Snell & Helmet Standards Daniel Thomas, M.D. CT Rider Education Program February 7, 2009

Snell & Helmet Snell & Helmet StandardsStandards

Daniel Thomas, M.D.Daniel Thomas, M.D.

CT Rider Education ProgramCT Rider Education Program

February 7, 2009February 7, 2009

Helmet TestingHelmet Testing

Impact Test RigImpact Test Rig

What Snell Means?What Snell Means?

Snell HistorySnell History

Snell StandardsSnell Standards

Snell TestingSnell Testing

Snell CertificationSnell Certification

Pete SnellPete Snell

Snell Fatal CashSnell Fatal Cash

Snell Fatal CrashSnell Fatal Crash



Why Standards?Why Standards?

Impact Protection is invisibleImpact Protection is invisible No good way to gauge it directlyNo good way to gauge it directly ...or to complain about disappointment later...or to complain about disappointment later

But Standards may allow riders to gauge But Standards may allow riders to gauge impact protection indirectlyimpact protection indirectly Standards presume a tremendous number of Standards presume a tremendous number of

reasonably identical unitsreasonably identical units Call out tests for representative samplesCall out tests for representative samples Assume similar performance for the rest Assume similar performance for the rest

Standards PositivesStandards Positives

They provide crucial information They provide crucial information About important functionsAbout important functions

Example: What will my helmet do for me in a crashExample: What will my helmet do for me in a crash That can’t be determined on the spotThat can’t be determined on the spot

Impact protection is invisibleImpact protection is invisible Sometimes you can tell when it isn’t thereSometimes you can tell when it isn’t there But you can’t tell for sure that it is thereBut you can’t tell for sure that it is there

Standards NegativesStandards Negatives

You’re taking someone’s wordYou’re taking someone’s word That the helmet actually meets the standardThat the helmet actually meets the standard

The tests were done on selected samplesThe tests were done on selected samples

This helmet is identical to the ones testedThis helmet is identical to the ones tested That the standard has something to do with That the standard has something to do with

head protectionhead protection

Standards apply only to new helmetsStandards apply only to new helmets Routine use, crash damage, user mods etc Routine use, crash damage, user mods etc

may change everythingmay change everything

Two Standards TypesTwo Standards Types

Mandatory - Issued by governmentsMandatory - Issued by governments Set minimums for all with the force of lawSet minimums for all with the force of law Public SafetyPublic Safety Regulation of Public Affairs; i.e.: traffic, commerce Regulation of Public Affairs; i.e.: traffic, commerce

etc.etc.

Voluntary – Issued by AnybodyVoluntary – Issued by Anybody Sometimes public safety but also other reasonsSometimes public safety but also other reasons Demonstrate product capabilitiesDemonstrate product capabilities

Superior capabilities and/orSuperior capabilities and/or

More plausible demonstrationsMore plausible demonstrations

Depends on Market Forces Depends on Market Forces

Two StandardsTwo Standards

DOT (FMVSS 218)DOT (FMVSS 218) MandatoryMandatory Self-certified Self-certified

Manufacturers arrange “reasonable” testing Manufacturers arrange “reasonable” testing

Claim DOT certification for their own productsClaim DOT certification for their own products

Snell M2005Snell M2005 VoluntaryVoluntary Snell certifiedSnell certified

Snell does pre-market and in-market testing Snell does pre-market and in-market testing

Manufacturers are bound by contractManufacturers are bound by contract

Snell StandardsSnell Standards

IndependentIndependent

Most stringent Most stringent

Updated every 5 yearsUpdated every 5 years

Why DOT?Why DOT?

Manufacturers’ ReasonsManufacturers’ Reasons MandatoryMandatory VulnerabilityVulnerability

Liability LawsuitsLiability Lawsuits

Product recallsProduct recalls

Riders’ ReasonsRiders’ Reasons It’s difficult to find a good helmet without itIt’s difficult to find a good helmet without it

Additional WrinkleAdditional Wrinkle

Standards ProgramsStandards Programs Standards are basically documentsStandards are basically documents Programs are the means by which standards Programs are the means by which standards

are appliedare applied

ExamplesExamples Third party test programsThird party test programs

Snell, ULSnell, UL Self-certificationSelf-certification

DOT, CPSC, ASTM, ANSIDOT, CPSC, ASTM, ANSI

Snell TestingSnell Testing

Standards = DocumentsStandards = Documents

Experience and equipmentExperience and equipment

Objective and reliable (A2LA)Objective and reliable (A2LA)

