What ft/lb would be considered safely legal to set a springer?

[Barryg]

There can be a spread over 1ftlb between the least and most efficient pellet in your rifle.
When we were FT shooting every week or so and our rifles went over the chrono, every rifle was as close to limit as possible without going over. My 7.9 premiers used to run just over 800fps.
We had two Police officers in our club at the time and one was a Firearms officer, and they both used to do the same.
This not opinion, but fact.

Interesting post, are you saying that although you run your guns at just over 11.2 ft/lbs, at your club it was accepted and most club members including Police officers were perhaps running at 11.8 knowing that the power could jump with a more efficient pellet and not caring or is just over 11.2 ft/lbs as close as possible without going over. What are you saying is as close as possible without going over? Are you saying something like post 2 is acceptable.