ASTM F2681-08

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Designation:F2681 −08 AnAmerican National Standard
Standard Specification for
Body Protectors Used in Equine Racing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2681; 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
Equineracingisasportwithintrinsichazards.Itisrecognizedthatseriousinjuryordeathcanresult
from both low-energy and high-energy impacts, even when body protectors are worn. It is also
recognized that body protection must be acceptable for the sport, the user, and to the regulating
associations or agencies requiring their use. This specification has been developed with an emphasis
onprovidingcomfortable,nonrestrictiveimpactprotectioninalowerweightgarment.Injurieswillnot
be prevented by protective padding in accidents involving severe torsion, flexion or crushing of the
body. Acknowledging these limitations, this specification was developed using resources in the
medical, scientific, engineering, human factors, and biomedical fields, as well as resources from
equine competitors and professional Standardbred drivers and Thoroughbred jockeys. This specifi-
cation draws from work done by others where appropriate for this specification, and these standards
may be referenced. It should be noted that this specification specifies a laboratory test of a completed
body protector’s ability to reduce impacts.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification covers minimum performance criteria 2.1 ASTM Standards:
and describes test methods for body protectors for use in F1446 Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in
equine racing in a controlled environment. Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective
Headgear
NOTE 1—It is recognized that it is not possible to write a body protector
2.2 BSI Standards:
performance standard that will result in products that can protect against
EN 13158:2000 Protective clothing – protective jackets,
all types of injury or death in an accident.
body and shoulder protectors for horse riders – Require-
1.2 It is not the intention of this specification to bar from
ments and test methods
considerationmaterialsofimprovedqualityorperformancenot
2.3 SAE Standards
known at time of development of this specification.
SAE J211 Recommended Practice for Instrumentation for
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Impact Tests – Requirements for Channel Class 1000
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3. Terminology
standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.1 In addition to terms defined in Test Methods F1446,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the following terms are specific to this specification.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F08 on Sports the ASTM website.
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Available from British Standards Institute (BSI), 389 Chiswick High Rd.,
Subcommittee F08.55 on Body Padding. London W4 4AL, U.K., http://www.bsi-global.com.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published September 2008. DOI: Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth
10.1520/F2681-08. Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, http://www.sae.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2681−08
FIG. 1Dimensional Coverage Requirements
3.1.2 body protector, n—sleeveless garment covering de- These materials shall not undergo significant loss of strength,
fined areas of the torso and lower back and consisting of one or flexibility, or other physical change as a result of contact with
more layers of material and designed to reduce trauma from perspiration or body oil.Any material used in the construction
impacts and falls. of body protectors shall not be adversely affected by ordinary
household soap and water, mild household detergent, or
3.1.3 calibration impact surface, n—flat modular elastomer
cleaners recommended by the manufacturer.
programmer (MEP), as specified in Test Methods F1446.
4.1.3 Adhesive materials used to attach padding or straps to
3.1.4 equine racing, n—any event or activity on a flat dirt,
the body protector shall be of a formulation that will not alter
grass, or synthetic surface track that emphasizes the horse’s
thechemicalorphysicalpropertiesofthematerialstoanextent
and rider’s or driver’s ability to complete a designated distance
as to reduce their protective qualities.
or course in as short a time as possible (for example,
4.1.4 The manufacturer of the body protector shall provide
Standardbred, Thoroughbred, and Quarter Horse racing).
written documentation to the testing laboratory indicating that
3.1.5 impact surface, n—flat anvil, as specified in the
the materials used in the body protector fulfill the requirements
Apparatus section of Test Methods F1446, used as the impact
of 4.1.1-4.1.3.
surface for the shock attenuation test (see 7.2).
4.2 Body Protector Assembly:
3.1.6 padding, n—any material or structure designed to
4.2.1 Any optional devices provided by the manufacturer of
absorb or distribute, or both, impact energy.
the body protector and fitted to the body protector shall be so
3.1.7 spherical impactor, n—sphericalimpactor,asspecified
designed that they are unlikely to cause any injury to the
in Test Methods F1446, used for the impact attenuation system
wearer or other participants during contact. If the manufacturer
check (see 10.1) and impact test procedures (see 11.2).
provides optional devices then the body protector shall be
tested with the optional devices fitted to the body protector.