Why Snell M2005Why Snell M2005

Riders’ ReasonsRiders’ Reasons Demonstrates superior capabilities Demonstrates superior capabilities

Helmets tested at higher severitiesHelmets tested at higher severities

DOT says that Snell indicates a helmet complies DOT says that Snell indicates a helmet complies with DOTwith DOT

Snell says the helmet does even betterSnell says the helmet does even better More Plausible DemonstrationMore Plausible Demonstration

Snell does initial pre-market testingSnell does initial pre-market testing

And in-market enforcement testing afterwardsAnd in-market enforcement testing afterwards

M2005 & Riders #2M2005 & Riders #2

More Plausible Demonstration (continued)More Plausible Demonstration (continued) Snell is IndependentSnell is Independent

No government influenceNo government influence

No manufacturer influenceNo manufacturer influence Snell is not-for-profitSnell is not-for-profit

501C(3 ) Corporation (testing for public safety)501C(3 ) Corporation (testing for public safety) Snell is technically competentSnell is technically competent

Expert board of directorsExpert board of directors

Experienced staffExperienced staff +50 year track record+50 year track record

For ManufacturersFor Manufacturers

Improved Market AppealImproved Market Appeal Many riders look for Snell Many riders look for Snell

CertificationCertification Dealers & Distributors want to sell Dealers & Distributors want to sell

to themto them

Snell Motorcycle Helmet StandardsSnell Motorcycle Helmet Standards

Increased impact protection areaIncreased impact protection area

Comparison of M2000 and M2005Comparison of M2000 and M2005

New M2010 products in Oct. 2009New M2010 products in Oct. 2009

M2005 Test LineM2005 Test Line

Impact TestImpact Test

Snell CertificationSnell Certification

Certification testing Certification testing

- Gate keeping- Gate keeping

Random sample testingRandom sample testing

- Continuing enforcement- Continuing enforcement

Snell StickersSnell Stickers

We Don’t Make Helmets. We Don’t Make Helmets. We Make Them Safer.We Make Them Safer.

Impact TestImpact Test

Strap-Retention TestStrap-Retention Test

Penetration TestPenetration Test

GistGist

Shock Attenuation (Peak G’s etc.)Shock Attenuation (Peak G’s etc.) Mostly set by mandatory standardsMostly set by mandatory standards Here in the US that’s DOTHere in the US that’s DOT More shock attenuation possibleMore shock attenuation possible

requires bigger, heavier helmetsrequires bigger, heavier helmets

Impact Management (hit magnitude limits)Impact Management (hit magnitude limits) Mandatory minimumsMandatory minimums Snell sets higher, premium levelsSnell sets higher, premium levels

M2010 - Why New Standard?M2010 - Why New Standard?

Encourage More Protective HelmetsEncourage More Protective Helmets

- European riders have no access to more protective - European riders have no access to more protective helmet due to helmet due to technical incompatibility.technical incompatibility.

New Scientific & Medical FindingsNew Scientific & Medical Findings

- Dr. Ching’s finding- Dr. Ching’s finding

New Materials & TechnologyNew Materials & Technology

- Stiffer shell and softer liner- Stiffer shell and softer liner

Snell – DOT – ECE 22-05Snell – DOT – ECE 22-05

Differences depend on helmet sizeDifferences depend on helmet size Medium sizesMedium sizes Small sizes: XS, S, 54 cm to 57 cmSmall sizes: XS, S, 54 cm to 57 cm Largest sizes: XXXL, 62 cmLargest sizes: XXXL, 62 cm

ComparingComparing Stiffness – liner property: stiffer → more G’sStiffness – liner property: stiffer → more G’s

Less stiff → less G’s and bigger, heavier helmetsLess stiff → less G’s and bigger, heavier helmets Severity – how big are the test impactsSeverity – how big are the test impacts

More severe → bigger hits and bigger, heavier helmetsMore severe → bigger hits and bigger, heavier helmets

