These Motorcycle helmet Tests - What's Different?

These are the test results of all the current motorcycle helmets sold in America and Europe. Although this motorcycle helmet test was conducted in England the results will apply to all motorcycle helmets sold in Europe, America and worldwide. Check out the motorcycle helmet test results chart at the bottom of this page to see how your helmet rates. They have brought together some of the best aspects from the standards currently in use around the world and defined more rigorous tests and assessments than are currently in use for Regulation. They will be testing protection across a much wider range of speeds. They have not just looked at impact energy management, but also considered the areas of the helmet most likely to be struck and the risk of brain injury from that impact. In-depth real world accident studies have allowed us to link specific laboratory impacts with real world injury so that our tests address specific risk of head injury. We will impact helmets against anvils to represent both flat surfaces and curbstones, testing protection over the whole helmet not just specific points. The test company have developed a suite of enhanced test procedures and assessment criteria for helmets, so that a helmet performing well when assessed against it would offer real and significant increases in head protection. The tests are:

Impact Tests.
The helmet is placed onto a test head form and dropped from a certain height onto different types of anvils. Acceleration is measured at the center of gravity of the head form. We measure the energy absorbed by the helmet at various locations and speeds.

Oblique impact tests - Rotational acceleration by friction.
The helmet is placed onto a test head form and dropped from a certain height against an inclined anvil with a very rough surface. Rotational acceleration is measured in the test head form. Limit values allow us to assess the risk of brain and neck injury.

The results from 22 different impacts will be combined into a single easy to understand star rating and published to provide consumers with comparative information to assist them in making informed purchase decisions.

The Linear Test.

The linear test is designed to measure the energy absorption characteristics of the motorcycle helmet shell and liner. When carrying out the linear impact test we use twin wire guided test apparatus. This equipment is similar to that used in the British Standard BS 6658:1985. Before commencing the test, the helmet is placed onto an appropriately sized head form and this is placed onto the guided carriage. The carriage is raised to a certain height above the anvil and released. The helmet, head form and carriage accelerate to impact upon a fixed anvil. On impact, the lateral and rotational motion is controlled by the tensioned wire and the carriage. This reduces the potential for a proportion of the impact energy to be dissipated through rotation. Pitch, roll and yaw motion of the helmet is controlled during the impact. Research has shown that this method of linear impact is better suited for the SHARP performance rating than the free motion test apparatus, which allows the helmet to slide and rotate on the anvil, thus reducing the measured peak acceleration. The research has shown that the twin wire guided test method provided the most repeatable helmet tests and the most accurate results, especially when compared with the free motion prescribed in the UN ECE Regulation 22.05.

The Oblique Impact Test.

The oblique impact test is designed to measure the rotational acceleration of a helmet and head form caused by friction. The results of this test can be used to monitor the risk of brain or neck injury caused on impact with the road.Within the current European legislation, there are two methods of testing oblique impacts. The differences between the two methods are numerous - they are based on different principles - but are intended to identify similar helmet performance. They have recently completed research to evaluate both Methods (A and B) and determine their suitability. Previous research had determined that Method B was more stringent, but this was based on a number of approximations involving non-linear energy transfer and complex loading mechanisms which, in our view, may be have been too simplistic in nature. Indeed our recent evidence suggests that Method A is more stringent than Method B for surface friction.

For oblique impact testing they use Method A as described in UN-ECE Regulation 22.05. The testers believe Method A more closely simulates real world accident dynamic loading conditions, and provides a numerical (non-binary) result, as opposed to a simple pass/fail. Method A has its foundations in British Standard BS 6658:1985 and prescribes a test based on the peak tangential forces resulting from an oblique impact between the helmet and abrasive surface. The helmeted head form is guided onto an oblique rigid anvil at a velocity of 8.5m/s. UN ECE Regulation 22.05 compliant abrasive inclined anvil test apparatus is used to assess surface friction. For this assessment, tests will be carried out using a size J head form only, with the results being applied for all helmet sizes. Surface friction may be determined at any point on the helmet shell but for consistency we perform tests on both sides of the helmet with the helmet facing forwards (wherever possible). Impact sites will be as near as possible to those identified as point X within UN ECE Regulation 22.05. The impact velocity will be 8.5 m/s, with a tolerance of -0 / +0.15m/s.Should an unusual or standard geometric feature or fitting be within the impact site and be deemed likely to influence the result, then the site may be redefined to a suitable area.