OK, folks, here is the dirt on flip up helmets and Snell from from Ed
Becker, current president.
Regards,
Henry S. Winokur
94 GTS1000, AMA, MRF,
Nationally Certified Riding Instructor
West Bethesda, MD
===========================
Dear Mr. Winokur,
Thanks for your message and congratulations on your new hat. I get this
sort of question a lot and the following is the best answer I've come up
with.
Regards
Ed Becker
___________________________________________________________________
Thanks for your query about flip-up helmets. You're correct about us not
having certified any models of this type and, so far, there don't seem to be
any on the horizon. Our programs are structured on the basis of "Licensing
Agreements", a standard contract we enter into with each Snell certified
manufacturer. The manufacturers accept quite a bit of oversight and
follow-on testing in order to have helmets in the program but we also pledge
to protect any of their proprietary information we may learn in the course
of our operations. Test results are part of the information conisdered
proprietary. There are exceptions, of course, if we encounter anything we
believe might pose a hazard to the public but, barring that, there is hardly
anything I can say about helmet models not in our programs.
On a general note, if a manufacturer should desire Snell certification for a
flip-up helmet configuaration. We'd test it to all the requirements we
impose on standard full face helmets and we'd probably take a hard look at
the strength and reliability of the face closure. I do not expect any
significant problems there, most of the flip-up headgear I've seen have well
designed latching mechanisms. If there's a problem at all, it will be with
impact protection just as it it for all the standard full and open face
helmets we receive for testing. Whether the flip-up helmets can be made to
meet our requirements is a matter of speculation but this much is true: no
matter how attractive the convenience of the flip-up configuration might be,
the Foundation's directors aren't willing to give up any protective
performance to obtain it.
I spend a lot of time these days trying to persuade at least one
manufacturer to submit a flip-up helmet for testing to M2000. It may be
that the models aren't quite up to our requirements but there is at least
one other possibility, the flip-up units sell so well that the manufacturers
don't need Snell to move them. I'm certain, however, that if we can certify
just one of these models, that the rest of the industry will come over
immediately afterward.
When we finally certifiy one, I'll do my best to let erveryone know about
it. In the meantime, if someone has to have a flip-up model, there are
quite a few made by reputable manufacturers. I am not prepared to accept
the DOT label as proof of DOT qualification for just any helmet but when (in
alphabetical order) HJC, Nolan, Schuberth or Shoei claim DOT, I'm ready to
take it to the bank.
I urge that every motorcyclist wear a Snell certified M-95 or M2000 full
face helmet and, failing that a Snell certified open face helmet. However,
for those who will not or cannot wear any of the current Snell certified
models, a DOT qualified full-face or flip-up configuration from a reputable
manufacturer is a good next alternative.
__________________________________________________________________
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Thank you
----- Original Message -----
From: Henry S. Winokur
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 2:09 PM
Subject: Requirements for helmet testing
Hi Ed:
I was at the IMSC and enjoyed your talk. While there I also purchased a
new Shuberth Concept Helmet. As a member of the GTS mailing list, l let the
members know that these new helmets are going to be available to the general
public soon. The question came up as to how helmets get certified?
Does Snell only certify certain types of helmets and would Snell refuse to
even test a helmet based on its type? Does Snell consider the Shoei
Duotec/Schuberth Concept-type helmets unworthy of testing for some reason or
is it up to the manufacturers to submit helmets for testing?
I'm assuming that Schuberth simply hasn't submitted the Concept for
testing. Is that true?
You can be as detailed as you would like in your response. I'm going to
post what you say on the GTS mailing list with your permission. I know they
are going to be interested to read what you have to say on the subject.
Regards,
Henry S. Winokur
94 GTS1000, AMA, MRF,
Nationally Certified Riding Instructor
West Bethesda, MD
