SIST EN 12492:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
01-julij-2024
Alpinistična oprema - Alpinistične čelade - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne
metode
Mountaineering equipment - Helmets for mountaineers - Safety requirements and test
methods
Bergsteigerausrüstung - Bergsteigerhelme - Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
Prüfverfahren
Équipements d’alpinisme et d’escalade - Casques d’alpinistes - Exigences de sécurité et
méthodes d’essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12492
ICS:
13.340.20 Varovalna oprema za glavo Head protective equipment
97.220.40 Oprema za športe na Outdoor and water sports
prostem in vodne športe equipment
oSIST prEN 12492:2024 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 12492:2024
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 12492
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2024
ICS 13.340.20 Will supersede EN 12492:2012
English Version
Mountaineering equipment - Helmets for mountaineers -
Safety requirements and test methods
Equipements d'alpinisme et d'escalade - Casques Bergsteigerausrüstung - Bergsteigerhelme -
d'alpinistes - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai Sicherheitstechnische Anforderungen und
Prüfverfahren
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 158.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12492:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Requirements . 8
4.1 Construction requirements . 8
4.1.1 Materials . 8
4.1.2 Design . 9
4.1.3 Retention system . 9
4.1.4 Ventilation . 9
4.1.5 Ergonomics . 9
4.1.6 Weight . 9
4.2 Performance requirements . 9
4.2.1 Shock absorption . 9
4.2.2 Penetration . 9
4.2.3 Retention system strength . 10
4.2.4 Retention system effectiveness (roll off) . 10
5 Test methods . 10
5.1 General examination of material and construction . 10
5.2 Retention system design . 10
5.3 Ergonomics . 10
5.3.1 General. 10
5.3.2 Procedure . 10
5.4 Sampling . 11
5.5 Helmet adjustment . 11
5.6 Conditioning . 11
5.6.1 General. 11
5.6.2 U.V. ageing . 12
5.6.3 Ambient conditioning . 13
5.6.4 “Thermal plus” conditioning . 13
5.6.5 “Thermal minus” conditioning . 13
5.7 Headforms . 13
5.8 Force transmission . 13
5.8.1 Impact points . 13
5.8.2 Principle . 13
5.8.3 Apparatus . 14
5.8.4 Procedure . 17
5.8.5 Report . 17
5.9 Resistance to penetration . 18
5.9.1 Impact area . 18
5.9.2 Principle . 18
5.9.3 Apparatus . 18
5.9.4 Procedure . 20
5.9.5 Report . 20
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
5.10 Determination of retention system strength . 20
5.10.1 Apparatus . 20
5.10.2 Procedure . 20
5.10.3 Report . 20
5.11 Retention system effectiveness . 20
5.11.1 Principle . 20
5.11.2 Apparatus . 20
5.11.3 Procedure . 21
5.11.4 Report . 22
6 Marking . 23
7 Manufacturer’s instructions and information . 23
Annex A (informative) Recommendations on the materials and construction for thermal comfort
of helmets for mountaineers . 24
Annex B (informative) Standards on mountaineering equipment . 25
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
Requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment aimed to be covered . 27
Bibliography . 29

oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 12492:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 158 “Head
protection”, the secretariat of which is held by SIS.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 12492:2012.
