What are the different types of helmet standards?

Anyone can stamp a certification on a helmet, but there are four organizations whose tests, reviews, and certifications carry weight in the world of motorcycle helmets. Get to know these names before you make your final decision.

Department of Transportation

The U.S. Government's Department of Transportation (DOT) established a federal safety standard that remains one of the oldest recognized standards to date. This standard lays out the specifications for the tests that motorcycle helmets must pass in order to receive the DOT certification. These tests involve two controlled falls onto a steel anvil. Each motorcycle helmet must withstand a certain impact. Researchers then determine how well the helmet withstood the impact. Chin-straps are tested as well.

The main drawback to the DOT standard is that helmet manufacturers conduct their own tests to determine DOT-certification. The Department of Transportation engages in some inquiry, but its resources are too few to monitor all motorcycle helmet manufacturers.

Snell

The Snell Memorial Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that has established its own voluntary standards for motorcycle helmets and racing helmets. Snell technicians test sample helmets in their own private laboratories before issuing any certifications. Since Snell standards exceed those of the DOT, you can be sure that any motorcycle helmet carrying the Snell certification is also DOT-certified. In fact, Snell standards are generally regarded as the most rigorous in the world.

American National Standards Institute

In 1979, the ANSI issued a motorcycle helmet standard that was more demanding than the DOT standard, but less so than Snell's. DOT standards have since been updated, so today they are regarded as comparable. The ANSI standard is a voluntary one, which means that like the Snell standard, helmet manufacturers submit their helmets for testing to earn this certification independently.

SFI Foundation Inc.

SFI is a not-for-profit organization established to issue and administer standards for specialty automotive and racing equipment, including motorcycle helmets and racing helmets. As with Snell and ANSI, manufacturers voluntarily pay to have their products subjected to SFI's tests. Earning the SFI certification demonstrates to consumers that the product has met or exceeded certain levels of safety and performance.