Product definition

Protective helmets are products which offer the wearer head protection against mechanical impact caused by falling or ejected objects, and collisions with an obstacle. They may also provide protection against other risks like cold, low visibility, etc.

This factsheet covers helmets used for cycling, climbing, equestrian use, airborne sports, alpine sports, canoeing and other water sports. It also covers protection helmets for children intended to provide general protection against head injuries during play.

Products which are designed to offer protection to its wearer are regulated under the Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is classified in three categories depending on the risk against which they protect. Protective helmets can be found in all three categories:

• Category I: helmets providing protection against mechanical action the effect of which are superficial. Examples of such helmets include helmets protecting against UV radiation and helmets protecting against superficial mechanical injuries.
• Category II: helmets providing protection against risks that are not minimal but also not lethal or causing irreversible damage. In the case of helmets, they protect against mechanical hazards f different nature.
• Category III: helmets providing protection against serious or life-threatening risks.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is classified in three categories depending on the risk against which they protect. Protective helmets can be found in all three categories:

• Category I: helmets providing protection against mechanical action the effect of which are superficial. Examples of such helmets include helmets protecting against UV radiation and helmets protecting against superficial mechanical injuries.
• Category II: helmets providing protection against risks that are not minimal but also not lethal or causing irreversible damage. In the case of helmets, they protect against mechanical hazards f different nature.
• Category III: helmets providing protection against serious or life-threatening risks.

Helmets for use by motorcyclists on public roads are covered by Regulation No. 22 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and are outside the scope of Regulation (EU) 2016/425.

The appendix of the PPE Regulation Guidelines includes a guide for the categorization of PPE. 

NB: For PPE category I, there is no need to have a certificate issued by a third party – only a declaration of conformity is necessary to place the product on the EU market. 

For PPE category II and III, it is necessary to involve a notified body to assess the compliance of the product with applicable requirements set out in the Regulation (EU)2016/425. Such notified bodies would then issue an EU-Type examination certificate. 

In the case of PPE category III, the notified body has to be also involved during the production phase. More information on how to involve a notified body (a third party) can be found here.

Common risks of protective helmets

The manufacturer shall carry out a risk assessment of the protective helmet in order to identify the essential health and safety requirements from Annex II in the PPE regulation that apply to it. These will address the intrinsic safety of the helmet to ensure that it doesn’t injure its user. They will also establish requirements for the intended protection so the equipment will protect the user adequately.

The most obvious hazard posed by a helmet is that it doesn’t protect the user adequately against head injuries from falling objects or from solid and massive structures that the user can bang the head into during sports, work or other activities. The inadequate performance of the helmet can have several root causes including insufficient rigidity of the materials, insufficient impact or shock absorption, ineffective securing straps or mechanisms, and poor fitting to the user’s head.

In addition, some helmets may present a risk to the wearer just by being worn, and these are independent of the protective mechanism. The most common risks are:

1. Inappropriate constituent materials – dangerous chemicals can cause short- and long-term adverse health effects if they exceed allowed limits
2. Unsatisfactory surface condition of all parts in contact with the user, for example, sharp edges and abrasive materials leading to minor injuries from normal wearing without impact.

Examples of dangerous products

Specific examples of measures taken against dangerous face masks offered for sale in the European Union are available on the Safety Gate website. Type ‘helmets’ into the free text search box (but without the quotation marks). A better understanding of mistakes made in the safety assessment of protective helmets, or their manufacture can help avoid their repetition.

Main applicable legislation

These products are regulated by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation (EU) 2016/425. The legislation lays down the requirements for the design and manufacture of PPE that are necessary to allow these products to be sold and used in the EU market.

Other guidance is also available:

• PPE Regulation guidelines

Applicable standards

“Harmonised standards” exist in the EU for protective helmets. A product claiming a particular level of protection and complying with those harmonised standards is presumed to be in conformity with the essential health and safety requirements set out in the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation /EU) 2016/425 if the standards are cited in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Further information on, and the list of harmonised standards for PPE is available from here.

