Equestrian:Equipment standards - Armor - Head protection

Head protection

There are several standards for required head protection, depending on the activity:

• Commercial 12kg fencing mask
• Helm (face guard: open bar grill or closed)
• Helm (face guard: perforated or mesh)

Fencing masks

1. The interior of your fencing mask must have at least 1/4 inch (6 mm) open-cell foam or equivalent resilient padding to create separation between the mask and your face. Modern fencing masks (e.g. FIE and USFA type masks) in good working order meet this requirement without additional padding.
2. Your mask must be secured by a combination of the tongue/spring and the elastic back strap in good repair, or by the tongue/spring and other means such as a tie strap.

Helm

1. The helm, including the face guard, needs to have sufficient coverage to protect the bones of the skull and face.
2. Helms must be constructed of rigid materials. Cold-rolled steel no less than 0.0478 inch (1.2 mm) thickness (18 gauge), or equivalent material.
3. There must be no major projections on the inside of the helm. There can be minor projections because of necessary structural components, but they must be padded.
4. All parts of your helm that might come into contact with your head must be padded with a minimum of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) of resilient material, or suspended in such a way as to prevent it from injuring you.
5. All helms must be equipped with a chin strap or equivalent means to preventing the helm from being dislodged or metal contacting the wearer's face during combat or jousting. An equivalent might be, for example, a strap from the helm to breast plate, a bevor, or a chin cup suspension system. A "snug fit" is not an equivalent. If your helm has a chin strap, it must be at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in width and must not be placed in a way that could strangle you.

Face guards

1. The face guard must extend at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) below the bottom of the chin and jaw line when the head is held erect.
2. Face guard bars or mesh should not attach to the interior of your helm, unless of structurally superior design and workmanship.
3. If you have a movable visor, it must be attached and secured in such a way that there is minimal chance that it will become detached or come open in normal combat or jousting use.
4. Faceguards have four standards:
   1. Open bar grill: must prevent a 1-inch (25.4 mm) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
   2. Closed (with ocular openings): must prevent a 1-inch (25.4 mm) diameter dowel from entering into any of the face guard openings.
   3. Perforated: Perforated rigid metal face protection must not have holes larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter, with a minimum offset of 3/16 inch (5 mm).
   4. Mesh: Wire mesh face protection equivalent to a standard 12 kg fencing mask.