EN 1080: 2013
Helmets for young children

Shock Absorption

Helmets must provide a degree of shock absorption if the child falls over. EN 1080:2013 helmets are designed to absorb some of the shock or impact so as to limit injury to the head.

The testing is carried out on a falling headform test rig. The helmet is fitted to a suitably sized standardised headform fitted with accelerometers. The helmet/headform assembly is raised to a specified height above an anvil or impact surface. The helmet/headform assembly is then allowed to fall onto the anvil and test equipment records the maximum acceleration value recorded by the accelerometers.

By convention the acceleration is expressed as units of g where g is the acceleration due to gravity and has a value of 9.81m/s². A maximum acceleration of 250g is permitted and no impact may result in an acceleration above this value. To provide impact protection against falls on different types of surfaces, testing is performed on two types of anvil. The first is a flat steel anvil. The second is an anvil representing the edge of a kerbstone.

Retention System

The helmet retention system must be capable of self-release if the wearer becomes trapped by the helmet and there is a risk of strangulation.

To test this the helmet is placed on a suitable test rig which is able to apply a known force to the retention system (eg strap and buckle). The force on the retention system is increased over a period of time. The retention system must fail (i.e. release) under a force of between 90 and 160 Newtons. To illustrate the weight or mass involved, 160 Newtons is the force applied by a mass of about 16kg.

The retention system chin strap must be at least 15mm wide and chin cups are not permitted. Adjustment must be possible so that the buckle can sit below the jaw. Finally some or all visible parts of retention systems with a self-release system shall be indelibly coloured green.

Other Requirements

Helmets must provide adequate field of vision, in other words no part of the helmet must obscure the view of the wearer. The helmet must allow the wearing of spectacles, not significantly interfere with hearing, be easy to put on and take off and be of low weight. The helmet must be ventilating, free of rough or sharp edges especially on the inside surface where it contacts the wearers head and materials of construction must be free from harmful or restricted substances.