Damaged FoamDamaged Foam

M2005 vs M2010 for US RidersM2005 vs M2010 for US Riders

Possibly identical in design and Possibly identical in design and manufacturing for sizes medium and largermanufacturing for sizes medium and larger

Softer liner in sizes small and extra smallSofter liner in sizes small and extra small

Beyond StandardsBeyond Standards

There’s more to helmets than standardsThere’s more to helmets than standards Fit QualityFit Quality ComfortComfort

Ventilation, Noise, Ease of Use etc.Ventilation, Noise, Ease of Use etc. LooksLooks CostCost

Snell claims no special knowledge of Snell claims no special knowledge of these and neither does DOTthese and neither does DOT Riders can tell us better than we can tell themRiders can tell us better than we can tell them

The Helmet Took Some The Helmet Took Some PunishmentPunishment

OOPS!OOPS! Dropping an empty helmet is not likely to Dropping an empty helmet is not likely to

affect protective performanceaffect protective performance But there may be some cosmetic scars as a But there may be some cosmetic scars as a

result result

CrashCrash If a helmet with a head inside takes a solid If a helmet with a head inside takes a solid

thump, protective capability may be degradedthump, protective capability may be degraded But there may be few or no outward signs But there may be few or no outward signs

Scuffed PaintScuffed Paint

Damaged HelmetsDamaged Helmets

Scuffed PaintScuffed Paint

Cracked ShellCracked Shell


Cosmetic DamageCosmetic Damage

ChipsChips

DingsDings

Minor ScratchesMinor Scratches

““Freckles” across the brow and chin bar, Freckles” across the brow and chin bar, especially open car and motorcycle useespecially open car and motorcycle use

OdorOdor

Impact DamageImpact Damage

On the ShellOn the Shell Broad patterns of parallel scratchesBroad patterns of parallel scratches Broad patterns of fine cracks in the paintBroad patterns of fine cracks in the paint

Radial and/or ConcentricRadial and/or Concentric Splits and/or discontinuities in the shellSplits and/or discontinuities in the shell DelaminationDelamination

In the Impact Liner (EPS)In the Impact Liner (EPS) Dents and depressionsDents and depressions Areas of “Sponginess”Areas of “Sponginess”

Impact On ShellImpact On Shell

Cracked ShellCracked Shell

CaveatsCaveats

Some shells don’t show damageSome shells don’t show damage ““oil-canning”oil-canning” Hidden delaminationHidden delamination

Most liner damage may be hidden Most liner damage may be hidden between the inner surface of the shell and between the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the linerthe outer surface of the liner


The Helmet Got OldThe Helmet Got Old

Snell recommends owners routinely Snell recommends owners routinely replace headgear after no more than 5 replace headgear after no more than 5 years of use.years of use.

We also urge that rulebooks allow the We also urge that rulebooks allow the current and immediately previous Snell current and immediately previous Snell certification.certification.

The manufacture date label may not be a The manufacture date label may not be a fair way to judge helmet age.fair way to judge helmet age.

FinallyFinallySnell is the only program that requires pre-Snell is the only program that requires pre-market certification testing for gate-market certification testing for gate-keeping and in-market random sample keeping and in-market random sample testing for compliance.testing for compliance.

Snell certified helmets can handle higher Snell certified helmets can handle higher impact energy.impact energy.

Snell updates standards to make the best Snell updates standards to make the best headhead protection available to all riders protection available to all riders

WebsiteWebsite

www.smf.orgwww.smf.org

Helmet Lists – Brand, Model, SizeHelmet Lists – Brand, Model, Size

HeadsUp NewslettersHeadsUp Newsletters

StandardsStandards

General InformationGeneral Information

Links to Manufacturers, Distributors, etc. Links to Manufacturers, Distributors, etc.

Last WordsLast Words

We have no direct indicators of helmet We have no direct indicators of helmet protective capabilityprotective capabilityWe can look for indirect indicators We can look for indirect indicators (e.g.:Snell/DOT stickers) (e.g.:Snell/DOT stickers) There are reasonably foreseeable crashes There are reasonably foreseeable crashes that will exceed a helmet’s protective that will exceed a helmet’s protective capabilities. capabilities. In serious crashes riders need all the In serious crashes riders need all the impact management capability a helmet impact management capability a helmet can offer.can offer.

But please wear it correctly.But please wear it correctly.