Official World Taekwondo tester of the PSS: Protector Scoring System

The PSS is the Protector Scoring System used in World Taekwondo competition. Whenever a manufacturer creates a new PSS or modifies one, it must have it tested by an independent laboratory. With a passed test, the manufacturer applies to World Taekwondo for homologation.

Michele Nunno's laboratory has been World Taekwondo's official PSS tester under contract since 2023. Manufacturers send their systems to the laboratory. The laboratory tests them and issues the report that World Taekwondo uses for its homologation decision. Every verdict goes to World Taekwondo for final review.

• A guided free-fall drop-test rig. A standard weight falls from set heights onto the protector, light gates measure the speed of every drop, the impactor wears the athlete's glove or sock, and a foam backing stands in for the body. Body protectors are tested on a grid of points at several energy levels, and head protectors on their own grid. Non-standard equipment can get a custom rig.
• TEST Inspector, our own software, which records every drop, computes the compliance figures and generates the report. Reports are digitally signed.
• The PSS Compliance Test Guidelines, written by the laboratory for World Taekwondo: pass criteria for architecture, scoring, reliability and safety, vendor disclosure of firmware and calibration, and the verdict types.

The guidelines define the test, the rig delivers repeatable impacts, and the software turns every measured impact into a signed report. World Taekwondo decides.

World Taekwondo has an operating, contracted test service with a written procedure and signed reports.

The service is ongoing. The guidelines in force are an approved revision from 2026, and a further revision is being reviewed by the World Taekwondo working group.