Purpose: To set a minimum safety standard regarding the use of pneumatic launchers of all types for the welfare of all paintball event participants.

Scope: All Pneumatic launchers, including but not limited to, LAW launchers, tank cannons, artillery, mortars, bazookas, spud guns or additional weapons and/or props at the discretion of park administration.

Acceptable Types:

1.) HPA: Prefabricated/Corporate Manufactured, Patent Pending models (accepted models)

A: Metadyne Havoc & JCS MKX Launchers ***Note*** These must be Factory standard and without modifications

2.) HPA: All others except those listed above

3.) CO2: 12 gram only

Required Standards:

I. Standards –

• Any and all SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons must chronograph under a speed of 230 FPS (all the time) during day and night play. (Spot field checks may exist without prior notification.) (NOT required for Mortars.)

• Any and all Mortars/SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons must be shown to the Bethel® Referee Team to be inspected prior to play and be approved. Approval will be signified by an event tag which will be placed and left on the device for the ENTIRE event.

• Any and all Mortars/SRPLs/LAWs/PACs must have a self securing system or device for plugging the barrel to stop accidental discharges while in any safe area. A PVC end cap is NOT an acceptable device for plugging the barrel.

• Any and all SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons must use 2" Nerf rounds or JCS Rocket rounds- NO paint can be used in these units, unless provided by game management only! Hollow point JCS rounds fitted with a paintball will considered by game management on a game to game basis. 

• No modifications of any type can be made to either the JCS or Nerf Rounds

• No "rocket" may have any damage which may alter the flight path of a launched "rocket" while in flight (i.e...missing fins, broken or damaged tail sections, large portions of missing foam material, tape, and other foreign objects not originally used in the manufacturing process, and intended by the manufacturer to be a part of the finished product).

Mortars –

• Each Mortar must be pre-approved by the Bethel® Referee Team before it will be allowed on the field.

• Mortars must always fire at a minimum 45 degree arc or greater.

• Mortars can not be DIRECT FIRED at ground personnel.

• Mortars may fire the 2" Nerf rounds or JCS Rocket rounds.

• Mortars may fire loose paintballs, but NOT paint grenades.

Mortars must abide by the same safety guidelines as SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons.

II. Safety Guidelines-

The following list will serve as the bare minimum for safety guidelines and will be the basis for all inspections of Mortars/SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons.

• Absolutely NOTHING can be drilled, tapped, modified, or glued into single wall thickness of any pressure holding PVC, this includes the barrel (although not a pressure component of the device).

• Proper PVC “welding” techniques must be utilized in the construction of the device. No screws holding operational-critical components together.

• The pressure chamber must contain a maximum 125psi safety blow-off valve. This valve must have the factory stamped pressure rating legible where it can be inspected. ***JCS model exempted*** 

• The pressure chamber must contain a pressure gauge with a maximum range of 0-300psi. 0-600psi gauges will NOT be accepted. . ***JCS model exempted*** 

• A functioning low pressure regulator must be used to regulate and allow for velocity adjustment of the high pressure input. (I.e. pressure cannot be regulated by visibly watching the pressure gauge during system “charging”.)

• Anything other than a ball-valve actuator (trigger) must have a safety device to keep the launcher from accidentally discharging. (i.e. if you have a blowgun as your trigger, a ball-valve safety should be used as a redundant safety device).

• Chronograph limit is 230fps or less (not applicable to Mortars)

• Operating pressure must be 100psi or less for all Mortars/SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons. (If you cannot reach desired range or velocity with a pressure of 100psi or less, then the device will not be permitted onto the field for the event.) (Hint: a bigger pressure chamber will allow you to operate at a lower pressure.)

• HPA only as a power source! (with the exception of 12gram CO2 cartridge for supplied propulsion)

• No NSF-DWV fittings (PVC plumbing fittings i.e.. quarter turn valves or ball valves) All valves, fittings, etc must be NPT

• Modification of any Mortar/SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons in-game is strictly prohibited. Once inspected, a launcher may only be a launcher, a mortar only a mortar, tank cannon only a tank cannon etc. for the duration of the event.

• Units using 12 gram CO2 as a power source must be manufactured so as to accept a 12g cartridge only, (no secondary source availability)

• 12 gram CO2 units cannot be altered to accept anything other than a 12g cartridge after inspection.

III. Inspection Procedure-

The following must be present and working on each and every Mortar/SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannons:

• Blow-off safety valve (125psi or less). ***JCS & CO2 cartridge propelled models model exempted*** 

• Pressure Gauge (0-300psi or less). ***JCS & CO2 cartridge propelled models model exempted*** 

• LP inline regulator

• Fueled by HPA or 12gram CO2 cartridge

• Approved barrel blocking device (nothing rigid)

• Redundant firing safety device (unless fired by ball-valve)

• Inline Schraeder valve, for test of expansion chamber. *** JCS & CO2 cartridge propelled models exempted***

The following will be checked and verified:

• Chronograph velocity of 230fps or less

• Operating pressure at MAX velocity, 100psi or less (Mortars – 100psi or less)

• No modifications (to include drilling, tapping, engraving, gluing) to single wall thickness of PVC pipe.

• All fittings must be integrated into double wall thickness PVC (into a PVC JOINT) 

• Pressure chamber must be pressurized to the MAXIMUM operating pressure and then will be checked for leaks. This will involve spraying soapy water on all connections to the pressure chamber and looking for visible bubbles. NO BUBBLES should exist.

• Pop off valve test of expansion chamber via in line Schraeder valve

• SRPLs/LAWs/PACs/Tank Cannon operators shall demonstrate an in depth knowledge of their equipment, its safety features and use.

• All 12 gram CO2 units must have a steel expansion chamber

IV. Safety Procedure –

Upon leaving the active playing field, each SRPL/LAW/PAC/Mortar carrying player must be sure to safely discharge and depressurize the equipment. The barrel blocking device must be placed on the barrel.

A random safety inspection may be done at ANY time on and off the field. Failure of on-field safety inspection will result in the players’ card to be punched and possible removal from the event. 

Brightly colored Event Approval tag must be visible and present on device at ALL TIMES.

Firing or testing of SRPL/LAW/PAC/Mortar anywhere other than the playing fields or chronograph area will result in disciplinary action by the Bethel® event staff.

On Field use: Launchers should only be pressurized prior to the shot. Immediately before they player intends to shoot he/she may then charge the expansion chamber, aim and take shot. At no time should a launcher be carried around on the field with a filled expansion chamber.

Bethel PaintBall Park reserves the right to dis-allow the use of any launcher, or to dis-allow the use of launchers by a specific player, based on safety concerns.

Prepared by Al Downs, Rusty Lloyd, Mike Morris, and Davi Velasquez in cooperation with Bethel® PaintBall Park.