standards
Guys
Take a look at the following. I think it is a real eye opener:
1. What is BSI?
a. BSI is one of the largest and most prestigious standards, quality assurance, inspection, testing and certification organizations in the world. Similar to the familiar UL Listing, the BSI offers testing and rating services for major manufactures with worldwide distribution interests. The BSI Inspectorate is a leading provider of inspection, analysis and testing services across the globe. A vital business within the BSI Group, BSI Inspectorate delivers confidence for buyers and sellers alike, as well as banks and governments involved in international trade the world over.
2. I heard that all of Europe has opted for the EC 22-05; does this mean that the BS 6658 Type A is no longer valid?
a. While a number of helmet manufacturers have opted for a single unifying standard for Europe (EC22-05) for economies of manufacture, BSI are still operating the Kitemark certification scheme for BS 6658 Type A, Type AF and Type B helmets and the helmets we import will continue to bear the prestigious BS 6658 Type A Kitemark.
3. You say that these helmets are “Batch Tested”, what does this mean?
a. BSI testing is done in a "pre public release" fashion. When the manufacturer has produced a product "batch" of helmets, say 500 to 2000 units, and samples of that particular batch are sampled by a BSI representative and randomly tested at the BSI testing facilities - 5 for a production batch of 500, 13 for a batch of 501-1,200 and 20 for batches of 1,201-2000. Each production batch must be of the same model. Only after each of the helmets have passed a battery of specified tests are the BSI serialized decals then released for that specific batch and in that specific quantity
4. What happens if there is a performance failure during one of these tests?
a. Should any helmet fail any test, the entire batch is rejected and samples must be submitted for retest, following investigation of the problem and remedial action. This helps to insure that every helmet that could ultimately be worn by the end user came from a batch of helmets that was certified to comply with the standard. (Source –
http://www.bsi-global.com/index.xalter )
5. How does this compare with Snell’s “post public release” testing?
a. With the Snell post public release testing program you find a random testing of helmets purchased off dealers shelves. If a helmet fails the random tests, the manufacturer is notified of the discrepancy and more random tests are performed. Should a manufacturer show repetitive failures, discussions are had between Snell and the manufacturer on ways to come back into compliance. Potentially, the manufacturer could loose their certification status. However, this sampling can be as low as four thousandth of one percent (.004%) of annual helmets sold for the higher volume manufacturers. In one example, only 16 helmets were tested of an approximate 400,000 helmets sold of one particular manufacturer in 2001 (Source – Ed Becker, Executive Director Snell Memorial Foundation:
http://www.smf.org/). While this is within the “up to 2%” Snell states in their literature, it is quite obvious that in actuality, the BSI pre public release compliance testing is magnitudes more likely to catch defective helmets before they ever leave the factory floor, while the Snell system is simply much less likely to catch defective helmets or fraudulent manufacturers. The result can be helmets available to the riding public manufactured to comply with the Snell 2000 and DOT standards may not always do so. (Reference – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – DOT Performance Compliance Test results:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/index.html) This is a critical safety issue.
6. In addition to pre-public release batch testing, what does the BSI require of manufacturers to ensure only high quality products are made available to the public?
a. After each helmet model and shell size has passed original specifications and compliance tests and awarded BS 6658 Type A approval, there is an annual re-certification, and quarterly factory inspections for quality control. No other standards available in the USA offer this level of quality control.
7. Some helmet manufactures state that their helmets pass the BSI 6658 Type A standard in addition to Snell. How can I be sure that the helmet I am buying is BSI 6658 Type A approved?
a. While it is common for manufacturers to build helmet models to meet different standards around the world, due to the unique specifications each standard dictates, there is no assurance that any one build for any particular model would be approved by more than one standard with out being tested to that standard. Only helmets bearing the serialized BSI blue Kite Mark are BSI 6658 Type A approved. With out this label, there has been no pre public release batch testing by the BSI and as such the BSI will not recognize it as passing the standard.
8. What does the Type A mean and how does it differ from a non type A helmet?
a. The Type A designation means that it meets the more severe impact criteria that is required to be recognized as race approved by the FIM, AMA, FORMULA-USA, WERA etc. and all other major racing organizations and race clubs in the USA.
9. Is it true that BSI certified helmets are over 300 grams lighter than the same helmet certified to the Snell standard and if so, why?
a. Yes! A BSI certified helmets may be as much as 300 grams lighter than it’s Snell counterpart. The difference is merited out of the variances between the two standards protocols. These testing protocols may vary in such ways as head form weight, falling mass, measurements such as the distance velocity is measured above the impact site, velocity at point of impact and drop heights. The significant deviation between Snell and the BSI Type A is in the second drop height, with Snell’s second drop being higher than BSI’s second drop (most experts will agree that the second impact drop height for Snell is not relevant to motorcycling but reflects the particular demands of auto racing where the driver’s head may impact a roll cage several times during a crash). This differentiation results in a lighter, less rigid outer shell requirement to pass the demanding BSI 6658 Type A test. A light helmet limits head acceleration and tires the rider less, thus increasing safety. In addition, lighter helmets are more likely to be worn and wearing one is the single critical factor in the prevention of and reduction in head injury. (Source – The HURT Report Summary, Line #45 -
www.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/hurt.html University Of Wisconsin).
10. What is the essential difference between the mandatory DOT standard and the voluntary standards such as Snell and BSI 6658 Type A?
a. While there are several significant differences between the DOT standard and other voluntary standards, the key difference has to do with something called “Dwell Time”. Dwell Time is best expressed as the duration in time above a pre-determined deceleration that the head, or brain is experiencing during impact. The specification calls out a maximum allowable deceleration of 400g from a drop height of 1.8 meters with sustained energies above 200g to not exceed 2 milliseconds and 4 milliseconds above 150g.
