Helmet Safety Ratings and Certification: DOT, SNELL, ECE, ISI & More

Whether you ride on- or off-road, a helmet is a barrier between you and any physical harm to your head. While purchasing helmets, you must have heard about DOT certification or ECE, SHARP, or SNELL-approved headgear.

Apart from helmets, you should also have bike insurance to help with safety. Securing bike insurance is crucial, as it is mandated by the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 and provides financial protection against traffic fines, accidents, theft, and damage, safeguarding your investment.

However, do you know what these mean or what role they play? If not, let us guide you about motorbike helmet safety ratings.

Rating any product ensures it meets the basic standards specified during the manufacturing process. In addition, helmets must achieve the highest safety standards as protective gear.

Every headgear has a different build and design, depending on the specifications. Moreover, not all helmets serve the same purpose—a helmet for daily usage cannot be worn on a race track. To ensure each helmet sold in the market is roadworthy and can provide optimal protection, helmets come with safety rating stickers. 

Read on to learn about these certifications, which companies issue them, and how they can benefit riders.

As discussed earlier, there are various helmet safety rating standards. Based on their region, different certifying bodies give their verdict regarding helmet safety and roadworthiness.  

Let’s delve into the best motorcycle helmet safety rating and their certification process.

1. DOT - Department of Transportation

DOT is a standard of the US Department of Transport. DOT is a government body not directly involved in the testing procedure. Helmet manufacturers must produce products that are compliant with DOT guidelines. 

The primary benefit of the DOT rating is that the US government recognizes it, so you know it has been tested to ensure it satisfies safety requirements. DOT has mandates regarding penetration resistance, impact negation, the field of vision, and many more.

Criteria for DOT-certified Helmets:

• Crash test: DOT-certified motorcycle helmets are run through crash tests twice to assess the intensity of impact during such an event.
• Penetration test: To check the robustness of the helmet’s shell, a penetration test with sharp objects is conducted.
• Height test: Manufacturers carry out a height test to measure the impact on a helmet when dropped from a specific elevation and surface. Here, a helmet is dropped on two different surfaces from a height of 1.83 metres to generate a G-force of 400G on its crash. The impact created by such a fall is then measured with scientific tools.
• Retention system test: The helmet strap is checked to measure its performance under stress. The test starts with a loading weight of 22.7 kg applied for 30 seconds. Then, the weight is increased to 136 kg and applied for 120 seconds.

2. SNELL - Snell Memorial Foundation

Founded in 1957, the Snell Memorial Foundation is a private, non-profit organization working to improve helmet safety. It also devises safety standards for karting, harness racing, equestrian, automobile racing, and other sports involving helmets. Snell-approved motorcycle helmets are extremely popular today.

Snell works beyond government-set standards, and manufacturers can assess it for prototype testing. Although no government requires this rating, it is commonly accepted as an indicator of quality and safety. Helmets must pass a battery of demanding impact tests - more demanding than those needed to obtain the DOT, ECE, and ISI ratings - in order to receive a SNELL rating.

Criteria for SNELL-certified Helmets:

It involves two impact test options, M2020D and M2020R. D in the M2020D stands for DOT, while R in the M2020R is short for Regulation 22. By incorporating these two standards, Snell is developing yardsticks for countries across the globe.

M2020D: M2020D is a continuation of the Snell safety standards of M2015. In addition, it involves the following safety tests:

• Flat anvil: The first impact is tested at 7.75 meters per second, and other effects and heights are determined as per the head form after that.
• Edge anvil: It involves a single impact at 7.75 m/sec.
• Hemispherical anvil: This test is similar to that of the Flat anvil.

However, in each of these cases, the recorded shock must not cross the threshold of G level. 

M2020R: M2020R includes the safety checks mentioned below –  

• Flat anvil: Single impact at 8.2 meters per second.
• Hemispherical anvil: The first impact was 7.70 meters per second, and others were mentioned in the test head form.
• Edge anvil: Single impact at 7.75 meters per second.

In all these tests, the recorded shock must not be more than the G level, and HIC should be less than 2880.

Snell-approved motorcycle helmets follow safety standards inspired by racetracks, and various checks involved ensure stability and ease of removal in case of an emergency. For example, experts at Snell check the weakest points in a helmet like a visor snap, and mechanical hinge, and do not approve it until they ensure its energy management efficiency.

3. SHARP - Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Program

A new face in the safety game, the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Program is the only organization that works beyond the pass and fail. It provides helmets with a star rating based on impact point and energy level checks. The highest rating is five stars. SHARP takes into account not only impact tests but also aspects like the convenience of use, ventilation, and field of view of the helmet.

Each rating refers to the impact levels and energy management efficiency. Instead, it acts as an impact rating enhancement of ECE 22.05 (European standards for safety and applicable in more than 50 countries in Europe). Therefore, if you come across a SHARP helmet, it means it has already passed the ECE standards.

SHARP helmets come with a rating from one to five. Here, a 5-star SHARP helmet points to the highest safety and offers superior levels of protection. In addition, SHARP conducts a thorough impact test and post-impact test to locate the weak points.

Criteria for SHARP-certified Helmets:

SHARP-certified helmets pass the following checks - 

• Impact test: It is done using a smooth anvil.
• Abrasion resistance: Abrasion resistance is checked.
• Chinstrap test: The chinstrap is checked for slippage. Also, the material is tested for tension failure at over approximately 304kg of force.

4. ECE - Economic Commission of Europe

ECE-approved helmets undergo comprehensive testing and comply with the most updated and advanced standards. Helmets sold in a few Asian and South American nations, as well as numerous European nations, must have this grade. Similar to the DOT rating, the ECE rating is determined by impact assessments, penetration tests, and labelling and user information standards.

ECE follows a rigorous process that utilises safety-related methods from both DOT and Snell along with a few other testing processes. For example, experts check the quality of a face shield, shell rigidity, etc. In addition, these ECE-rated helmets are tested in independent labs before being released in the market.

Criteria for ECE-certified Helmets:

ECE-certified helmets pass the following checks – 

• Impact test: It is done using a smooth anvil (known as curbstone) and through a single stroke at a certain portion of the helmet.
• Abrasion resistance: Abrasion resistance is checked.
• Chinstrap test: The chinstrap is checked for slippage. Also, the material is tested for tension failure at over approximately 304kg of force.
• Deformation test: To check the force/energy a helmet can withstand without getting deformed, a deformation test is conducted under a weight of nearly 68kg.

To get an ECE helmet certification, headgear producers have to deliver 50 factory versions of helmets for independent testing. This testing is conducted in third-party labs in front of both helmet manufacturers and ECE experts to maintain authenticity.

5. ISI - Indian Standards Institute

In India, ISI-certified helmets (IS: 4151) were first released and enforced in 1993. The safety testing methods under ISI are set to align with ECE standards. While it is based on the ECE certification method, the way it is actually implemented is similar to the DOT system. 

Therefore, each Indian helmet manufacturer is tasked with testing the helmets in its own labs, just like the DOT, and it is impossible to determine how many genuinely adhere to the regulations. Although ISI's measures are similar to those of ECE-certified helmets, they do not involve testing helmets (by BIS), as is the case with the latter.

Criteria for ISI-certified Helmets:

ISI testing includes spot checks to ensure the helmet manufacturers abide by the standards and are eligible for the renewable ISI mark license.  

• Chinstrap or Napestrap test: The chinstrap is checked for slippage. Also, the material is tested for tension failure at approximately 304kg of force.
•  Shock absorption: Helmets must pass shock absorption tests. 
• Crash test: To determine the force of impact during such an incident, motorcycle helmets with ISI certification go through two crash tests.

Choosing the right headgear involves a lot of consideration, and considering the motorbike safety ratings is surely one of them. Safety features and the fit, finish, design, ease of use, weight, and visibility are all factors.

However, making an informed decision while buying your next headgear will not be an issue anymore with this comprehensive guide. Consider the best motorcycle helmet safety rating when buying your next headgear, and ride safely!

Apart from protecting yourself, you should also protect your bike. To ensure the protection of your bike in the long run, opting for third-party bike insurance will be the perfect choice. In case of any unforeseen mishap due to a third-party property or person damaging your vehicle, you will get complete coverage with this insurance.