ASTM F1937-04(2023)

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.
Designation: F1937 − 04 (Reapproved 2023) An American National Standard
Standard Specification for
Body Protectors Used in Horse Sports and Horseback
Riding
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1937; 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
Horse sports and horseback riding are sports with intrinsic hazards. It is recognized that it is not
possible to write a body protector performance standard that will result in products that can protect
against injury or death in all accidents. It is also recognized that serious injury or death can result from
both low-energy and high-energy impacts, even when body protectors are worn. It is further
recognized that protective body protectors must be acceptable to the user and to the regulating
associations or agencies requiring their use. Acknowledging these limitations, this specification was
developed using resources in medical, scientific, engineering, human factors, and biomedical fields.
This specification incorporates many aspects of other recognized body protector performance
standards. This specification draws from work done by others where appropriate for this specification.
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 horse F1045 Performance Specification for Ice Hockey Helmets
sports and horseback riding. F1446 Test Methods for Equipment and Procedures Used in
Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protective
1.2 It is not the intention of this specification to bar from
Headgear
consideration materials of improved quality or performance not
2.2 BETA Standard:
known at the time of development of this specification.
BETA 1.24.4.95 Standard for Horse Riders’ Body and
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Shoulder Protectors
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for 4
2.3 National Institute of Justice Standard:
information only.
NIJS 0101.03 Ballistic Resistance of Police Body Armor
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
2.4 SAE Standard:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
SAE J211 Recommended Practice for Instrumentation for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Impact Tests—Requirements for Channel Class 1000
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3. Terminology
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:In addi-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
tion to terms defined in Test Methods F1446, the following
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
terms are specific to this specification:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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.
1 3
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F08 on Sports Available from the British Equestrian Trade Association Ltd., Worthersome
Equipment, Playing Surfaces, and Facilities and is the direct responsibility of Grange, Bramham, Nr. Wetherby, Yorkshire, LS23 6LY.
Subcommittee F08.55 on Body Padding. Available from National Institute of Justice (NIJ), 810 7th St., NW, Washington,
Current edition approved April 1, 2023. Published April 2023. Originally DC 20531, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij.
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as F1937 – 04 (2017). Available from SAE International (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale,
DOI: 10.1520/F1937-04R23. PA 15096-0001, http://www.sae.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1937 − 04 (2023)
3.1.1 backing material—block of non-hardening, oil-based 4.1.1 As defined in the ice hockey helmet Performance
modeling clay in contact with the back of the body protective Specification F1045, all materials used in the fabrication of the
test specimen during impact deformation testing. body protector shall be known to be suitable for the intended
application. All shock attenuation system materials used in the
3.1.2 body protector—sleeveless garment covering defined
body protector shall not permanently distort during an expo-
areas of the torso and lower back and consisting of one or more
sure of at least 4 h to any temperature in the range from 5 6
layers of material and designed to reduce trauma from blunt
4 to 104 6 4 °F (–15 6 2 to 40 6 2 °C), nor shall the material
impacts and falls.
be significantly affected by exposure to ultraviolet radiation,
3.1.3 bust girth—maximum horizontal girth measured dur-
water, dirt, or vibration. All materials shall be rot-resistant.
ing normal breathing with the subject standing upright and the
4.1.2 Materials coming into contact with the wearer’s skin
tape-measure passed over the scapulae under the armpits and
shall not be the type known to cause skin irritation or disease,
across the breasts: normal underclothing to be worn.
and shall not undergo significant loss of strength, flexibility, or
3.1.4 calibration impact surface—impact surface shall be a
other physical change as a result of contact with perspiration or
flat modular elastomer programmer (MEP). The MEP is 6.0 in.
body oil.
(152 mm) in diameter, and 1.0 in. (25 mm) thick. It is affixed
4.1.3 Any material used in the construction of body protec-
to the top surface of a flat, 0.25 in. (6.35 mm) thick aluminum
tors shall not be adversely affected by ordinary household soap
plate. The durometer of the MEP is 60 6 2 Shore A.
and water, mild household detergent, or cleaners recommended
by the manufacturer.
3.1.5 chest girth—maximum horizontal girth measured dur-
ing normal breathing with the subject standing upright and the
4.2 Body Protector Assembly:
tape-measure passed over the scapulae under the armpits and
4.2.1 Any optional devices fitted to the body protector shall
across the chest.
be so designed that they are unlikely to cause any injury to the
3.1.6 deformation—maximum displacement of the back sur- wearer or other participants during contact.
face of the body protector, during impact as defined in 9.3.
4.2.2 No rigid projections shall be on the inside of the body
protector which could come in contact with the wearer’s body.
3.1.7 depth—depth of the depression is the distance from
4.2.3 All external projections shall be smooth and ad-
the original undisturbed surface of the backing material to the
equately faired to other surfaces.
lowest point of the depression.
4.3 Extent and Form of Protective Material—The coverage
3.1.8 impact surface—flat anvil specified in 6.3.1.2 of Test
of the body protector listed in Section 5 shall protect the
Methods F1446 shall be used as the impact surface for the
wearer’s body to the minimum impact requirements of Section
shock attenuation test (see Section 6).
7. The extent of protection shall include at least all of the
3.1.9 waist girth—maximum horizontal girth measured dur-
designated areas shown in Fig. 1.
ing normal breathing with the subject standing upright and the
4.3.1 The body protector may have reduced thickness over
tape-measure passed around the body in the plane of the waist,
the shoulder. When shoulder protectors are fitted, the body
2.0 in. (50 mm) above the supra-cristal plane which is at the
protector shoulder strap may not require any included foam.
level of the highest points of the iliac crests. The dimension of
4.4 Attachments—The components of the fasteners for se-
2.0 in. (50 mm) refers to a subject of 70.0 in. (1780 mm) tall
and should be scaled pro rata with the height of the actual curing attachments to the body protector shall not reduce the
degree of protection afforded the wearer by the protective
subject.
padding or cushioning material of the body protector.
3.1.10 waist to waist over the shoulder length—maximum
length measured from the plane of the waist, as defined above,
5. Dimensioning, Sizing, and Body Coverage
over the shoulder to the plane of the waist. The tape-measure
5.1 The whole circumference of the torso shall be covered
crosses the shoulder at the mid point between the point of the
by the body protector.
shoulder and the junction of the shoulder to the neck. Anteri-
orly the tape-measure passes over the chest (or bust) to a point
5.2 Dimensioning—Body protectors shall have dimensions
3.5 in. (90 mm) lateral to the midline of the body on the plane
as shown in Fig. 1. Dimension A is the mid-value of the range
of the waist. Posteriorly the tape-measure follows the shortest
of the chest circumferences the manufacturer states the body
distance to a point 3.5 in. (90 mm) lateral to the midline of the
protector will fit. Dimension B is equal to B = (–0.028)A
body. The distances of 3.5 in. (90 mm) refer to a subject with
+ 2.66A – 25.81. Four vertical reference lines defined in
a waist girth of 34.0 in. (860 mm) and should be scaled pro rata
BETA 1.24.4.95 are to be used: C and C’ separated by 25 % of
with the waist girth of the actual subject. Normal underclothing
Dimension A on the chest, and D and D’ separated by 25 % of
to be worn for the measurement.
Dimension A on the back.
5.2.1 The padding shall extend for more than 45 % of
4. General Requirements
Dimension B along the lines C and C’ (C in Fig. 1).
5.2.2 The padding shall extend for more than 60 % of
4.1 Materials:
Dimension B along the lines D and D’ (D in Fig. 1).
6 7
A backing material found to be suitable is Roma Plastilina No. 1 modeling clay This formula represents the mathematically calculated anthropometric mean for
as defined in NIJS 0101.03. the waist to waist over the shoulder length for chest sizes 21 to 48.
F1937 − 04 (2023)
NOTE 1—Protective material can be removed from the body protector.
FIG. 1 Diagrammatic Representation of the Protective Material in a Body Protector Flattened Out for Measurement
5.2.3 The padding shall extend for a length greater than 6.1.2 Recording Equipment—The recording equipment shall
30 % of Dimension B in the center front (E in Fig. 1). meet the following criteria:
5.2.4 The circumference of the armhole shall be less than
6.1.2.1 Acceleration Transducer—A linear accelerometer is
70 % of Dimension A (F in Fig. 1).
mounted at the center of gravity of the spherical impactor and
5.2.5 The minimum width of the padding across the back
carriage assembly with the sensitive axis aligned to within 5°
between the arm holes shall be more than 30 % of Dimension
of the vertical when the spherical impactor is in the impact
A (G in Fig. 1).
position. This transducer shall be capable of withstanding a
5.2.6 The minimum width of padding across the chest
shock of 1000 g without damage and shall have a frequency
between the armholes shall be more than 25 % of Dimension A
response (variation 61.5 %) over the range from 5 to 900 Hz.
(H in Fig. 1).
6.1.2.2 Impact Recording—The impact shall be recorded on
5.2.7 The maximum depth of the front neck opening shall be
single- or dual-trace storage oscilloscope with 0.1 mV to 20 V
less than 15 % of Dimension B (I in Fig. 1).
deflection factor, 1 to 5 ms sweep speed-division and 500 kHz
5.2.8 The maximum depth of the back neck opening shall be
bandwidth, or any digital system meeting or exceeding these
less than 7 % of Dimension B (J in Fig. 1).
requirements.
5.2.9 Padding over the top of the shoulder may be reduced
6.1.2.3 Signal Filtering—Acceleration data channel and fil-
to 50 % of its normal thickness in an area not extending more
tering shall comply with SAE J211, CFC 1000.
than 2.0 in. (50 mm) along the over-shoulder dimension line
6.1.3 System Accuracy—The impact recording system shall
from the top of the shoulder, to the front and to the rear.
be capable of measuring shocks up to 500 g peak acceleration
5.3 Sizing—Body protectors and shoulder protectors shall with an accuracy of 65 %.
be marked a size. The size is to be determined by three
6.2 Penetration and Deformation Test—The apparatus for
dimensions of the persons the protector will fit. The dimen-
the penetration and deformation test shall consist of the
sions are chest girth, waist girth, and waist to waist over the
following:
shoulder length.
6.2.1 Backing Material—The backing material shall be in
the form of a single block at least 4.0 in. (102 mm) thick and
6. Apparatus
of sufficient length and width (approximately 10.0 by 10.0 in.
6.1 Shock Attenuation Test—The apparatus for the shock
(254 by 254 mm)) to completely back the body protector to be
attenuation test shall consist of the following:
tested.
6.1.1 Guide Assembly—The spherical impactor shall be
6.2.2 Backing Material Box—A box measuring at least 11.0
attached to the free fall drop assembly carriage by an adjustable
by 11.0 by 4.5 in. (279 by 279 by 114-mm) with at least a 10.0
mounting that will allow impacts to be delivered to any point
by 10.0 by 4.0 in. (254 by 254 by 102 mm) square opening
of the body protector. The carriage shall be free to slide on
shall be used to hold the backing material during product test.
vertical guides. If wires are used they must be placed under at
least 190 lbf (845 N) tension. The guide assembly shall not
7. Performance Requirements
weigh more than 2.4 lb (1100 g). The total weight of the guide
assembly and spherical impactor shall be 11.0 6 0.25 lb (5000 7.1 General—Body protectors shall be capable of meeting
6 100 g). the requirements in this performance specification throughout
F1937 − 04 (2023)
their full range of adjustment. They shall be capable of meeting 9.3.3 The impact velocity shall be measured within the last
these requirements at any temperature between 5 and 104 °F 1.0 in. (25 mm) of travel before impact with the protector.
(–15 and 40 °C).
...