This section contains articles about the Law and how it affects paintball and other general articles to help paintballers play safely
The fastest growth area in paintball at the present time is the conversion of markers from CO2 to compressed air. With this in mind the UKPSF would like to bring to player’s attention the need to have cylinders tested at approved intervals. Testing must be carried out on all full fibre wrap after three years (see notes below) and half fibre wrap bottles after five years from the date of manufacture., Steel and Aluminium bottles must also be tested five years from the manufactured date. This applies to ALL bottles of 0.5litre capacity and above including CO2 bottles.
The date of retest is from the date of manufacture, which will be etched into the cylinder in the case of steel or aluminium or on a label that is laminated into the fibre wrap on the cylinder, not from the date you purchased the cylinder. There must be out of test cylinders being used by paintballers so check your cylinder today.
The testing house can test the following cylinders: - HSE-AL-FWI (full wrap composite) HSE-AL-HWI (half wrap composite) BS 5043 Part 3 (Aluminium),BS 5043 part 4 (Steel), HSE-AL-FW2 and EN 12245. All these bottles must be subjected to a hydraulic pressure test to BS 5430 Part 3 (1990) and the new European Pi approval
If your bottle is out of test and you attend a tournament where compressed air is supplied, the organiser will refuse to fill your bottle as they will be breaking the law by filling an out of date cylinder. If you have a DOT cylinder the supplier of air will also refuse to fill your cylinder. If an accident should occur using an out of date bottle it could invalidate any insurance policy the site owner has and any personal policy you might have as a player.
There are several tournaments where air is not supplied by the organiser at these events the marshals have been instructed to check players’ cylinders and players with out of test bottles will not be allowed to play.
It is essential to check your cylinder today to prevent you from being refused permission to play an event. If you need your cylinder testing contact Darren at Cylinder Testing and Sales UK Ltd on 0151 448 0555
Remember, a cylinder not in test can’t be used and will not be filled by a commercial supplier of compressed air.
REMEMBER!!!!
FIVE YEARS FOR FULL-FIBRE WRAPPED BOTTLES - EN12245 and Pi certified.
THREE YEARS FOR FULL WRAPPED BOTTLES - HSE-AL-FW2 manufactured before July 2003 then five years after retesting for SCI and Luxfer cylinders
THREE YEARS FOR FULL WRAPPED BOTTLES - HSE-AL-FW1
FIVE YEARS FOR HALF WARP BOTTLES
FIVE YEARS FOR ALUMINUM OR STEEL BOTTLES
NOTES and amendments
The new European regulations (TPED) came onto the statute book in July 2003 and at that point the UK specification HSE-AL-FW2 became obsolete ie. no new cylinders could be produced to this specification for the UK market.
From July 2003, the European standard EN 12245 became the only acceptable specification for new cylinders.
All cylinders manufactured and certified to the HSE-AL-FW2 specification prior to July 2003 and retested after July 2003 have their retest period extended from 3 to 5 years at their next retest.
If you have a cylinder manufactured before July 2003 then you need to have it tested 3 years from the original manufactured date. The recertified cylinder will then need retesting after a further five year period.
All cylinders manufactured to EN 12245 and Pi certified to comply with the TPED start with a retest period of 5 years from date of manufacture.
Steel and Aluminium cylinders
In March 2002, European standards for cylinder testing were changed. The familiar old BS 5430 part 1 (steel cylinders) & part 3 (aluminium) were withdrawn and replaced by new standards - BS EN 1968:2002 for Steel Gas Containers, and BS EN 1802:2002 for Aluminium Gas Containers.
I should add that any other cylinders manufactured and certified to other specifications e.g. DOT are not legal in the UK
The Home Office does not consider paintball markers to be firearms because they fire frangible ammunition which breaks up on contact rather than inflicting a penetrating injury. The paintball industry uses the Air Weapons section of the firearms act to regulate the sport. Air weapons do not need a license if they fall within the following criteria, outside this criteria a licence is required. (This is a brief summary of the main points)
For a paintball marker to be classed as an "Air Weapon" and therefore not require a licence it must not be fired above 12 ft/lbs for a “rifle” type and 6 ft/lbs for a “pistol” type. Nearly all paintball markers come under the “rifle” type, only markers like the “splatmaster” come into the “pistol” category. If a marker fires above these limits they will then come under the Firearms Act and require a licence or be classed as a prohibited weapon. The recent amendment included carbon dioxide as an approved propellant previously only compressed air was allowed. Paintball markers must also only fire approved paintballs. Paintball markers must not be fully automatic i.e. when pulling the trigger once, two or more paintballs must not be discharged.
To stay within the law a paintball marker must not be fired above 330fps when using an average weight paintball, this equates to 12 ft/lbs. All tournament markers are restricted to a maximum velocity of 300fps, which equates to 9.9ft/lbs and site markers should be used at between 250-280fps to be safe for customers. This equates to 7ft/lbs-8.7ft/lbs.
