ASTM F1979-99

Standard Specification for Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball

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 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.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-1999
• 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

• Replaced By: ASTM F1979-04 - Standard Specification for Paintballs Used in the Sport of Paintball
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F2801-19(2023) - Standard Practice for Paintball Player Safety Briefing
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2184-10(2022) - Standard Guide for Installation of Paintball Barrier Netting
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2271-11(2023) - Standard Specification for Paintball Marker Barrel Blocking Devices
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F1776-22 - Standard Specification for Eye Protective Devices for Paintball Sports
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2573-06(2022) - Standard Specification for Low Velocity Resilient Material Projectile
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2773-13(2021) - Standard Practice for Transfilling Compressed Air or Nitrogen and Safe Handling of Small Paintball Cylinders
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F3100-15(2023) - Standard Practice for Low Impact Paintball Field Operation
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2679-15(2023) - Standard Specification for 6 mm Projectiles Used with Airsoft Guns
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F1777-19(2023) - Standard Practice for Paintball Game Site Operation
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2272-23 - Standard Specification for Paintball Markers
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2278-19(2023) - Standard Test Method for Evaluating Paintball Barrier Netting
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1999
• 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: 10-Jun-1999

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: F 1979 – 99
Standard Specification for
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 (e) 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 the three polycarbonate tensile bars exposed to the fill material
shall develop a visible crack that is greater than 6.5 mm, (0.256
1.1 This specification establishes testing procedures and
in.) in length.
critical characteristics of 0.68 caliber paintballs which help
3.3 Maximum Weight—The paintballs shall not weigh more
define whether a paintball is suitable for use in the sport of
than 3.5 g.
paintball. Furthermore, the specification establishes minimum
3.4 Diameter of Paintball—The diameter of the paintball as
warning and package labeling to help ensure that the paintballs
measured both polar and at the seam shall measure between
are used in a safe manner and that the risk of injury is reduced.
16.5 mm, (0.650 in.) and 18 mm (0.709 in.).
1.2 This specification does not purport to address all of the
3.5 Impact Breakage—The impact breakage of the paintball
safety issues associated with the sport of paintball. It is the
shall be tested in accordance with Section 5. All 10 of the
responsibility of the user of this specification to establish
paintballs that impact the target shall break upon impact.
appropriate safety and health practices and to comply with all
3.6 Environmental Safety—Paintballs shall not contain en-
applicable laws and regulations.
vironmentally hazardous substances as defined in CERCLA
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
Regulations40CFR302.4;SARAToxicChemicalList Section
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
4 5
313; Clean Air Act , Section 112B; and RCRA Regulations
only.
40FRR261.24 through 40CFR261.33.
2. Terminology
TEST METHODS
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 fill—the liquid inside of a paintball.
4. Paintball Compatibility with Polycarbonate
2.1.2 paintball—asphericalball,commonlywithadiameter
4.1 Scope—This test method is intended to determine the
of 17.3 mm (0.68 in.), comprised of a shell and a fill, and
compatibility of the paintball fill with polycarbonate, the
designed to be expelled from a paintball gun.
plastic material currently universally used for protective eye-
2.1.3 paintball gun—a device specifically designed to dis-
wear lenses in paintball.
charge paintballs.
4.2 Summary of Test Method—This test method involves
2.1.4 shell—a rigid to semirigid material (generally of
bending polycarbonate tensile bars in a test fixture while these
gelatin) that encapsulates the fill of a paintball.
3. General Requirements
U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency, “Designation of Hazardous Substances
3.1 pH of Fill Material—The pH of the fill used in the
List of Hazardous Substances and Reportable Quantities,” Comprehensive Environ-
paintball shall measure between 4.5 and 7.5 as measured using
mental Response Compensation and Liabilities Act, Bureau of Federal Affairs,
a 10 % solution of the fill in distilled water. Measurements 40CFR302.4, April 4, 1985.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Superfund Amendment and Reautho-
shall be made using a properly calibrated pH meter.
rization Act,” Environmental Protection Agency Regulation, Bureau of Federal
3.2 Paintball Fill Compatibility With Polycarbonate—
Affairs, Title III, 1986.
When tested in accordance with Section 4, no more than one of
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “National Emission Standards for Air
Pollutants List of Hazardous Air Pollutants,” Clean Air Act, Bureau of Federal
Affairs, Section 112B, 1967.
1 5
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-8 on Sports U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,“DefinitionofCharacteristicandListed
Equipment and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F08.24 on Hazardous Waste, Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste,” Resource
Paintball and Equipment. Conservation and Recovery Act, Bureau of Federal Affairs, 40CFR261, May 19,
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published August 1999. 1980.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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.
F1979–99
FIG. 2 Tensile Bar
FIG. 1 Tensile Bar Shown Without Wrapping
crack of 3 mm (0.112 in.) in length, and cracks longer than 6.5
mm have also been found in two of the three tensile bars
bars are exposed to the paintball fill material and observing
exposed to the fill material, the test may be considered invalid
how these tensile bars react to the fill. A control test is also
and performed again using a different batch of tensile bars.
conducted using tap water in place of the paintball fill material.
4.7 Precision and Bias—No information is presented about
4.3 Significance and Use—This test method provides a
either the precision or bias of this test method since this test
means to help determine the suitability of specific paintball fill
method is nonquantitative.
material for use in the sport of paintball. This test method
provides a relative indicator of the reaction that a polycarbon-
5. Paintball Impact Breakage Test
ate lens would have to the paintball fill material being tested.
5.1 Scope—This test method is intended to determine the
4.4 Apparatus—Thistestmethodshallbeconductedusinga
ability of the paintballs to burst upon impact.
test fixture as shown in Fig. 1.The tensile bars used in the test
5.2 Summary of Test Method—This test method involves
shall be molded of clear 121 grade Lexan , polycarbonate (Fig.
shooting paintballs from a paintgun at a target, within the
2).
parameters of this specification, to test for the breakage of the
4.5 Procedure:
paintballs upon the target.
4.5.1 Test3separatetensilebarsforeachtypeofpaintbeing
5.3 Significance and Use—In the sport of paintball, a player
tested. Test a total of 2 tensile bars in the control test using tap
who is marked with fill of a paintball is eliminated from the
water.
game, and thus it is desirable that a paintball be designed
4.5.2 Place the fill from 4 paintballs of the tested paint into
within parameters such that its outer shell can split open and
a polyethylene bag, (the zip-lock var
...