4. Materials and Manufacture
4.2.2 Any unfaired projection extending more than 7 mm
4.1 Materials:
from the body protector outer surface shall break away or
4.1.1 All materials used in the fabrication of the body
collapse when impacted with forces equivalent to those pro-
protector shall be known as suitable for the intended applica-
duced by the impact tests described in 11.2 of this specifica-
tion.All padding materials used in the body protector shall not
tion. There shall be no fixture on the inner surface of the body
permanently distort during an exposure of at least4htoany
protector projecting more than 2 mm from the inner surface of
temperature in the range from -15 62to40 6 2°C, nor shall
the body protector toward the wearer’s body.
the material be significantly affected by exposure to ultraviolet
radiation, water, dirt, or vibration. 4.3 Extent and Form of Padding—The coverage of the body
4.1.2 Materials coming into contact with the wearer’s skin protectorlistedinSection6shallbecapableofbeingevaluated
shall not be a type known to cause skin irritation or diseases. according to 11.2 and shall meet the impact requirements of
F2681−08
FIG. 2Armhole Circumference Measurement Device
Section 5. The extent of coverage shall include at least all of range of the chest circumference, in centimetres, that the
the designated areas shown in Fig. 1. manufacturer states the body protector will fit. Dimension B
shall be reported in centimetres and defined by the following
NOTE 2—The body protector may have reduced padding thickness over
equation:
the shoulder, and it does not require padding in areas outside the test area
defined in Fig. 1.
B 5 ~20.011!A 12.66A 2 65.56 (1)
which represents the mathematically calculated anthropomet-
4.4 Attachments—The components of the fasteners for se-
ric mean for the waist to waist over the shoulder length for
curing attachments to the body protector shall not reduce the
chest sizes of 53 to 122 cm.
impact attenuation properties of the body protector.
6.3.1 Four vertical reference lines, as defined in EN
5. Performance Requirements
13158:2000, are to be used: C and C’ separated by 25% of
5.1 General—Body protectors shall be capable of meeting
Dimension A on the chest, and D and D’ separated by 25% of
the requirements in this specification throughout their full
Dimension A on the back.
range of adjustment.
6.3.2 The padding shall extend for more than 30% of
5.2 When tested in accordance with 11.1, the force to
Dimension B along the lines C and C’ (C in Fig. 1).
separate any closures shall not be less than 50 N. This
6.3.3 The padding shall extend for more than 45% of
requirement shall be met at ambient temperature 21 6 3°C and
Dimension B along the lines D and D’ (D in Fig. 1).
at a relative humidity of 50 6 15 %.
6.3.4 Thepaddingshallextendforalengthgreaterthan25%
5.3 The velocity of any test impact shall be 3.15 m/s 6 2%.
of Dimension B in the center front (E in Fig. 1).
The peak acceleration of any test impact shall not exceed
6.3.5 The armhole circumference shall be measured by
300 g, when conditioned as described in 9.1 and when tested in
placing the armhole opening over the test device shown in Fig.
accordance with 11.2.
2. The point at which the armhole opening circumference
contacts the cone measurement device at all points around the
6. Dimensioning, Sizing and Body Coverage
circumference of the armhole shall be considered to be the
6.1 The whole circumference of the torso shall be covered
armhole circumference. The circumference of the armhole
by the body protector.
shall be less than 70% of Dimension A (F in Fig. 1).
6.2 All measurements shall be taken from the edge of the
6.3.6 The minimum width of padding across the back
padding material to the edge of the padding material as
between the armholes shall be more than 30% of DimensionA
designated in 6.3. The outer material that holds the padding
(G in Fig. 1).
material shall not be considered to be padding material.
6.3.7 The minimum width of padding across the chest
between the armholes shall be more than 20% of DimensionA
6.3 Dimensioning—Body protectors shall have dimensions
as shown in Fig. 1. DimensionAshall be the mid-value of the (H in Fig. 1).