11. How well do Snell and BSI Type A helmets comply with this Dwell Time requirement?
a. Due to Snell’s post public release testing and for reasons previously mentioned above, some helmets manufactured to the Snell standard may not pass the DOT compliance test (Reference – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – DOT Performance Compliance Test results:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/index.html). However, with the BSI pre factory release batch testing, helping to ensure compliance, a DOT failure is highly unlikely.
12. I understand that BSI 6658 Type A and Snell M2000 are the only nationally recognized racing standards in the USA. But I don’t race. Is a Snell or BSI Type A certified helmet safer than a DOT certified helmet for my street riding?
a. While the Snell standard is recognized by the general public as superior to DOT for the racing community, many experts believe that a helmet manufactured to the DOT standard is actually safer for street riding than a helmet manufactured specifically to the Snell standard. At first Glance this might seem illogical, after all if Snell is good enough for racers than it must be better for street riders, right? This is not always the case! With the Median motorcycle street accident being just 29.8 MPH prior to impact, (Source – The HURT Report Summary, Line #15 -
www.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/hurt.html University Of Wisconsin), and many impacts being a glancing blow to the side of the head, a typical Snell certified helmet might not experience ENOUGH energy to properly dissipate the energy being transmitted to the head (this is a result of the heavier and stiffer outer shell that the higher Snell second drop on a hemi anvil requires). This may result in unnecessary concussion or head injury. The BSI Type A standard is built to pass DOT as well as the more demanding requirements of the BSI Type A standard, and each Suomy BSI certified helmet is batch tested for performance compliance prior to public release to help ensure that your Suomy BSI 6658 Type A approved helmet passes both the BSI test as well as the mandatory DOT tests.
13. You mention that many helmet impacts are a “glancing blow” to the side of the head. How do BSI and Snell test for this important and common type of impact?
a. The BSI 6658 Type A utilizes two unique impact energy management tests to ensure the helmet will perform when asked to. In the first test the helmet is impacted against a bar anvil to assess projections from the general shape of the shell and in the second test the helmet is impacted against an abrasive pad. These tests are utilized to ensure that the helmet will not have any design features that could catch and twist the rider’s neck. Interestingly, Snell does not test for either of these Oblique Impacts.
14. When asked if lower priced Snell helmets are as safe as their more expensive counterparts, Ed Becker of Snell responded, “My feeling is they are”, (Source - Laurie Watanabe, Dealer News January 2001 article “Snell Game”). Many helmet manufacturers disagree and state that their premium helmets perform much better at deceleration below 300g than the less expensive counterparts. They are demanding a tiered performance certification depending on how well the helmets do at managing energy. My question is what is Suomy’s response to these claims?
a. In testing for deceleration – the key test to helmet performance, the results are clear and irrefutable. We are unhappy that something so precise as helmet deceleration performance, analysis and the organization that has built its reputation on analytical examination has diluted the answer of this important and direct question down to a “feeling”. But it goes farther. In addition to this legitimate concern, many premium manufacturers complain that high volume low priced helmets are not sampled (post public release) to the same percentages for performance compliance than the higher quality, lower volume premium helmets. It has been suggested that if Snell enforced and tested a standard percentage of helmets produced by each manufacturer many of these so-called Snell certified helmets would not be able to maintain the standard. (Source – Arthur Domagala, Motorcycle Industry Magazine, December 2002 Issue article “Are All Snell Helmets Created Equal”). All BSI certified helmets are all pre public release batch certified to the same percentage for each batch size ensuring equality for all manufacturers seeking BSI 6658 Type A certification.
15. You’ve made a strong case for BSI for the USA market. Why is Suomy the only major brand to import their helmets to this exacting and equitable standard?
a. This is a very good question. Maybe because Suomy is a pioneer in helmet development and rider safety and not afraid to take the better, if not beaten path. Finally, our case is simple; we have available to us a standard that complies with the mandatory DOT performance requirements, is approved by every major motorcycle racing organization, offers better quality controls and we believe a statistically safer helmet for all riders, whether it by for the street or track. Knowing this, how could we NOT take this option? Maybe you should ask your favorite manufacturer why their helmets are not produced to the BSI 6658 Type A standard.
For further reading for insights into helmet standards and their perceptions in the marketplace, please see the following articles; Laurie Watanabe, Dealer News January 2001 article “Snell Game” - Kris Slawinski, Motorcycle Product News, March 2001 article “Snell – Gold Standard or Old Standard” – Marc Cook, Motorcyclist Magazine June 2002 article “The Real World – Six Critical Facts About Helmets” - Lance Oliver, American Motorcyclist June 2002 article “Hat Tricks” - Arthur Domagala, Motorcycle Industry Magazine, December 2002 Issue article “Are All Snell Helmets Created Equal?”.
See also the following references:
BSI - –
http://www.bsi-global.com/index.xalter
Snell Memorial Foundation -
http://www.smf.org/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – DOT Performance Compliance Test results:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/comply/fmvss218/index.html
The HURT Report Summary -
www.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/hurt.html
Head Protection Research laboratory -
www.hprl.org
Re: "A New Helmet Standard" CYCLE WORLD MAGAZINE October 2002 page 34
FACTS SPEAK LOUDER THAN HYPE!
i learned my lesson about trying to save $$ by going with a cheap brand (not vega)... mine retailed for 250 or something. fell apart like all hell... just be careful. 
