What's the Difference Between Helmet Certifications?
BICYCLE HELMET CERTIFICATION (THE "CPSC STANDARD")
Bicycle helmets are designed for the typical impacts that occur while riding a bike. Head impacts tend to occur infrequently, but usually include a fall from riding height onto a hard surface. This combination of frequency, height, and surface drives the bicycle helmet testing standard.
 The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) publishes a bicycle helmet standard that is mandatory, by federal law, for helmet manufacturers to meet or exceed in order to sell a helmet for bicycle use. The CPSC standard includes a drop test from two meters high, with a single impact to the helmet.
The number of impacts to the same spot on the helmet is important. If you have a crash that involves an impact to a typical bike helmet, the foam interior is crushed as the helmet absorbs the forces of the impact (exactly what the helmet is designed to do!). But, the force of the impact can damage the helmet's foam liner in the area of the blow. As a result, the helmet may no longer provide impact protection in that spot. To be safe, after any hard impact to a traditional bicycle helmet, you should immediately replace the helmet!
In the last several years, several helmets featuring "multiple-impact technology" have become available. Multi-impact technology allows the helmet interior liner to absorb an impact, "rebound" to the original shape, and then continue to provide proper protection for future impacts. According to the manufacturer, the helmet will still meet the CPSC impact standards even after a first impact. With a multi-impact helmet, you do not need to replace the helmet after each crash. (NOTE: see the helmet operator's manual for specific details on when it is necessary to replace the helmet). Not all manufacturers think multiple impact helmets are a good idea. Click here for more information on multiple impact helmets.
If you are in the market for a bike helmet, look for these safety features:
- Make sure the helmet is CPSC certified, as proven by a CPSC certification sticker on the inside of the helmet
- If you ride hard and crash a lot, consider helmets that feature multi-impact technology. With this feature, you may not have to replace the helmet after every hard crash
Every bike helmet we sell at XSportsProtective is CPSC certified. Plus, many of the helmets we sell are multiple-impact helmets. See the helmet description page for specific features of each bike helmet model.
SKATEBOARD HELMET CERTIFICATION (THE "ASTM" STANDARD)
Skateboard helmets are designed to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F-1492 standard. This standard is different from the CSPC bicycle standard. Specifically, it only requires a drop test from one meter vs two meters. However, unlike the CPSC bike standard, the ASTM F-1492 standard does require multiple impacts to the same spot on the helmet.
 The ASTM standard is intended to cover the types of impacts more typical of skateboarding: more frequent occurrences, onto hard surfaces, and typically at lower speeds than would occur with a bicycle crash. With an ASTM certified helmet, you do not need to replace the helmet after each impact. (NOTE: see the helmet operator's manual for specific details on when it is necessary to replace the helmet).
NOTE: There is currently no US law that requires manufacturers to meet a specific safety standard for a helmet to be sold as a "skate" helmet. The ASTM certification is voluntary, not mandatory. So, skate-use only helmets may or may not carry the ASTM certification.
If you are in the market for a skateboard helmet, look for these features:
- Buy a helmet from a reputable manufacturer, such as Triple Eight, Bell, ProTec, SixSixOne, Giro, etc. The established companies have the resources to design and warrant their skate helmets
- Check to see if the helmet is ASTM F-1492 certified, as proven by an ASTM certification sticker on the inside of the helmet. Although not required, this is nice to have.
- For additional protection, you may want to look for a helmet that is dual certified to both the ASTM F-1492 skateboard and the CPSC bicycle standards.
INLINE SKATING HELMETS
This is a fuzzy area. There are no federal requirements or certifications, but most organizations typically recommend using the CPSC bicycle standard for inline skating/rollerblading. As described above, with the CPSC bike standard, you get the two meter drop standard and force protection appropriate for rollerblading.
If you are in the market for an inline skate helmet, look for these safety features:
- Make sure the helmet is CPSC certified, as proven by a CPSC certification sticker on the inside of the helmet
- Consider helmets that feature multiple-impact technology. You may not have to replace the helmet after every crash
NOTE: there is currently no US law that requires manufacturers to meet a specific safety standard for a helmet to be sold as a "skate" helmet. The ASTM skateboard certification is voluntary and the CPSC bicycle standard is not required for inline skate helmets. Be careful not to confuse the "skate standard" (which is for skateboarding) with a standard more appropriate for rollerblading (most organizations recommed using the CPSC "bike standard").
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