Ansi Bike Helmet Safety Standards

Bike safety is important for young and older riders alike. Bicycle helmets must meet minimum standards of construction and materials design, as determined by the American National Standards Institute. Learning the basics of what is required for a bicycle helmet to be approved by the ANSI can help you make an informed choice.

Standards

The American National Standards Institute adopted American Society for Testing and Materials safety standards for the design and construction of bicycle safety helmets in the mid-1990s. These standards, plus those set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ensure that a bicycle helmet has undergone testing and certification processes that offer protection from impact and other bike accidents. Regardless of the type of helmet you buy, it should fit snugly to your skull. When buckled, you should not be able to twist, wiggle or tilt the helmet off your head. If you can, you need to tighten the straps or look for a model that fits your head shape more closely.

ASTM F1446-08

According to ANSI standards, test methods for determining the performance of bike helmets are regulated by ASTM F1446-08. This guideline insures that materials meet performance standards as determined by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Issues addressed include limiting head acceleration speed upon impact, and the stability and strength of helmet design materials. A proper helmet design has inside cushioning made of crushable expanded polystyrene or expanded polypropylene and a thin plastic outer shell. This type of padding cushions the skull upon contact with a hard surface, dispersing the impact point over a wider area.

ASTM F1447-06

ASTM F1447-06 offers information and specifications regarding helmet performance. Helmet safety guidelines mandate proper construction, ventilation and construction. Every aspect of recreational helmets must meet ANSI standards, including how they are secured. Straps and buckles must meet ANSI standards so as to keep the helmet in place during a fall. Your helmet should cover as much of the skull cap as possible, and the bottom surface of the helmet should be level, not tilted forward or backward when fastened.

BMX Cycling Standards

Regulation ASTM F2032-06 sets the specifications for helmet construction and protection for BMX riders. Such helmets must offer greater face and head protection than helmets made for recreational biking. The inner padding for BMX helmets must be made with expanded polystyrene foam and have a hard carbon fiber or fiberglass outer shell. BMX helmets also must be made with hard fiberglass chin bar protection to protect the face from frontal impact.

Other Standards

The focus of bike helmet standards is to protect the skull and brain of the bicyclist. Helmet crash tests are used to determine the helmet's effectiveness. Drop tests are done from roughly 3 feet above the ground at speeds of approximately 10 to 14 mph. Forward speed, gravity and the weight behind the impact are also tested. Helmets won't protect you entirely from some injuries or brain damage caused by a fall or impact, but they can help lessen the damage from such accidents.