Suomen Miekkailu- ja 5-otteluliitto

Junioreiden EM-kilpailuissa Odensessa on tapahtunut onnettomuus, jossa visiirimaskin visiiri hajosi florettimiekkailuottelussa.
Miekkailijalle ei aiheutunut vakavia vammoja. Visiiri hajosi tavallisessa miekkailutilanteessa, eikä vastustajan varusteissa ollut mitään vikaa. Myöskin hajonnut maski oli sääntöjen mukaan kunnossa.

EFC:n lääketieteellinen komissio on kehottanut miekkailijoita olemaan käyttämättä visiirimaskeja kilpailujen loppuaikana. Tiettävästi suurin osa on kuitenkin jatkanut miekkailua visiirimaskeilla.

Kaikkia visiirimaskin käyttäjiä pyydetään tarkistamaan maskinsa kunto ja muistamaan varsinkin, että visiiri ei saa olla yli kaksi vuotta vanha.
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Material rules:
- All masks should have besides the FIE logo stamped the 1600 newton lettering.
- In addition to the above mentioned logos all Transparent Visors Masks must have the CE/EC logo, mention the EN 13567 LEVEL 2 and must have passed the EC and SEMI tests.
- The visor must have the month and year of fabrication stamped in a permanent and visible way and the visor is valid for 2 years counting from that date
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Lisää tietoa ja kuva aiheesta Ruotsin sivuilla: http://www.fencing.se/nyheter/allvarlig ... -i-odense/

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Tommi Kosunen

FIE:n jäsentiedote 6.11.2009:

Dear President,

Transparent visor mask The FIE has been informed that on 1st November 2009 a foil blade pierced through the transparent visor of a mask during the Junior/Cadet European Championships in Odense (DEN). This incident occured in men’s foil during the bout in the table of 64 between Davids Gasilovskis (LAT) and Tommaso Lari (ITA).
The referee, Mr Krzysztof Borowski (DEN), immediately stopped the bout, the doctor was called, and as Davids Gasilovskis’s injury was judged as minor, the bout resumed 5 minutes after the incident.

At the time of the incident, the foil and mask were immediately picked up for examination. The report by the delegate of the SEMI Commission in Odense, Mr Gianandrea Nicolai (ITA), states:
- that the hit had been made normally, without violence or brutality
- the foil blade did not break
- no irregularity was detected either on the foil or on the mask, which had both been inspected during the checking of material.
- when the blade was withdrawn, a piece of Lexan broke causing a cut under the athlete’s nose.

The mask involved in the incident was therefore handed over to Mr Eduardo Dos Santos, the President of the SEMI Commission, in order for him to carry out all the technical investigations necessary. In addition, we are attaching to this letter recommendations on how to take care of mesh and transparent masks – already sent to all the national federations in March 2008.

Until the findings of this investigation are known, it has been decided to temporarily suspend the mandatory use of the transparent mask in foil in all FIE competitions. We will ensure that you are kept informed of any development regarding this matter.

Sincerely,
Alisher Usmanov
President

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FIE:n suositukset visiirimaksin käyttäjille:

MAINTENANCE OF THE MASK (visor and metal mesh)

Recommandations
Reminder of information letter 4-08 of March 8, 2008

- Check that the mesh part of the masks (visor and traditional) is in good condition. This can easily be done by placing the metal wire mesh against the light. And regularly check that the mask and its bib are in good condition. Chemical damage tests were carried out on the masks of several brands and 800 and 1600 Newton cloth. These tests confirmed the following safety recommendations:

- Keep the masks in their bags while transporting them

- For all types of masks (visor or metal mesh), if the bib of the mask is wet, wait until it dries before putting it away in its bag.

- Do not use the masks to carry containers holding liquids or glues, or to carry clothing, gloves or shoes which are wet or damp from perspiration.

- Avoid all contact between the visor and chemical agents, in particular glues, acetones or other iquids that damage plastics and LEXAN.

- In the case of a mask with a transparent visor, change the visor when one of the following four situations occurs first:
a) Within a maximum of 2 years after the date marked on the visor;
b) Appearance of grooves or visible deep marks on the surface;
c) The visor is no longer transparent (opaque);
d) When the visor has been in contact with chemical agents.

- Always be equipped with a spare visor and the tools needed to replace the visor, ensure that all the screws are in place and that the frames and visor are correctly and adequately fitted.

- Only use Lexan or Makrolan visors bought from the mask’s manufacturer or its official representative.

- Clean the visor with a soft cloth and only use neutral liquids such as water.

FIE on toistaiseksi päättänyt kieltää visiirimaskien käytön kalvalla ja floretilla.

--- katkelma urgent letteristä 3/2010 ---
Further to the urgent letter 15-09, the FIE has received the conclusions (attached) of the Sabic Innovative Plastic lab (NED), relative to the mask damaged in Odense. This lab points out two major facts:
- the analysed visor presents stresses linked to its making (injection moulding, instead of hot bend and cold setting recommended by the FIE); stress marks clearly appear at the plastic injection juncture points;
- due to the lack of protection coating against deterioration and scratches, the visor presented several significant scratches. And moreover, some manufacturing standards imposed by the FIE Equipment Rules have not been completely adhered to.
Therefore, the Executive Committee has decided to suspend and forbid, until further notice, the use of the transparent visor mask both in foil and epee, at all FIE official competitions.
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http://www.fie.ch/download/letters/2010 ... 203-10.pdf

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Tommi Kosunen