F2681−08
TABLE 1 Sampling and Test Schedule
6.3.8 The maximum vertical dimension (depth) of the front
neck opening shall be less than 15% of Dimension B (I in Fig. Dimensioning, Closures Impact
Sizing and (11.1) Attenuation
1).
Body Coverage (11.2)
6.3.9 The maximum vertical dimension (depth) of the back
(Section 6)
neck opening shall be less than 10% of Dimension B (J in Fig.
Sample 1, Ambient X X X
Sample 2, High Temperature X
1).
Sample 3, Low Temperature X
6.3.10 The test area shall consist of the area bounded by
Sample 4, Water Immersion X
dimensions A, C, C’, D and D’ as shown in Fig. 1.
7. Apparatus
7.1 Dimensioning, Sizing and Coverage—The apparatus for
be tested for dimensioning, sizing, and body coverage prior to
thedimensioning,sizingandcoverageevaluationshallinclude:
closure testing. Upon completion of closure testing, the ambi-
7.1.1 Cloth Tape Measure, metric, capable of reporting
ent sample shall be subjected to impact attenuation testing. A
measurements to the nearest 0.1 cm.
summary of the sampling and test schedule appears in Table 1.
7.1.2 Armhole Circumference Measurement Device, shown
in Fig. 2. The armhole circumference measurement device
9. Conditioning
shall be fabricated from any material that will not significantly
9.1 Prior to testing, condition one body protector apiece in
degrade over time. Suitable materials include plastic, metal or
each of the following four ways:
wood.
9.1.1 Ambient Temperature—Condition one body protector
7.2 Shock Attenuation Test—The apparatus for the shock
for a period of not less than4hat laboratory conditions at a
attenuation test shall consist of the following: temperature of 21 6 3°C and a relative humidity of 50 6 15%.
7.2.1 Guide Assembly—The spherical impactor shall be
Record the temperature to the nearest degree and the relative
attachedtothefreefalldropassemblycarriagebyanadjustable humidity to the nearest percent at the time of testing on the
mounting that will allow impacts to be delivered to any point report form for each test series.
of the body protector within the area designated by 6.3, 9.1.2 Low Temperature—Condition the second body protec-
provided that the center of any impact is not less than 50 mm tor by exposing it to a temperature of -15 6 3°C for not less
from any padding edge, and at least 100 mm from any prior
than 4 h nor more than 24 h in a mechanically cooled
impact center. The carriage shall be free to slide on vertical apparatus.
guides. If wires are used, they shall be placed under at least
9.1.3 HighTemperature—Conditionthethirdbodyprotector
845 N tension. The guide assembly shall not weigh more than by exposing it to a temperature of 50 6 3°C for not less than
1.100 kg. The total weight of the guide assembly and spherical
4 h nor more than 24 h.
impactor shall be 5.0 6 0.1 kg. 9.1.4 Water Immersion—Condition the fourth body protec-
7.2.2 Recording Equipment—Therecordingequipmentshall
tor by fully immersing in potable water at a temperature of 19
meet the following criteria: 6 3°C for not less than 4 h nor more than 24 h.
7.2.2.1 Acceleration Transducer—A linear accelerometer
9.1.5 Testing for Conditioned Specimens—Complete all
shall be mounted at the center of gravity of the spherical testing on body protectors within 5 min after removal from the
impactor and carriage assembly with the sensitive axis aligned
conditioning environment. If testing cannot be completed
towithin5°oftheverticalwhenthesphericalimpactorisinthe within 5 min, the body protector shall be returned to the
impact position. The transducer shall be capable of withstand-
conditioning environment for a minimum of 15 min for each
ing a shock of 1000 g without damage and shall have a 5 min period that they are out of the conditioning environment,
frequency response (variation 6 1.5%) from 5 to 900 Hz.
prior to the resumption of testing.
7.2.2.2 Impact Recording—The impact shall be recorded
10. System Check
using digital data processing equipment that complies with the
requirements of SAE J211. The minimum sampling rate shall
10.1 Impact Attenuation Instrumentation System Check—
not be less th
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