The Super Bowl is rapidly approaching, with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams facing off on February 3 in Atlanta, GA. While the teams prepare their final strategies and the fans plan their blowout parties, standards are in place to assure the safety and success of the event.
The wellbeing of players and game attendees is a top priority for any sporting event, and the Super Bowl is no exception. In a contact sport like football, effective helmets for players are critical. ASTM International, a member and audited designator of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has two standards that provide guidance for protective headgear for football: ASTM F717-10, Standard Specification for Football Helmets, which establishes requirements for shock absorption, construction, materials, visibility, and labeling; and ASTM F429-10, Standard Test Method for Shock-Attenuation Characteristics of Protective Headgear for Football, which provides test methods for shock absorption.
Standards are in place to protect the safety of the spectators, as well. Preparation for an emergency such as a fire at the stadium is paramount for large-scale events, and standards assure that procedures are established to deal with these possibilities. NFPA 13E-2015, Recommended Practice for Fire Department Operations in Properties Protected by Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems, guides fire department operations for seating facilities located in the open air, or within semi-enclosed structures such as stadium complexes. Developed by ANSI member and audited designator the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), it addresses the construction, location, protection, and maintenance of grandstands, bleachers, and similar seating arrangements.
Most football fans aren't lucky enough to attend the Super Bowl in person, but viewing parties at home are a great way to share a piece of the excitement without the expense and travel. While inviting some friends over and turning on the TV doesn't seem to present many dangers, there are nonetheless some Super Bowl party mainstays that are made safer with the help of standards. Hosts frying up a batch of chicken wings, a traditional football party snack, can rely on the guidance of IEC 60335-2-13 Ed. 6.1 b:2016, Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-13: Particular requirements for deep fat fryers, frying pans and similar appliances. This standard was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee (TC) 61, Safety of household and similar electrical appliance. The U.S. holds the secretariat for this TC, with UL designated by ANSI as administrative secretariat and Randi Myers of UL as secretary. UL, an ANSI member and audited designator, is also the ANSI-approved U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) administrator for TC 61.
Whether you're on the field, in the stands, or cheering from your couch at home, standards are there to assure your safety for Super Bowl LIII.