To check your marker velocities use a chronograph.
If you require any further clarification please contact the UKPSF by emailing info@ukpsf.com
This is a very useful web site. www.met.police.uk/firearms-enquiries/airguns1.htm
Proposals to tighten Britain's gun laws have been met with a furious reaction from the pro-shooting lobby who say the plans will penalise innocent users but do nothing to stop armed criminals.
A report by a cross-party committee of MPs has called for low-powered air weapons to be licensed and said children should not be allowed to handle firearms until they are aged 12 or 14.
The MPs were also "appalled" that the government and police forces had failed to introduce a computer database of all firearms holders demanded in the gun crackdown which followed the 1996 Dunblane massacre.
But enthusiasts said an age restriction would damage Britain's future prospects in sports such as rifle shooting and described the proposals as a "fundamental attack on the life-blood of shooting".
The Home Affairs Select Committee said any gun capable of killing should be subject to controls - bringing airguns under the same legislation as other firearms for the first time.
It also warned of a rise in the number of air-powered weapons held.
The estimated four million airguns in circulation account for 70% of firearms held legally and two-thirds of firearm offences recorded, but fall outside the scope of current gun laws.
MPs said airguns should be licensed with holders showing they were fit to have a licence, had a safe place to store the weapon and a good reason for keeping it.
Comment.
Whilst they are looking at controlling air weapons capable of "killing" they usually like to hit a soft target to score "brownie" points with the public, so watch out paintball.
If the current law on air weapons was enforced all these “idiots” who use bigger springs or other methods to increase the power of the air rifle to over 12ft/lbs and then use the air rifles to injure/kill animals should be prosecuted.
I believe I speak for ALL paintballers “prosecute these idiots”, paintballers play within the LAW!!!!
Players returning to the UK from playing in the America are pointing out that the tournament organisers in the States are now insisting that all players wear full ear and face armour on their paintball masks as supplied by the mask suppliers. These should not be modified from their original manufacturer’s design.
The UKPSF would like to point out that the main insurance companies, who insure paintball sites in the UK, insist on players wearing goggles, face masks and ear protection. This applies to all participants including marshals. Several tournament organisers are now refusing to let players play at their events unless the players wear UNMODIFIED goggle systems as supplied by the manufacturer.
Don’t compromise your safety, wear an approved mask with ear armour and face protection.
When did you last check how safe you barrel plug was?
With more and more barrels available with “fancy” ends we are finding that barrel plugs are now not fitting. The idea of a barrel plug is to stop a ball leaving the barrel if fired accidentally. What we are now finding is that if the marker is fired accidentally the barrel plug fly’s across the safe area creating a potential hazard.
Check that your barrel plug is TIGHT in the barrel also check your O rings are not worn. If in doubt replace your barrel bung or use a barrel sock.
There has been a lot of discussion with regards to which of the above modes are “legal” in the UK. I have had several discussions with the Home Office during the past four years with regards to paintball markers and the law. In December 1997 the Home Office replied to a question I asked concerning select fireboards in electro-pneumatic markers. The statement issued at the time said:
“While only the courts can offer a final ruling, it seems likely that a paintball gun capable of fully automatic or burst fire would count as a prohibited weapon under Section 5(1)(a) of the Firearms Act 1968. The maximum penalty for possessing such an item is ten years imprisonment. A circuit board or chip to allow fully automatic or burst fire would be a component part of such a weapon”.
Further discussions this week and letters exchanged between the UKPSF and the Home Office have confirmed that Section 5(1)(a) prohibits any weapon, which discharges two or more missiles with one operation of the trigger.
Approximately two years ago representatives from the industry and the UKPSF had a meeting with a Firearms Officer and as a result of the meeting he was “happy” with the “turbo” mode demonstrated at the meeting. After further discussion with the Home Office this week they agree it is a “grey” area and that the only way of confirming the legality of the “turbo” mode would be in a court of law. There has yet been no case law relating to paintball markers. We do not want a court case, as the damage it could do to the sport of paintball is immense.
Another area that will create problems is the advent of select fire modes. These are the modes that the paintballer can programme into the marker with the possibility of programming some unique modes i.e. fire five shots in semi mode and then the marker goes to fully automatic mode or three shots in semi and then the marker fires two shots for every trigger pull. This would contravene the Firearms Act but would probably not be detected by the “chronograph” marshal at an event. The technology is not available to check the modes of a paintball marker at a paintball tournament. Currently chronograph marshals check the velocity and occasionally rate of fire but in future will they be expected to check the mode of the marker using a PC? The responsibility for the marker to be set in an approved mode is the players NOT the chronograph marshal or the event organiser.
There are now several versions of “turbo” boards available but without the use of sophisticated electronic equipment it is virtually impossible to confirm the rate of fire in relation to trigger pulls at a paintball event. Also players who have programmed a unique mode into their circuit board would probably say to the event organiser that they had a “turbo” mode as the word “turbo” now seems to cover any assisted trigger function.
