The Referee will disregard hits which are registered as a result of actions:

• started before the word ‘Play’ or after the word ‘Halt’ (cf. t.18 Starting and Stopping a Bout);

• which are made on any object other than the opponent or his equipment (cf. t.41 Materiality of the Hit)

A competitor who, intentionally, causes the apparatus to register a hit by placing his point on the ground or on any surface other than that of his opponent will be penalised as specified in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120, Offences and Penalties.

Fencers are forbidden to place a non-insulated part of their weapon in contact with their conductive jacket with the intention of jamming the electrical apparatus and thus avoid being hit.

The Penalty for committing such an offence is specified in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120, Offences and Penalties. Any hit scored by the fencer at fault is annulled.

The Referee must, on the other hand, take into account possible failures of the electrical equipment, in particular:

1. A hit must be annulled which has been awarded as a result of a hit signalled as on the valid target (coloured lamp) if it is established, by tests made under the Referees personal supervision, before the bout has effectively recommenced (the command ‘Play’) and without any of the equipment in use having been changed (cf. t.35/d The Referee);

   • either that a hit registered as ‘valid’ against the fencer against whom the hit has been awarded can be made without there being in fact a valid hit;

   • or that a ‘non-valid’ hit made by the fencer against whom the hit was awarded is not registered by the apparatus;

   • or that a ‘valid’ hit made by the fencer against whom the hit was awarded does not cause any hit either valid or non-valid to be registered;

   • or that the registration of hits made by the fencer against whom the hit was awarded does not remain recorded on the apparatus.

2. On the other hand, when the Referee has decided that a hit made by a fencer has priority, this hit shall not be annulled if subsequently it is found that a valid hit made by the opponent is registered as non-valid or that the weapon of the fencer against whom the hit was awarded is permanently registering a non-valid hit.

3. If a fencer’s equipment does not conform to the provisions of Articles m.27 and m.28, a hit made off the target which is registered by the apparatus as valid will not be annulled.

The Referee must also apply the following rules:

1. Only the last hit made before the fault was established can be annulled.

2. A fencer who makes any modification in or who changes their equipment without being asked by the Referee to do so, before the Referee has given a decision, loses all right to the annulment of the hit (cf. t.35/d The Referee).

3. If the bout has effectively recommenced a fencer cannot claim the annulment of a hit awarded against them before the said recommencement of the bout.

4. The precise location of a fault found in the equipment (including the equipment of the fencers) is of no importance for this possible annulment.

5. It is not necessary that the failure found should repeat itself each time a test is made; but it is essential that the fault should be manifested to the Referee without the possibility of doubt at least once during the tests made by or under the Referee's supervision.

6. When a fencer against whom a hit has been registered has broken their blade, the hit must be annulled unless the breaking of the blade has occurred clearly after the hit has been registered.

7. The Referee must pay particular attention to hits which are not registered or which are registered abnormally. Should such defects be repeated, the Referee must ask a member of the Committee for Electrical Apparatus and Equipment or an expert technician on duty to verify that the equipment conforms to the rules.

The Referee must ensure that nothing is altered in the competitor’s equipment or in the whole of the electrical apparatus before the expert carries out his check.

Whenever accidental causes make it impossible to carry out tests, the hit will be considered doubtful and annulled.