Preface

This is the first edition of CSA Z617, Personal protective equipment (PPE) for blunt trauma.

1 Scope

1.1
This Standard applies to personal protective apparel intended to provide protection to the torso, arms, and legs, including joints, of correctional officers and law enforcement personnel from blows with blunt objects (e.g., rocks, stones, glass bottles, pipes, baseball bats, wooden planks, etc.)* during riots, inmate control situations, and in any other situation in which there is a threat of violent attack to the torso, arms, and legs.
*See Annex B for typical energies involved with these objects.

1.2
The scope of this Standard is limited to protection of the torso, arms, and legs. It does not cover the head, neck, wrists, hands, ankles, and feet. It should be noted that protective apparel covered by this Standard is not designed to offer protection against ballistic projectiles.

1.3
Protective apparel covered by this Standard consists of components or systems of components designed to protect the torso, arms, and legs (see Annex A for advice on selection and use and Annex E for advice on care and maintenance of this equipment).

1.4
This Standard does not include performance criteria for protection against other threats (e.g., stabbing, slashing, penetration, fire, electrical, chemical, biological, and radionuclide threats).

However, reference to other Standards addressing these types of protection is made. For riot helmets and faceshields, refer to CAN/CSA-Z611.
For protective footwear, refer to CAN/CSA-Z195.
For other types of protective clothing, refer to BS 7971-1 and BS 7971-2.

1.5
In CSA Standards, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and "can" is used to express possibility or capability.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.