For a helmet made in 1999 what should the Snell decal say?
Would that cetification be good for 10 years from the date the helmet was made?

 

Ron,

I believe it would say Snell 1995.

Norm

 

Norm,

The seller told me it does say SA95 and that it was made in 2/99.

So while the helmet is not 10 years old it does not meet the current Snell certification. So does that mean it should not be used?

 

Ron,

SA95 is Snell 1995. Someone else who knows more about helmets should chime in and tell you the details. I am not sure if it is 10 years past the certification meaning 1995+10=2005 or it is 10 years past the build date 1999+10=2009.

I think I read somewhere that SA95 is allowed to be used in PCA racing through this 2005 year.

Hopefully someone else will confirm.

Also, if you DE and do not race, I am not sure what they require for DE's..

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Norm

 

Most PCA clubs require a Snell rating of the current rating plus the one prior. This year is unique because there will be a new Snell rating - SA05 defined this year. As soon as it is defined, PCA will only allow SA05 and SA00 helmets. I'd probably replace my helmet every 5 years or so or if it is in an impact. The helmet you are looking at will be good for less than 1 more year in many driving venues.

 

Snell SA05 rated helmets will be available in the Fall. Even if you buy an SA00 helmet you'll still have coverage until SA10 comes out. So you'll get at least five years out of an SA00 helmet.

 

So does anyone know if the new helmet standard will represent a significant improvement to the safety of the helmets? I.e if I were buying a helmet next fall will the cost differential between leftover SA2000 helmets and new models be justified on the basis of greater protection?

 

That's a good question; and the answer may very well be not necessarily.

The people at Simpson just told me they will not be getting their new Snell stickers until Oct. of 2005.

 

October is when the updated/new SA-spec helmets normally come to market. Whether they are markedly better depends on the SNELL spec. As I recall the last update was relatively minor tweaking to the spec, allowing most manufacturers to have new spec helmets ready when stickers were available in October 2000. And yes, prior spec helmets usually go on sale around October.

The SA05 spec is here.

 

I have heard from one mfg that their current crop of products already meet the SA05 standard. My guess is that every mfg knows how they will fair. A mfg needs several months to revise/develop product. So, not knowing at this point would be a recipe for disaster.

The impression I get is that the new standard is not a huge leap forward in protection. Call around, you may be able to get a mfg to tell you how their SA00 products compare/perform to the SA05 test.

 

Thaks for the link to the SA05 standards. I compared with SA00 also on their site and I could only see the following differences:

- They recommend a different mounting of fabric straps to the shell.

- The cold weather test (static environmental test) is 10 deg C colder.

- They kept the load test thresholds the same but added a level that deviation testing has to fall within.

- They reduced the max g's the test sled can accel at from 300 down to 290g's.

- They clarified that the pentration striker has to hit a spot 7.5cm away from where any of the test loading spots hit. SA00 did not specify a distance.

 

Hmmm... I guess I'll probably cheap out and buy another 2000. My helmets will be four seasons old by the time the new ones come out. Given the odd knock here and there, I think four or five years for a helmet is about as much want to depend on one anyway.

 

I would think four years is well within the limit. Think of it this way...with our legal environment...would PCA ever let you use a helmet that's 10 yrs old if it inherently went bad in five?

 

Hmmm... maybe, on the other hand the logic of the 2" lap belts seems inescapable to me and yet they haven't allowed, let alone required their use in anything other than Cup cars (where they are delivered with 2" lap belts from the factory).

 

The specs state:

MODIFICATIONS

Cosmetic changes to certified headgear are permissible. Such changes are generally limited to marking or trimming the headgear with manufacturer approved paint or tape. Otherwise, modifications to certified headgear effectively create new configurations which shall not have the confidence and certification of the Foundation until properly evaluated. Manufacturers must not place the Foundation's certification label in any modified headgear without the Foundation’s written authorization.

The Foundation recommends that helmet owners not modify or contract someone else to modify their helmets. Any structural modification may adversely affect a helmet's protective capability. The Foundation’s certification and, quite likely, all manufacturer warranties apply to the headgear only in its as manufactured condition.

How does this relate to modifications required to attach Hans devices?