Our Pages on Helmet Standards and Testing
Summary: This page has info on bicycle helmet standards, testing and more.
Our quick summary of bike helmet standards.
The long version: CPSC, CEN, ASTM, ANSI, Snell and others.
Short helmet standard comparison chart
The short standards comparison chart.
Longer, detailed item-by-item comparison.
ASTM F1952 Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Standard
Comparison with CPSC standard.
CPSC, ASTM, Snell, Dutch
Our idea of the perfect bicycle helmet standard.
What is needed for further standards improvement.
Importing bicycle helmets to the US
Where to find US regulations for importing bike helmets.
ASTM improves bicycle helmet standard
ASTM adds variable mass headforms to F1447
How much a helmet can take and keep on protecting.
How helmets are tested in the lab.
Labs who test helmets or supply test equipment.
Standards, meetings, background
ANSI Z90.4 Committee – Disbanded
History: ANSI replaced the Z90.4 standard with ASTM F1447
Correlation Anamolies Between Helmet Drop-Test Systems
George Henderson’s famous 1974 study of twin-wire vs. monorail test rigs.
We opposed Hövding airbag exemption from CPSC standard
The product failed to provide the protection level required by the CPSC standard.
Dave Halstead’s paper for the ASTM F8.53 headgear subcommittee on anvil finishes.
Study of effects of helmet positioning in European testing
Swedish Standards Institute study indicating that problems with the European test rig can affect helmet failures.
Test results of low velocity impacts on helmets
Dave Thom’s test results for ASTM, impacting helmets at lower than normal velocities.
Investigation of Rotational Acceleration in Bicycle Helmet Testing
Biokinetics 1997 analysis prepared for PHMA.
Proposed Wording for Standard on use of Retroreflective Materials on Bicycle Helmets
BHSI and 3M collaborated on this proposal to CPSC to amend their standard.
Chin Strap Forces in Bicycle Helmets
Andersson et al study showing lower chin strap forces with slippery helmets.
This page was last modified: