safety Specification for Components, Assembly, Use, and Labeling of Consumer Trampolines
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F3146-18 - Standard Test Method for Impact Attenuation of Turf Playing Systems Designated for Rugby
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1936-19 - Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Turf Playing Systems as Measured in the Field
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D4819-13(2021)e1 - Standard Specification for Flexible Cellular Materials Made From Polyolefin Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F3102-15 - Standard Guide for Specifying, Measuring, and Managing Impact Attenuation of Synthetic Turf Playing Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D3575-20 - Standard Test Methods for Flexible Cellular Materials Made from Olefin Polymers
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1487-21 - Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1702-10(2018) - Standard Test Method for Measuring Impact-Attenuation Characteristics of Natural Playing Surface Systems Using a Lightweight Portable Apparatus
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1015-21 - Standard Test Method for Relative Abrasiveness of Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1292-22 - Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F1551-09(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Comprehensive Characterization of Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces and Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F2970-22 - Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, Operation, Maintenance, Inspection and Major Modification of Trampoline Courts
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F2374-22 - Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Operation, and Maintenance of Inflatable Amusement Devices
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1476-04(2022) - Standard Guide for Metals Identification, Grade Verification, and Sorting
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001

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 355 – 95
Standard Test Method for
Shock-Absorbing Properties of Playing Surface Systems
1
and Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 355; 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 2.2 SAE Standard:
SAE Recommended J 211 Oct. 90 Instrumentation for Im-
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of certain
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pact Tests, Requirements for Channel Class 1000
shock-absorbing characteristics, the impact force-time relation-
ships, and the rebound properties of playing surface systems.
3. Terminology
This test method is applicable to natural and artificial playing
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
surface systems and to components thereof. Typical playing
3.1.1 playing surface system—a composite that includes the
surfaces are wrestling mats, football fields, soccer fields,
contact surface, energy-absorbing materials, if any, and the
playgrounds, etc.
substrates.
NOTE 1—This test method may also be used to measure the shock-
3.1.2 base line—the starting reference plane of the playing
attenuation properties of materials used as protective padding, such as the
surface system from which the total penetration is determined.
padding on trampoline frames, football goal posts, gymnasium wall,
It is taken as the top plane of the playing surface system, when
shoulder pads, body padding, etc. It should not be used, without some
subjected to a static compression of 1 kPa (0.14 psi) for
modifications, to test the finished products.
Procedure A or the weight of missile for Procedure B, unless
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
otherwise specified.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1.3 acceleration—the instantaneous time rate of change
only.
of velocity which may be positive or negative.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.4 G—the ratio of the magnitude of missile acceleration
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
during impact to the acceleration of gravity, expressed in the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
same units.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.5 G —the maximum value of G encountered during
max
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
impact.
3.1.6 severity index—an arbitrary parameter equal to the
2. Referenced Documents
2.5
integral of G dt over the total duration of impact.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.7 head injury criteria (HIC)—a measure of impact
D 1596 Test Method for Dynamic Shock Cushioning Char-
severity that takes into account the duration over which the
2
acteristics of Packaging Materials
most critical section of the deceleration pulse persists as well as
3
E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
the peak level of that deceleration.
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate the
3.1.8 impact velocity—the velocity of the missile as it
3
Average Quality of a Lot or Process
crosses the base line on impact.
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
3.1.9 rebound velocity—the velocity of the missile as it
3
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
crosses the base line on rebound.
F 1292 Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface
3.1.10 time to G —the difference between the time the
4 max
Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment
missile crosses the base line on impact and the time G is
max
reached.
3.1.11 dynamic hardness index—the stress on a material due
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-8 on Sports
to rapid indentation by a moving missile with the geometry
Equipment, Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
described in Procedure A.
F08.52 on Playing Surfaces and Facilities.
Current edition approved March 15, 1995. Published May 1995. Originally
published as F 355 – 72. Last previous edition F 355 – 94.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive,
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.07. Warrendale, PA 15096.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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F 355
3.1.12 time to maximum penetration—the difference be-
tween the time the missile crosses the base line on impact and
the time maximum penetration is reached.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A test specimen is impacted at a specified velocity with
a missile of given mass and geometry. A
...