Understanding Helmet Standards / Homologations

UNDERSTANDING NEW & EXISTING HELMET STANDARDS / HOMOLOGATIONS – Dated December 2015

A hot topic here in Merlin at the moment is the change in helmet standards. So here we are, hoping to clear everything up for competitors in the U.K. and Europe.

Until now, Snell approved helmets have been the standard for helmets used in competition throughout the U.K. and Europe. Before that, some BS approved helmets were used. And before that, there was nearly no standard! But we won’t dwell on that!

The Snell standard was updated every 5 years, starting in 1975, then 1980 and so on. It looks like Snell SA2010 was the last standard to be fully recognised by the FIA for competition use, although it needed to be complemented by an extra HANS/FHR test and be also labelled FIA8858-2010.

The latest standard from Snell as of October 2015, known as SA2015, is only accepted by the FIA for competition use without FHR, in other words without Hans or any other head and neck support system, making it almost useless in Europe. The main reason for this is that during the Snell SA2015 approval, the FHR/HANS M6 terminals are not tested exactly to the FIA’s liking, and the impact energy absorption capabilities of the helmets, especially for sizes 60 and bigger, are lower than what the FIA would like.

With this in mind, the FIA have now carried out their own complete standard for “Premium Helmets” for use in motorsport. The newly introduced FIA 8859-2015 Homologation is THE most up to date approval. It certifies helmets for use in motorsport with HANS/FHR use. The approval is now the most important in U.K. & Europe as HANS/FHR use is mandatory (unless Snell SA2015 is stipulated in specific championship regulations). And at the time of writing this, will be recognised by the FIA for the relative long term future.

Although the newer Snell SA2015 approval means the helmet is very safe, it might not have been tested for use with HANS/FHR posts exactly as the FIA recommends, and, more important, the level of impact energy absorption in some larger sizes are lower than the levels required to achieve FIA8859-2015. The FIA regard the Snell SA2015 approval on it’s own as not satisfactory enough for use with HANS/FHR. So, if you are opting for a new helmet, it would be worth choosing one which meets FIA 8859-2015 approval.

Note that, although not significantly updated since 2010, the FIA 8860-2010 standard for “Advanced Helmets” remains the most stringent helmet standard in the world, in terms of impact energy absorption, sharp objects penetration and HANS/FHR testing. But the new FIA8859-2015 is one step closer to FIA8860-2010 than current and previous Snell SA standards.

Key Facts.

BS6658 Type A/FR – Not recognised for motorsport use after 2015.

Snell SA2005 - Not recognised for motorsport use after 31.12.2018.

FIA8860-2004 Not recognised for motorsport use after 31.12.2020.

Snell SA2010, SAH2010, FIA 8858-2010 and SA2015 Not recognised for motorsport use after 31.12.2023.

FIA 8860-2010 still valid.

FIA 8859-2015 most up to date, no expiry date set yet.

Here at Merlin, we stock Bell and Arai helmets. New Bell Sport helmets meet the latest FIA 8859-2015 approval. New Bell Pro helmets meet both the FIA 8859-2015 approval and Snell SA2015 approval. All new Arai helmets meet the FIA 8859-2015 approval and Snell SA2015 approval.