Helmet Standards and Certifications, Explained: Ski and Snowboard Helmets

Snow sport safety is at the core Team Wendy’s history

In previous posts, we’ve outlined the helmet standards and testing methods for combat, whitewater and mountaineering helmets. But the first Team Wendy helmet was a ski helmet that also debuted our Zorbium^® foam.
 
The standards ski- and snow-rated helmets are tested to have evolved over the years, and our M-216™ ski helmets have surmounted the challenges to provide proven safety combined with modularity and scalability.
 
Recreational Snow Sports: ASTM F2040-18
 
This standard was developed by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) for nonmotorized recreation snow sports. Think ski helmets and snowboard helmets.
 
When it comes to winter sports, head injuries can be caused by crashing into a variety of surfaces, objects or even other people. As such, this standard requires tests against three different types of anvils: flat, hemispherical and edge.
 
Test helmets are each impacted twice on the flat anvil, once on the hemispherical anvil and once on the edge anvil after being subjected to heat, cold or water immersion. These helmets also undergo a dynamic strength retention test. A new helmet is used to test the retention system’s effectiveness.
 
The M-216™ Backcountry Ski SAR and the M-216™ Ski Helmet both meet this standard.
 
Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding: BS EN 1077:2007 Class B
 
Making a protective ski helmet is at the heart of why Team Wendy was founded. That’s why both M-216™ helmets are each certified to two standards, the second being both the British (BS) and European (EN) standard for snow sport head protection.
 
This standard regulates the helmet design itself, covering everything from minimum coverage area to ear cover requirements and the width of the retention system straps. It bans chin cups and places restrictions on the materials used in the helmets themselves.
 
The helmet has to be generally lightweight, easy to put on and take off and can’t significantly impede the user’s hearing or field of vision.
 
When testing, helmets – exposed to room temperature, cold temperature or artificial UV aging – are mounted to a headform for drop-testing onto a flat anvil at two separate impact sites. In a penetration resistance test, a conical striker (pointed weight) is dropped onto three different points on the helmet shell at a specified impact velocity. The retention system’s strength and effectiveness are also assessed.
 
Finally, the standard covers two classes – Class A and Class B – that differ in the helmet design and test parameters. For example, Class A helmets can’t have detachable ear covers since the ears fall under its required protective area. The Class A penetration resistance test also requires a greater impact velocity.
 
The two class distinctions are a product of consumer choice. While Class A has a greater protective coverage area and higher penetration resistance that makes it popular for ski racing helmets, Class B came about to “meet the demand from skiers and snowboarders who desire more ventilation and better hearing.” We know those characteristics are important to our SAR operators, especially when they need to run communication headsets with their helmets.
 
Whether you’re a whitewater rafter, mountain climber, officer, soldier or avid skier, we hope you stay safe out there with the right helmet for the environment.

By Ron Szalkowski
Director of Product Development and Research Collaboration