Fencing Draft:Appendix 4: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
|||
| (8 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{DISPLAYTITLE | {{DISPLAYTITLE:Safety tests}} | ||
Penetration-resistant material, masks and blade flexibility must be tested by an authorised marshal at least every | Penetration-resistant material, masks and blade flexibility must be tested by an authorised marshal at least every two years, separate to inspections at training and events. | ||
==Penetration-resistant material== | ==Penetration-resistant material== | ||
Penetration-resistant material is tested using a drop tester that meets SCA standards. The specifications for creating a drop-tester are available in Appendix 3 of the Society Fencing Marshals Handbook. | Penetration-resistant material is tested using a drop tester that meets SCA standards. The specifications for creating a drop-tester are available in Appendix 3 of the Society Fencing Marshals Handbook. | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
*a guide tube | *a guide tube | ||
*a drop probe | *a drop probe | ||
*a | *a 75 mm threaded PVC flange | ||
* | *two hose clamps | ||
*a screw driver or nut clamp to tighten the hose clamps. | *a screw driver or nut clamp to tighten the hose clamps. | ||
#Use a hard surface. Carpet or grass absorb impact and make the test unreliable. | #Use a hard surface. Carpet or grass absorb impact and make the test unreliable. | ||
#Set the flange thread side up and lay the test fabric over it. | #Set the flange thread side up and lay the test fabric over it. | ||
#Fit the first hose clamp over the fabric and flange, and pull the fabric tight as you push the clamp down. Tighten the clamp. | #Fit the first hose clamp over the fabric and flange, and pull the fabric tight as you push the clamp down. Tighten the clamp. | ||
#Fit the second clamp below the flange so that it is touching the first. Make sure the fabric is tightly secured. | #Fit the second clamp below the flange so that it is touching the first. Make sure the fabric is tightly secured. | ||
#Place the guide tube vertically in the centre of the fabric. | |||
#Insert the probe into the guide tube, lined up to the mark to drop it from. | #Insert the probe into the guide tube, lined up to the mark to drop it from. | ||
#Drop the probe. | #Drop the probe. | ||
#Examine the fabric. If the probe has | #Examine the fabric. | ||
##If the test fabric has 4 layers, and the probe has penetrated anything below the top layer of fabric, the material fails. | |||
##If the test fabric has fewer than 4 layers, and the probe penetrates through any layer, the material passes. | |||
#If the probe does not punch through, check that the clamps are still secure and that the fabric did not slip. | #If the probe does not punch through, check that the clamps are still secure and that the fabric did not slip. | ||
#If the marshal is satisfied, the material passes. | #If the marshal is satisfied, the material passes. | ||
===Exemptions=== | ===Exemptions=== | ||
The following materials are known to pass these tests when new: | The following materials are known to pass these tests when new: | ||
*ballistic nylon rated to at least 550 Newtons | *ballistic nylon rated to at least 550 Newtons | ||
*commercial fencing clothing rated to at least 550 Newtons | *commercial fencing clothing rated to at least 550 Newtons | ||
* | *mail made of welded or riveted steel rings that will not admit a 5/32 inches (4 mm) diameter probe. Rings no greater than 0.155 inches (4 mm) in internal diameter made of wire no less than 0.020 inches (0.5 mm) thick meet this requirement | ||
These materials only need to be tested at the marshal's discretion. | These materials only need to be tested at the marshal's discretion. | ||
==Blade flexibility== | ==Blade flexibility== | ||
To test the flexibility of a blade, follow this procedure. | To test the flexibility of a blade, follow this procedure. | ||
#Clamp or hold the blade on a rigid surface, such as a table, to ensure it | #Clamp or hold the blade, where the ricasso meets the tang, on a rigid surface, such as a table, to ensure it doesn't move at the table end. The rest of blade must extend off the rigid surface so that it is unsupported. | ||
#Hang a 170 gram (6oz) weight 25 mm from the tip. | #Hang a 170 gram (6oz) weight 25 mm from the tip. | ||
#If the blade of a dagger flexes at least 12 | #If the blade of a dagger flexes at least 12.5 mm (1/2 inch), it meets the standard. | ||
#For a sword used in Fencing Combat, the blade must flex at least | #For a sword used in Fencing Combat, the blade must flex at least 25 mm (1 inch). | ||
#For a sword used in Cut and Thrust Combat, the blade must flex at least 12. | #For a sword used in Cut and Thrust Combat, the blade must flex at least 12.5 mm (1/2 inch). | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Latest revision as of 03:05, 25 November 2020
Penetration-resistant material, masks and blade flexibility must be tested by an authorised marshal at least every two years, separate to inspections at training and events.
Penetration-resistant material
Penetration-resistant material is tested using a drop tester that meets SCA standards. The specifications for creating a drop-tester are available in Appendix 3 of the Society Fencing Marshals Handbook. The drop tester enables marshals to consistently test material by dropping a known weight a known distance, creating a known impact. To conduct the test you need all pieces shown in the figure below, including:
- a guide tube
- a drop probe
- a 75 mm threaded PVC flange
- two hose clamps
- a screw driver or nut clamp to tighten the hose clamps.
- Use a hard surface. Carpet or grass absorb impact and make the test unreliable.
- Set the flange thread side up and lay the test fabric over it.
- Fit the first hose clamp over the fabric and flange, and pull the fabric tight as you push the clamp down. Tighten the clamp.
- Fit the second clamp below the flange so that it is touching the first. Make sure the fabric is tightly secured.
- Place the guide tube vertically in the centre of the fabric.
- Insert the probe into the guide tube, lined up to the mark to drop it from.
- Drop the probe.
- Examine the fabric.
- If the test fabric has 4 layers, and the probe has penetrated anything below the top layer of fabric, the material fails.
- If the test fabric has fewer than 4 layers, and the probe penetrates through any layer, the material passes.
- If the probe does not punch through, check that the clamps are still secure and that the fabric did not slip.
- If the marshal is satisfied, the material passes.
Exemptions
The following materials are known to pass these tests when new:
- ballistic nylon rated to at least 550 Newtons
- commercial fencing clothing rated to at least 550 Newtons
- mail made of welded or riveted steel rings that will not admit a 5/32 inches (4 mm) diameter probe. Rings no greater than 0.155 inches (4 mm) in internal diameter made of wire no less than 0.020 inches (0.5 mm) thick meet this requirement
These materials only need to be tested at the marshal's discretion.
Blade flexibility
To test the flexibility of a blade, follow this procedure.
- Clamp or hold the blade, where the ricasso meets the tang, on a rigid surface, such as a table, to ensure it doesn't move at the table end. The rest of blade must extend off the rigid surface so that it is unsupported.
- Hang a 170 gram (6oz) weight 25 mm from the tip.
- If the blade of a dagger flexes at least 12.5 mm (1/2 inch), it meets the standard.
- For a sword used in Fencing Combat, the blade must flex at least 25 mm (1 inch).
- For a sword used in Cut and Thrust Combat, the blade must flex at least 12.5 mm (1/2 inch).