Work Item
ASTM WK53531

New Practice for Standard Practice for Installation, Design and Materials of the Cushioned and Modernized Pole Vault Plant Box and its Cushioned Perimeter Use Zone

1. Scope

The proposed standard will suggest improved dimensions of a plant box and its cushioned perimeter use area. It will recommend the kinds of materials used for structure, cushioning and installation techniques. It will describe the cushioning of the entire plant box structure except where the pole tip strikes and rotates. It will also suggest the cushioning of a perimeter use area surrounding the plant box.

Keywords

Pole Vault Plant Box; Plant Box area; Cushioned Plant Box; Kinetically efficient plant box; Closed cell cushioning materials; Rubber Playground Mulch; Closed Cell Foam Boards; Corrosion Resistant Metals

Rationale

Currently the hard edges of a pole vault box lie flush with the surface of the approach runway. Pole vault boxes are typically made of cast Iron, plate steel, or other rigid materials set in concrete. The rigid construction of the pole vault box poses a danger to any pole vaulter who mistakenly lands in it or on its prototypical anvil like steel with concrete edges. Many severe and or catastrophic accidents have happened in the plant box. The perimeter area around the plant box and its edges should be cushioned along with this side walls and downward sloping pole side. Only the lower end plate and the rotational ledge upon which the pole tip must rotate should remain un-cushioned. Additionally the current prototypical plant box greatly damages vaulting poles as they bend and grind on the inside of the bend cavity. This can be fixed by changing the the side wall and end plate angles slightly. Last of all the installation and structural characteristics of current plant boxes have a high likely-hood of front lip elevation which is a cause of many accidents and injuries.

The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.

Details

Developed by Subcommittee: F08.67

Committee: F08

Staff Manager: Joe Koury

Work Item Status

Date Initiated: 02-25-2016

Technical Contact: Jan Johnson

Item: 000

Ballot:

Status: