Snell Helmet Safety Standards

S ince its founding in 1957, the Snell Memorial Foundation has independently tested manufacturer's helmets. Its first safety standards for protective headgear were issued for auto racing in 1959. Subsequently, other specific helmet standards for motorcycling, equestrian sports, bicycling, rollerblading and skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing, and karting have been issued. These standards address performance, not specific materials or design. Periodically, utilizing specially designed test equipment, the Foundation upgrades its specifications on performance characteristics of helmets to keep pace with advances in materials, helmet technology and design.

Current Snell Standards
		B-90A	1998 Augmentation to B-90 Standard.  pdf file (69 KB)
		B-95	1995 Bicycle Helmet Standard.1998 revision  pdf file (925 KB)
		B-95A	1998 Addendum to B-95 and N-94 Standards.  pdf file (13 KB)
		B-90/95C	1998 Addendum to B-90/95 for Children Four Years and Under.  pdf file (132 KB)
		CMR/CMS2007	2007 Snell/FIA Helmet Standards For Use in Children's Motorsports    pdf file (535KB)
		E2001	2001 Helmet Standard For Use in Horseback Riding.   pdf file (194 KB)
		H2000	2000 Helmet Standard For Use in Harness Racing. pdf file (119 KB)
		K-98	1998 Helmet Standard For Use in Karting.  pdf file (1398 KB)
		L-98	1998 Helmet Standard For Use With Mopeds and Low Powered Vehicles.
		M2010	2010 Helmet Standard For Use in Motorcycling. pdf file (433 KB)    M2010 Cover Document
		M2005	2005 Helmet Standard For Use in Motorcycling.  pdf file (1000 KB)
		N-94	1994 Helmet Standard For Use in Non-Motorized Activities.
		RS-98	1998 Helmet Standard For Use in  Recreational Skiing & Snowboarding.  pdf file (1363 KB)
		S-98	1998 Helmet Standard For Use in Skiing.
		SA/K2005	2005 Helmet Standard For Use in Competitive Automotive Sports & 2005 Helmet Standard For Use in Kart Racing.                                              pdf file (880 KB)
Previous Snell Standards
Draft Standards

So, What's The Difference?

Standards differ in many ways from country to country, and for different applications.  There are also notable differences in the enforcement of safety standards.  In some countries standards compliance is overseen and controlled by government agencies.  In others compliance is left up to the manufacturer, or distributor of the item.  The differences in standards can be confusing to helmet buyers.  In an effort to help consumers make more informed choices about the headgear  they're buying, we've created some pages of standards comparisons for bicycle helmets, motorcycle helmets and skiing helmets.

So why so many different helmets and standards?  Well, all activities are not created equal.  You may think that activities like bicycling and skateboarding are pretty much the same, wheeled, non-motorized vehicles that are used on paved surfaces.  In some ways they are alike but, they also differ in some important aspects.  Studies have demonstrated that the the head impacts that cyclists receive are more frequently located on the front third of the helmet down near the lower edge.  This is likely a result of the dynamics of how people ride and the design of bicycles.  A rider who is about to be involved in an incident is also likely to be using their hands and arms to try to maneuver the bike rather than for the natural act of protecting their head and face.  

Skateboarders generally have less maneuvering capability and thus less active control, except for perhaps those who have an expertise in the activity.  The environment that these items are used are commonly less controlled, with a larger variety of unknown hazards.  Unlike bicyclists, skateboarders and those who rollerblade, rollerskate and the like are more likely to fall backwards making impacts to the back of the head more common.  Their arms and hands are usually free to naturally react and cover at least the front and sides of the head helping to diffuse the impact. It becomes more important that a person on a skateboard, rollerblades or skates have a helmet that offers more protection for the back of the head.

The other problem is, how much helmet will you wear.  A good motorcycle helmet will generally provide more protection than just about any other helmet, but they are heavier and do not provide as much venting.  This is OK for riding a motorcycle because in general you are not exerting as much physical energy as you would be on a non-motorized vehicle.

Choose a helmet that is designed and tested for the activity you are involved in.  If you are bothering to wear one, wear one that will give you the most suitable protection, and the best chance to avoid a serious head injury.