This standard is designed as a supplement to specific product standards for protective helmets. The test methods can be applied to complete helmets or parts thereof.
This standard provides a method for determining the retention system of a helmet. In order to apply this standard, at least certain parameters must be specified in the appropriate helmet standard. The prerequisites for the tests described are as follows:
This test method is carried out under the ambient conditions specified in the EN 13087-1 standard. This test can be carried out by applying traction from the front or the back. The method to be used is specified in the helmet standard.
In carrying out the test, in principle, the helmet is mounted on a test head and then subjected to a sudden force applied to the leading or trailing edge of the helmet, which tends to rotate the helmet on the head. The degree of any movement is observed.
In general, the test equipment mainly includes: a set of headforms, a rigid base for fixing the headforms, a falling mass and associated guide system, a device for measuring the impact velocity, and a steel wire. The arrangement of the apparatus is shown in the figure given in the standard.
Head shapes must comply with EN 960 standard. The sizes to be used are specified in the helmet standard, but should be selected from size definitions 495, 515, 535, 555, 575, 585, 605 and 625.
The rigid base must be such that it supports the headform so that the central vertical axis of the headform is truly vertical and does not move during testing.
A guide system shall be provided to ensure that a falling mass of 10 plus/minus 0,1 kg is dropped by a guided fall onto the metal end stop. The total mass of the guide system shall be 3 plus/minus 0,1 kg. The falling mass shall be attached to the helmet by means of a bent steel wire of at least 100 mm diameter passing over a pulley of 2 plus/minus 25 mm diameter and a hook of nominal width 3 mm.
The guidance system should be such that the falling mass falls with an impact velocity of at least 95 percent of that which would theoretically be achieved for free fall.
Means shall be provided to measure the velocity of the falling mass with an accuracy of plus/minus 60 percent from a distance of not more than 1 mm prior to impact. The impact velocity shall be measured during commissioning of the device. It does not need to be done for every test.
When performing the test, the helmet is fitted to the smallest available headform that is suitable for the helmet size, in accordance with the fitting instructions. The retention system is adjusted as tightly as possible by hand. If the appropriate helmet standard requires rotation measurement, a horizontal reference line is marked on the outside of the helmet.
The hook is attached to the center of the front or rear edge of the helmet and the steel wire is adjusted so that it passes through the longitudinal vertical median plane of the helmeted headform. If the appropriate helmet standard requires rotation measurement, the angle to which the helmet would have initially rotated is measured to the nearest degree.
The falling mass is adjusted to fall from a height corresponding to the required impact energy specified in the appropriate helmet standard and the mass is released. It is observed whether the helmet has completely detached from the head form. If not, and if required by the appropriate helmet standard, the angle at which the helmet has rotated is measured to the nearest degree. This is the angle between the reference line drawn on the helmet and the horizontal (final rotation).
Among the numerous tests, measurements, analyses and evaluation studies carried out for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services defined in the standard “EN 13087-4 Protective helmets - Test methods - Part 4: Retention system effectiveness” with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.
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