ASTM F2397-18

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Designation: F2397 − 09 (Reapproved 2015) F2397 − 18 An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Protective Headgear Used in Martial ArtsCombative Sports
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2397; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers performance requirements for head protection used for training and competition in martial
artscombative sports such as karate, wushu, and taekwondo, where normal contact between participants may be repeated, but is
limited to a level that is not intended to produce injury. These activities typically take place in indoor or outdoor environments
where the temperature is moderate. This specification recognizes the desirability of a lightweight and streamlined construction, and
ventilation; however, it is a performance specification, and is not intended to restrict design.
1.2 All testing and requirements of this specification shall be in accordance with Test Methods F1446, except where noted in
this specification.
1.3 Partial utilization of this standard is prohibited. Any statement of compliance with this specification shall be a certification
that the product meets all of the requirements of the specification in its entirety. A product that fails to meet any one of the
requirements of this specification is considered to have failed the specification, and shall not be distributed or sold with any
indication that it meets parts of the specification.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 The following safety caveat applies to the chemical, mechanical, or physical, or a combination thereof, test methods
described herein and is meant specifically for those performing the tests (in an effort to provide them with notice to take the
appropriate precautions when conducting the tests): 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 safety, health, and
healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F1446 Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective Headgear
3. Terminology
3.1 See Test Methods F1446.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The purpose of this specification is to provide reliable and repeatable test methods for the evaluation of protective headgear
for martial artscombative sports training and competition. Injuries resulting from accidentally hard hand-to-head impacts,
foot-to-head impacts, and head-to-ground impacts may be decreased in severity and, in some cases, prevented. No headgear can
protect against all impacts, foreseeable or not. Forces resulting from strikes to the head due to kicks, punches, and falls are not
well understood. The mechanism of possible injury is not addressed in this specification.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee F08.53 on Headgear and Helmets.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2018. Published February 2015November 2018. Originally approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 20092015
as F2397 – 09.F2397 – 09 (2015). DOI: 10.1520/F2397-09R15.10.1520/F2397-18.
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 the ASTM website.
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F2397 − 18
5. Certification
5.1 See Test Methods F1446.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Test Headforms—Headforms to be used for the stability and falling impact tests in this specification are as defined in Test
Methods F1446. The appropriate size headform shall be selected for the headgear to be tested. For the striking impact tests in this
specification, it is acceptable to use the appropriate size Hybrid III head- and neck-forms.
6.2 Stability Test Instruments and Equipment—Stability test instruments and equipment shall be in accordance with the
requirements of the roll-off test described in Test Methods F1446.
6.3 Falling Impact Test Instruments and Equipment—Impact test instruments and equipment for falling impact shall be in
accordance with the requirements of Test Methods F1446, using the flat anvil described in Test Methods F1446.
6.4 Striking Impact Instruments and Equipment—All tests for striking impact shall be performed with a Hybrid III headform
and neck. A tri-axial accelerometer capable of measuring impact of at least 1000-G and frequencies greater than 3 kHz, mounted
at the center of mass of the headform, shall be used to measure the resultant acceleration of the headform. The headform and neck
are to be rigidly connected at the neck to a 25-kg steel mass, and suspended head-down on a flexible joint. The striker shall be
an aluminum tube with a length of 500 6 5 mm from its pivot point to the strike point, extend an additional 50 6 5 mm beyond
the strike point, and have an external diameter of 80 6 5 mm. The mass of the tube shall be 4.5 6 0.2 kg, uniformly distributed
along its length. The striker shall be loaded with a spring or a falling mass, such that when the striker is rotated back and released,
it rotates forward toward the headform and strikes it at the designated points. No force is to be applied to the striker by the spring
or falling mass once the striker rotates forward beyond the initial impact point, however, the striker must be free to rotate forward
after impact. Rotating the striker further backwards before releasing it can increase the striking speed. The terminal speed impact
shall be measured within 100 mm of the point of free rotation. A schematic diagram of a typical striking impact tester is shown
in Fig. 1.
7. Samples for Testing
7.1 Conditions and attachments in accordance with Test Methods F1446.
FIG. 1 Striking Impact Test.
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7.2 Number of Samples—A test normally requires seven samples of each size. All testing may be done on two size groups only
if the material, material thickness, and construction of all the sizes are the same, that is, differing in coverage area only. If only
two size groups are tested, the sizes must represent the largest and smallest sizes that will fit the appropriate headform. If the
material, material thickness, or construction is different between each size, then all sizes must be tested.
8. Calibration and Standardization
8.1 See Test Methods F1446.
9. Conditioning Environments
9.1 See Test Methods F1446. The ambient temperature and water immersion environments shall be used.
9.2 The following modified high temperature environment shall be used. The sample shall be kept in a 47 to 53°C environment
for 4 to 24 h. The sample shall then be kept in a 35 to 40°C environment for 4 to 24 h. Testing must begin within 1 min after
removal from this final conditioning environment. Before further testing, the headgear must be returned to the final conditioning
environment within 3 min, or be reconditioned for 5 min for each minute it is out of the final conditioning environment beyond
the allowed 3 min.
10. Test Schedule
10.1 One sample from each size group to be tested will be inspected according to the schedule listed in Test Methods F1446.
10.2 Two headgear will be assigned to the ambient conditioning environment. Two headgear will be assigned to each of the
other two conditioning environments.
10.3 Testing will be performed in the following order:
10.3.1 Retention test,
10.3.2 Low-energy falling impact test,
10.3.3 High-energy falling impact test,
10.3.4 Low-energy striking impact test, and
10.3.5 High-energy striking impact test.
10.4 Testing must be complete 30 min after initial removal from the conditioning environment. Once testing has begun on a
sample, all tests on that sample must be completed within 3 min. For each minute, or fraction thereof, this time limit is exceeded,
the sample must be returned to the conditioning environment for an additional 5 min.
11. Test Methods
11.1 Reference Marking:
11.1.1 Place the headgear on the appropriate headform in accordance with Test Methods F1446. Pre-load with a ballast of 5 kg.
11.1.2 Draw lines A-B-C-D-E on the headgear as shown in Fig. 2. This represents the test line for impact in the frontal,
ASTM X Y R S
Headform Size mm mm mm mm
A 24.0 89.7 38.0 7.0
E 26.0 96.0 39.0 8.0
J 27.5 102.5 41.0 8.0
M 29.0 107.0 41.0 8.0
O 31.0 110.0 42.0 9.0
FIG. 2 Marking the Test Line
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temporal, and occipital directions. Lines A-B-C and D-E are parallel to the reference and basic planes. Line B-D is co-planar with
the coronal plane. The center of impact may be selected to be anywhere on or between the test lines.
11.2 Configuration:
11.2.1 In general, the headgear shall be constructed to reduce the acceleration of the wearer’s head and to remain on the wearer’s
head during and after impact. The headgear shall also include the following features.
11.2.2 Openings—The headgear shall be designed so that the ears have a connection to the environment to enable the
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