ASTM F1447Standard Specification for Helmets Used in Recreational Bicycling or RollerSkating

Core Objective

Prevent safety risks such as collisions, punctures, and detachments in recreational bicycle riding and roller skating activities, ensuring the head safety of both adults and children under normal use and foreseeable misuse scenarios, while also considering the needs for product lightweight design and ventilation.

Standard Definition 

ASTM F1447 is the core safety standard for recreational bicycle or skate helmet issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). The latest version is ASTM F1447-24, which supersedes the previous version ASTM F1447–18. 

This standard applies to various types of recreational bicycle helmets, skate helmets, and multi-purpose sports helmets (excluding helmets for specific activities such as skateboarding or baseball). It covers products for both adults and children and serves as the primary compliance basis for products sold in North America and on major e-commerce platforms like Amazon.

Testing And Certification Requirements

The product must undergo comprehensive testing by a third-party laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 as the core basis for CPC certification (for children’s products) and market entry. The core requirements are as follows: 

Impact Protection: Through various scenario impact tests such as flat anvil, hemispherical anvil, and curb anvil, control the peak of impact acceleration to ensure the helmet effectively absorbs and disperses the impact force.

 Structural Safety: The shell must be puncture-resistant and abrasion-resistant, with an inner lining that is comfortable to wear. The fastening system must pass tests for tensile strength and dynamic strength to prevent detachment during an accident. 

Compliance with Wear: The helmet should not obstruct peripheral vision (each side needs to be 105 degrees), and it must pass position stability tests to ensure it does not shift during movement. 

Special Controls: Children’s models must comply with lead content and phthalate limits, and products for children under 3 years old must meet safety requirements for small parts. 

Marking Requirements: The manufacturer’s information, product model, compliance symbols, and safety warnings, including indications of potential failure after impact and the avoidance of contact with harmful chemicals, must be clearly marked. 

Passing this standard’s tests and affixing the required compliance labels are essential prerequisites for the legal entry of the product into the North American market.