Discussions have also been held with one of the Insurance Companies who cover paintball sites and events. They have expressed their concern with the current situation with regards to “assisted triggers”. They are concerned that the increased rates of fire could result in equipment failure and therefore injury to the player
In America where the law allows the use of fully automatic and burst fire modes the paintball industry in conjunction with tournament organisers has decided to allow only semi automatic modes. The very powerful American Medical Association has stated “Paintguns which were “mode capable” of firepower greater than “semi automatics” were a threat to the health and safety of the public”. The American Paintball industry feel that the political weight pulled by the AMA is immense and to protect the sport of paintball they must act now and restrict modes to semi automatic. The manufacturers of paintball markers will also be limiting the rate of fire to 13 shots per second on circuit boards.
With all these points being taken into consideration the United Kingdom Paintball Sports Federation has decided that as of today (26/01/01) the only recognised mode for a paintball marker is SEMI - AUTOMATIC.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 has made a number of changes that affect firearms legislation. There are three main areas which are amended:
(1) Possession of firearms in a public place
(2) Air weapons age limits
(3) Prohibition of certain air weapons
(1) Possession of firearms in a public place
The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 Sec 37 amends Section 19 of The Firearms Act 1968, which deals with possessing certain firearms in a public place. This section now reads as follows….
A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the proof whereof lies on him) he has with him in a public place
(1) a loaded shotgun
(b) an air weapon (whether loaded or not)
(c) any other firearm (whether loaded or not) together with ammunition suitable for use in that firearm, or
(d) an imitation firearm.
The above is effective from 20th January 2004.
(2) Air weapon age limits
Previously, there were certain provisions, which allowed the possession of air weapons by persons over the age of 14 years. The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 Sec 38 affectively changes this age to 17 years.
It is an offence to give an air weapon, or ammunition for it, to a person under 17 years of age. It is not an offence for that young person to receive it.
It is an offence for a person under 17 years old to be in possession of an air weapon, or ammunition for it, except:
As a member of an approved club for target shooting.
Whilst at a shooting gallery where only air weapons or miniature rifles not exceeding .23 calibre are used.
Whilst shooting under the supervision of a person aged 21 years or over, on private premises, including land, provided the missile is not fired beyond those premises.
From the age of 14 years old, whilst on private premises with the consent of the owner. No supervision is required.
It is an offence for a person under 17 years of age to be in possession of an air pistol in any public place except as at (a) and (b) above.
A public place means any highway or place or premises to which, at the material time, the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise. You may not have an airgun in a public place without proper reason. An airgun is deemed as loaded if there is a pellet, dart or anything else in the gun or magazine, whether cocked or not.
CPSC Issues New Safety Warning for Paintball Guns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Based on its investigation of two deaths caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) canisters flying off paintball guns, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is issuing a new warning. Paintball gun users should be advised that the brass or nickel-plated valve that connects directly to the canister must not be unscrewed from the canister when removing the canister assembly from a paintball gun. This valve must stay secured and rotate with the CO2 canister.
In both of the deaths investigated by CPSC, the brass valve unscrewed from the canister, turning the pressurized canister into a deadly projectile. In June 2003, a 15-year-old boy died after being struck in the head by a paintball CO2 canister as he was removing the canister from the gun. In February 2004, a female bystander was killed by a CO2 canister that was expelled as someone else was removing the canister from a paintball gun. While these investigations are not complete, CPSC is issuing this new safety warning to help people avoid the hazard.
“We are very concerned about the recent deaths associated with paintball gun canisters,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “We are actively investigating these cases. Even though our investigation is not complete, we believe it is urgent to provide this new safety message about the valve detaching from the canister while unscrewing it from the paintball gun.”
CPSC also recommends that people make sure that any modifications to the paintball gun or the CO2 canister are done properly. For example, installing anti-siphon tubes involves removing and re- installing the canister valve. It is critical that the valve be re- installed with the appropriate adhesive and the proper torque.
Make sure the brass or nickel-plated canister valve is securely attached to the canister, rotates with the canister, and does not unscrew from the canister.
The canister assembly should unscrew from the paintball gun in about three or four full turns; if you finish the 4th full turn and the canister is not unscrewed from the gun, stop! Take it to a professional.
Some people have used paint or nail polish to mark the brass valve and the CO2 canister so they can see that the valve and the canister rotate together while being removed from the gun.
The painted lines must stay together as you unscrew the canister assembly from the paintball gun. If the lines separate, stop unscrewing the canister and take the gun to a professional. If the valve unscrews from the canister, the canister can become a deadly projectile.
Link for photographs and full statement
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml04/04105.html
This is a very useful link that describes the workings of CO2 and how to fit valves correctly. It also has a wealth of technical info about paintball equipment.
http://www.docsmachine.com/tech/doctech.html
