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Helmets sold in the European Union are subject to various regulations, safety standards, and substance restrictions. In this guide, we take a closer look at the PPE regulation, ECE 22.05, REACH and the POP regulation and how these relate to various types of helmets.
- Most helmets require CE marking and must comply with EN standards
- Motorcycle helmets are covered by ECE 22.05
- Chemical restrictions apply to helmets in the EU
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation
The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation applies to personal protective equipment, which includes most helmets imported or manufactured in the European Union.
- Bicycle helmets
- Skateboard helmets
- Skiing and snowboarding helmets
- Ice hockey helmets
- Construction helmets
- Industrial helmets
- Children’s helmets
PPE Category
The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation divides covered products into three risk categories:
Category I: Applies to listed minimal risks
Category II: Risks that do not belong to I and III
Category III: Risks that may cause very serious consequences, such as death or irreversible damage
The PPE category decides which conformity assessment procedure to follow, which decides many of the practical steps the manufacturer must take to comply with the PPE regulation as a whole.
The PPE regulation text on EUR Lex does not provide a detailed categorisation for helmets. That said, we created the table below based on information in a guidance document from 20XX.
| PPE Category | Helmet examples* | Conformity assessment procedure |
|
Category I |
a. Light headgear designed to protect against minor impacts b. Helmets for skin protection against natural UV radiation |
Internal production control (module A) |
|
Category II |
a. Head protection equipment for sports against mechanical impact b. Helmets for skin protection against artificial UV radiation |
EU type-examination (module B) and conformity to type based on internal production control (module C) |
|
Category III |
a. Head protection equipment that is designed to protect against electric shock b. Head protection equipment that is designed to protect against high temperatures c. Head protection equipment that is designed to protect against low temperatures (e.g. –50 °C or less) |
EU type-examination (module B) and one of the following: a. Conformity to type based on internal production control plus supervised product checks at random intervals (module C2), or b. Conformity to type based on quality assurance of the production process (module D) |
*Based on the PPE Regulation Guidelines – Guide to application of Regulation EU 2016/425 on personal protective equipment
Helmet standards
Ensuring compliance with the PPE regulation generally requires that your helmet is designed to comply with the applicable harmonised standards. The following harmonised standards under the PPE regulation mention helmets:
EN 397 – Industrial safety helmet
EN 443 – Helmets for fire fighting in buildings and other structures
EN 966 – Helmets for airborne sports
EN 1077 – Helmets for alpine skiers and snowboarders
EN 1078 – Helmets for pedal cyclists and for users of skateboards and roller skates
EN 1080 – Impact protection helmets for young children
EN 1384 – Helmets for equestrian activities
EN 1385 – Helmets for canoeing and white water sports
EN 12492 – Mountaineering equipment – Helmets for mountaineers – Safety requirements and test methods
EN 12941 – Respiratory protective devices – Powered filtering devices incorporating a helmet or a hood – Requirements, testing, Marking
EN 13484 – Helmets for users of luges
EN 13781 – Protective helmets for drivers and passengers of snowmobiles and bobsleighs
EN 14052 – High performance industrial helmets
EN 16473 – Firefighters helmets – Helmets for technical rescue
EN 50365 – Live Working – Electrically insulating helmets for use on low and medium voltage installations
In practice, manufacturers must purchase the relevant EN standard and adjust design drawings and technical specifications based on their safety requirements.
Examples of such requirements can be found in the table below:
| Factor | Requirements |
| Impact resistance | Materials and design/construction |
| Penetration resistance | Materials and design/construction |
| Field of view | Design/construction |
| Strap | The helmet straps must be designed to ensure that the helmet remains on the wearer at all times.
This must also take the age of the wearer into consideration (i.e., children). |
Certain helmets may also need to protect against fire and other hazards.
Declaration of Conformity
The manufacturer must create an EU Declaration of Conformity. The model can be found in Annex IX and requires the following:
- PPE product, type, batch or serial number
- Name and address of the manufacturer
- Authorised representative (if any)
- This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer
- PPE image and other identification
- List of EU regulations and directives applicable to the PPE
- List of applied harmonised standards
- Notified body details*
- EU type examination certificate details*
- Conformity assessment procedure*
- Signature’
*These parts depend on the PPE category the helmet belongs to.
Instructions
Manufacturers must ensure that helmets are supplied with detailed instructions. These can be found in part 1.4 of Annex II and lists the following:
Technical documentation
Manufacturers must create a set of technical documentation for each helmet. The technical documentation must generally include the following:
- Product description
- Technical drawings
- Material specifications
- Risk assessment
- Calculations
- Test reports
The specific items can be found in Annex III.
Labelling
CE marking is required for helmets in the European Union. In addition, traceability labelling requirements apply as well:
- Product type, batch or serial number
- Manufacturer name
- Manufacturer address
- Importer name (if any)
- Importer address (if any)
- Notified body number (if any)
Note that harmonised standards also contain marking and labelling requirements that may need to be included in your artwork.
EU type examination certificate
Helmets that belong to PPE category II and category III require the involvement of a notified body, which must issue an EU type examination certificate before the product can be sold in the EU.
ECE 22.05 – Motorcycle helmets
The PPE regulation explicitly exempts helmets covered by Regulation No 22 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The regulation, which is available on the UNECE website, sets different types of requirements, including the following:
- Markings
- Approval
- Testing
- Production qualification
- Conformity of production and routine tests
It also contains several annexes, which include information concerning the different types of tests that are required, among other topics.
REACH Regulation
The REACH regulation restricts chemicals and heavy metals in products sold in the European Union. These restrictions also apply to materials used to manufacture helmets.
Substance examples
- Phthalates
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Mercury
- Nickel
Helmet materials
For example, plastics and coatings used to manufacture helmets can contain DEHP and other restricted substances.
POPs Regulation
The POPs regulation restricts substances classified as persistent organic pollutants. For example, textile materials used to manufacture helmets can have traces of pesticides, which are restricted under the POPs regulation.
FAQ
Is CE marking required for helmets in the EU?
Yes, all helmets covered by the PPE regulation require CE marking.
Is safety testing required for helmets?
Yes, you must demonstrate compliance with applicable EN standards. One way or another, helmets must be safety tested to verify compliance with those standards.
Further, lab testing is also required to verify that helmet materials do not contain restricted chemicals, such as DEHP.
Which PPE category applies to helmets?
It depends on the type of helmets and the severity of the risk they protect from. Here are some examples:
a. Helmets for skin protection against natural UV radiation – Category I
b. Head protection equipment for sports against mechanical impact – Category II
c. Head protection equipment that is designed to protect against electric shock – Category III
Do we need to involve a notified body?
A notified body is required for helmets that are classified as PPE category II or III, such as the one listed above. In this case, the notified body will have to issue an EU-type examination certificate.
When helmets have parts that can fall, for instance, screens can fall if the screen change system pins are left in the open position, this can represent a danger if the user is not aware of the system. In this case, is it mandatory that helmet have instructions for use, or at least a warning that the part can fall if the pins are not suitably placed? If so, per which regulation? Thank you.
Which is helmet validity from manufacturing date?
I am seeking to identify the conformance standard for American Football Helmets, which aren’t included in this article, in order to obtain a Certificate of Conformity. Are you aware of any such standard specifically covering American Football Helmets?
Finally, the Helmet helps to protect ourselves from injury.
Yes… as long as the helmet is compliant!