Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Measure

NTM classification

B7: Product quality, safety or performance requirements 

Date when the measure came into force

08 September 1984 

Publication where the measure is specified

Government Notice 1135 (Government Gazette No. 9247) Of 8 June 1984 

Regulation where the measure is specified

Compulsory Specification For Safety Helmets For Motor Cyclists 

Country/Region applying the measure

South Africa 

The rationale of the measure

This specification covers requirements for the general design, construction, performance, marking, and labelling,
and testing of safety helmets for use by motor cyclists on the roads. 

Coded list of objectives

X: For purposes n.e.s. 

Description of the measure

3.General.
The materials used in the manufacture of helmets shall be such that their properties are not appreciably
affected by aging, or by the circumstances of use to which a helmet is normally subjected, such as exposure to
the sun, extremes of temperature, and rain. Mere hydrocarbons, cleaning fluids, paints, transfers, or other extraneous additions are known to affect the shell material adversely a warning shall be provided [see 6.2 (e)].
The materials used for those parts of a helmet that come into contact with the skin, shall be such that their properties are not apprecially affected by sweat or toiletries. The manufacturer shall not lase any material known to cause skin disorders.
3.2 Metal Components
All metal parts used in a helmet shall be intrinsically corrosion resistant or shall have been so coated as to enable the helmet to comply with the requirements of 5.5
4. Construction.
4.1 General
The construction of a helmet shall be in the form of a hard outer shell containing the protective and comfort padding. The helmet may incorporate a peak provided that it is detachable and is not an integral part of the
helmet. A helmet may be fitted with a neck curtain.
4.2 Shell.
(a) The outer surface shall be smoothly finished and shall not have reinforcing ridges.
(b) Above the reference plane the shape shall be in the form of a continuous convex curve. There may be visible
variations of this curve, provided that any variation is within an angle of not more than 150° and is faired with blend radii of at lease 4 mm.
(c) Recesses for a visor and its attachments and retention system attachments shall be faired with external blend radii of at least 2 mm, or shall have included angles of at least 150° between adjacent surfaces.
(d) Below the reference plane, irregularities in the curve shall be so smoothly faired that the radius of any curve,
other than that of a recess for edge trim, is at least 4 mm.
(e) The shell may incorporate an integral face-cover.
(f) Where means for attaching a visor are not provided, the profile at the front edge shall not prevent the wearing of goggles.
(g) If the shell is pierced above plan AA, (see Fig. 1) for any purpose other than for the attachment of the retention system or its parts, the number and sizes of the apertures shall be such that their total area does not exceed 150 mm squared on either side of the helmet.
4.3 Projections
(a) There shall be no external projections that extend more than 5 m above the outer surface of the shell. Except in the case of a goggle fitting provided at the rear of the helmet and that is designed to be detachable.
(b) Any external projections other than press-fasteners shall be smooth and faired.
(c) Rivet heads shall be radiused and shall not project than 2 m above the outer surface of the shell.
(d) There shall be no sharp edges or uncovered rigid projections on the inside of the helmet.
4.4 Visor recess
In a helmet that has a recess to accept a visor, the outer surface of the visor in the closed
position shall be not more than 3 mm, measured normal to the surface of the visor, below the surface of the adjacent shell.
4.Retention system
(a) Retention of the helmet on the wearer's head shall be by means of a chin strap anchored to the shell and may include means of enhanced comfort for the wearer.
(b) The chin strap shall be at least 19 mm wide, measured when under a tensile force of 250 N, and shall be permanently fitted with a fastening device to adjust and maintain tension.
(c) The chin strap shall not be equipped with a chin cup.
(d) The button of the release buckle shall be such that when tested with a 40 mm diameter sphere the buckle does not open.
(e) The release button shall be red and no other part of the buckle shall be of this colour.
4.6 Peripheral Vision: When mounted on the smallest. headform appropriate to the size range of the helmet, the helmet shall provide peripheral vision at-
(a) an angle of at least 105°, measured horizontally on each side of the longitudinal plane through the points K and L (see Fig. 2); and
(b) an angle of at least 7° above the reference plane, and at least 45° below the basic plane of the headform at
and between two points spaced equally 33mm on each side of points K and L.
4.7 Conspicuousness
Any fluorescent or retro-reflective materials incorporated in the helmet or applied to the outer surface of the the helmet shell shall not prevent compliance with any of the requirements of the specification.
4.8 Protective padding
The shell shall be lined with protective padding that is such, or is so attached to the
inner surface of the shell, as not to become detached in use. Where the padding is made in segments, the width of a gap between adjacent segments shall not exceed 6 mm.
4.9 Peaks
The peak (when fitted) shall be flexible and so designed that in the event of an accident it does not cause
any injury to the wearer.
5. Performance requirements
5.1 Extent of Protection
When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.3, the extent of protection provided shall be as follows:
(a) Shell: The shell shall cover all areas above plane AA1 and shall extend downwards at least as far as the lines CDEF (see Fig.3) on both sides of the headform.
(b) Protective padding: The protective padding shall cover at least all areas above plan AA1.
5.2 Area of protection against specified impact and penetration
The shock absorption and penetration resistance of the area of a helmet above circumference
BB1 (see Fig. 1) shall be such as to enable the helmet to comply with the following requirements:
(a) Shock absorption: When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.4, the peak acceleration imparted to the headform shall not exceed 4 000 m/s2.
(b) Resistance to penetration: When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.5, the point of the striker shalt not contact the surface of the headform.
5.3 Strength of retention system: When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.6, the extensions of
the retention system, including any slippage of the buckle, shall not exceed the values given in Table 1.
5.4 Rigidity
When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.7, the maximum deformation shall not exceed the initial deformation by more than 40mm, and the residual permanent deformation shall not exceed 15mm.
5.5 Corrosion resistance
When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.8 , coated metal parts shall not show any sign of penetration to the basis metal and intrinsically corrosion resistant metal parts shall not show any sign of corrosion when examined with the unaided eye.

5.6 Peaks
When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.9 the peak shall not break, it shall wiher fall off or have downward deflection of not less than 6mm and not more than 32mm.
5.7 Strength of Visor
When a helmet is tested in accordance with 7.10, the visor shall not shatter, display any sharp corners or edges, or become detached from the helmet. 

Reference of the measure

Regulations 3 to 5 

Measure also domestic

Yes 

Products affected by the measure.

Description

Helmets for motor cyclists 

Countries/Regions affected by the measure.

Description

All countries