Note: The site of CEN (the European standardisation organisation) provides links to the national standardisation bodies’ websites. In addition, the China Standards Information Services Network can be used to access European standards.

The following harmonised standards can be applied to protective helmets :

EN 1078:2012+A1:2012
This standard specifies requirements and test methods for helmets worn by pedal cyclists, skateboards and roller skates.

EN 12492:2012
This standard specifies safety requirements and test methods for helmets used by mountaineers.

EN 1384:2023

The standard describes performance and other requirements for protective headwear to be used in equestrian activities.

EN 966/2012 incl. A1:2012

The standard describes requirements and test methods for protective helmets used in paragliding, hang gliding and flying with ultra-light aeroplanes.

EN 1077:2007

The standard describes performance requirements for helmets for alpine skiers, snowboarders and similar user groups. The standard includes requirements for helmets for children.

EN 1385:2012

The standard describes requirements for protective helmets for canoeing and white-water sports.

EN 1080:2013

The standard specifies requirements and test methods for protective helmets intended for use by young children playing in environments that provide a risk of head injuries in combination with risk of strangulation

Other legislation of relevance:

While manufacturer’s need to familiarise themselves with all the laws which apply to their specific products, the following summarises some further key applicable laws:

• the Regulation restricts chemical substances in goods. REACH stands for “Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals”, and it places responsibility on the industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. 
• Please note that every product must be safe for the consumers. If a particular safety aspect of a piece of PPE is not covered by the PPE regulation, then the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) applies

Mandatory labelling & warnings

The following are obligatory:

• CE Marking is obligatory for all PPE. The conformity assessment of PPE CAT II and CAT III requires the intervention of a notified body. When a notified body has been involved in the conformity assessment, its number should be affixed after the CE marking (when CAT III) and at least on the EU and instructions
• Before marking the PPE with the CE marking, the manufacturer needs to classify the product and identify all the applicable legal requirements, verify the conformity of the PPE with these requirements using the appropriate conformity assessment procedure, compile a technical documentation that evidences this and create a written declaration of conformity. When this has been done, he should affix the CE marking on the product. Refer to the factsheet on CE marking.
• Information on the manufacturer and the importer in the EU is obligatory.
• Warnings and instructions for use need to draw attention of users to the inherent hazards and associated risks and how to avoid injury. Safety warnings are obligatory for many types of helmets, and the specific wordings which may be used are provided in the relevant harmonised standard applicable to the type of product.
• All specific labelling recommended by the standard.

In addition, the following information must be provided with the helmet:

1. Instructions for storage, use, cleaning, maintenance, servicing and disinfection. Cleaning, maintenance or disinfectant products recommended by manufacturers must have no adverse effect on the helmet or the user when applied in accordance with the relevant instructions;
2. Performance as recorded during relevant technical tests to check the levels of classes of protection provided by the helmet;
3. Where applicable, accessories that may be used with the helmet and the characteristics of appropriate spare parts;
4. Where applicable, the classes of protection appropriate to different levels of risk and the corresponding limits of use;
5. Where applicable, the month and year of period of obsolescence of the helmet or of certain of its components;
6. Where applicable, the type of packaging suitable for transport;
7. The significance of any markings;
8. The risk against which the helmet is designed to protect;
9. The reference to this Regulation and, where applicable, the references to other Union harmonisation legislation;
10. The name, address and identification number of the notified body or bodies involved in the conformity assessment of the helmet;
11. References to the relevant harmonised standard(s) used, including the date of the standard(s), or references to other technical specifications used;
12. The internet address where the EU declaration of conformity can be accessed.

The information in points (i), (j), (k) and (l) need not accompany the product if it is supplied with a copy of the EU declaration of conformity.

General safety requirements

To ensure safety of protective helmets, there is also a range of general requirements to be fulfilled. These are explained in the following factsheets and need to be read in conjunction with this factsheet:

• CE marking
• Conformity assessment
• Declaration of conformity
• EU consumer protection
• EU market surveillance
• Product safety checklist
• Recall procedures
• Risk management
• Safety Gate/RAPEX
• Selling online
• Technical documentation
• Testing
• Using a third party