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D5428-08 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
🔍 Scope and Summary of Practice
ASTM D5428 −08 (Reapproved 2019), developed under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D13 on Textiles and the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.20 on Inflatable Restraints, describes the standard procedures and conditions used to evaluate the physical performance of inflatable restraint modules and module components during and after deployment. This practice is applicable to both driver and passenger side inflatable restraint modules.
The physical performance characteristics that may be obtained by this practice are internal cushion pressures determined by instrumentation, cushion geometries determined by high-speed photography, and material integrity determined by visual inspection. Per the scope of this standard, values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard and must be used independently of each other.
⚠️ Safety Consideration: This standard does not purport to address all safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations (e.g., 49 CFR) prior to deployment testing.
⚙️ Test Configuration and Instrumentation
Inflatable restraint modules are mounted into a test stand that allows for deployments under conditions that duplicate or closely resemble the conditions in a vehicle. A summary of the practice indicates that instrumentation within the test stand charts inflation pressures versus time, while high-speed photography visually captures changing cushion geometries over time.
| 🟦 Referenced Document | 📐 Purpose in Standard |
|---|---|
| ASTM D6799 | Terminology relating specifically to Inflatable Restraints (D13.20). |
| ASTM D123 | Terminology relating to general Textiles. |
| SAE J211 | Instrumentation for Impact Test governing all data acquisition. |
| 49 CFR | Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for regulatory compliance. |
📊 Performance Metrics and Data Analysis
Module deployments are reviewed for pressure and time relationships, cushion geometries at one or more times during the inflation cycle, and post-inflation material analysis. Key defined terms relevant to this standard include breakout pressure, cushion, deployment, inflatable restraint, inflator, maximum inflation pressure, and module.
| 🎯 Measured Property | 📏 Evaluation Method | ⚡ Key Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Cushion Pressure | Pressure Transducer (per SAE J211) | Breakout and Maximum Inflation Pressure vs. Time |
| Cushion Geometry | High-Speed Photography | Shape and volume at specific time intervals |
| Material Integrity | Visual Inspection | Post-deployment tears, abrasions, or breaches |
💡 Supplier Quality Guideline: This practice is intended to be a general guideline for repetitive testing, safe conduct of tests, and accurate data collection. Unless otherwise specified by agreement between the purchaser and the supplier, this practice constitutes the standard test method for determining whether a lot of material is acceptable for shipment. Any specific deviations from the practice must be acknowledged in the final test report.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What physical performance characteristics are evaluated under this practice?
This practice evaluates internal cushion pressures (determined by instrumentation), cushion geometries (determined by high-speed photography), and material integrity (determined by visual inspection) during and after deployment.
💡 Which instrumentation standard governs the pressure measurement equipment?
SAE J211 Instrumentation for Impact Test is the referenced standard that dictates the specifications for data acquisition equipment used to chart inflation pressures versus time during the deployment sequence.
© 2026 TNLab — This article is a technical interpretation for reference only. The original standard as published by ASTM International takes precedence.