EN 12492:2024 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 12492:2012:
— the scope is extended to activities with similar hazards as in mountaineering including, but not
limited to, climbing, caving, canyoning, rope courses, and via ferrata climbing;
— the helmet positioning index (HPI) (3.9) has been added in the terms and definitions and test
methods;
— ergonomic requirements have been added;
— weight measurements and markings have been added;
— off-crown requirements have been added;
— retention system strength requirements and test method has changed;
— the test method to measure the force transmission is modified using speed instead of the drop height
of the mass;
— the clause Marking has been updated and the subclause Labelling has been deleted;
— Annex B has been replaced by a new Annex A: Recommendations on the materials and construction
for thermal comfort of helmets for mountaineers;
— the Bibliography has been updated and replaced by the Annex B: Standards on mountaineering
equipment;
— updated Annex ZA.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
Introduction
The intention of this document is to reduce the potential injury risk to the head during mountaineering
activities associated with the hazards but will not eliminate them completely. A proportion of the energy
of an impact is absorbed by the helmet, thereby reducing the force of the blow sustained by the head. The
structure of the helmet may be damaged whilst absorbing this energy and any helmet that sustains a
severe blow needs to be replaced even if damage is not apparent. There are limits to the amount of
protection that can be provided and wearing a helmet cannot always prevent death or long-term
disability.
Angled and tangential (rotational) impacts are one of the causes of head injuries. At the time of developing
this document, no rotational test method was available. Therefore, only linear impacts to a helmeted head
in the shock absorption test have been addressed. CEN/TC 158 will, in the near future, present a new test
method, which can be used in future revisions of this document.

oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and test methods for protective helmets for use in
mountaineering.
This document is also applicable to protective helmets used in activities with similar hazards as in
mountaineering including, but not limited to, climbing, caving, canyoning, rope courses, and via ferrata
climbing.
This document does not apply to protective helmets used by ski mountaineers.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 960:2006, Headforms for use in the testing of protective helmets
ISO 6487:2015, Road vehicles — Measurement techniques in impact tests — Instrumentation
EN 13087-1:2000, Protective helmets — Test methods — Part 1: Conditions and conditioning
EN 13087-5:2012, Protective helmets — Test methods — Part 5: Retention system strength
EN ISO 13688:2013, Protective clothing — General requirements (ISO 13688:2013)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
helmet for mountaineers (hereafter referred to as helmet)
headwear primarily intended to protect the upper part of a wearer's head against hazards which might
occur during mountaineering including, but not limited to, climbing, caving, canyoning, rope courses, and
via ferrata climbing
3.2
shell
structure that provides the general outer form of the helmet
3.3
helmet type
helmet which is characterised by the tradename or mark, the materials and dimensions of the shell (3.2),
the materials and dimensions of the protective padding (3.5), the materials and dimensions of the
retention system (3.6)
As impacted by EN 13087-1:2000/A1:2001.
As impacted by EN ISO 13688:2013/A1:2021.
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
3.4
helmet size
range of helmet adjustment to the head
3.5
protective padding
material which is used to absorb impact energy
3.6
retention system
complete assembly by means of which the helmet is maintained in position on the head, including any
devices for adjustment of the system or to enhance the wearer's comfort
3.7
chin strap
part of the retention system (3.6) consisting of a strap which passes under the wearer's jaw to retain the
helmet in position
3.8
headform
shape replacing the head which is used for testing certain characteristics
Note 1 to entry: The headform is designed in accordance with EN 960:2006.
3.9
helmet positioning index (HPI)
vertical distance measured on the longitudinal vertical plane, between the brow of the helmet (front part)
and the reference plane (B), when the helmet is placed on the appropriate reference headform (3.8)
Note 1 to entry: The longitudinal vertical plane and the reference plane are defined in EN 960:2006.
Note 2 to entry: See Figure 1.
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
Dimension in millimetres
Key
1 helmet positioning index (HPI)
AA’ basic plane, see EN 960:2006
B reference plane
C central vertical axis
crown area
off-crown area
Figure 1 — Helmet positioning index
3.10
accessories
additional device(s) which can be attached to the helmet and are intended to be fully removable by the
user, but which provide no protective function to the wearer
Note 1 to entry: A helmet accessory can be a lamp, camera etc.
4 Requirements
4.1 Construction requirements
4.1.1 Materials
When checked according to 5.1, for those parts of the helmet that come into contact with the skin,
materials which are known to be likely to cause skin irritation or any adverse effect on health shall not
be used. For a material not in general use, advice as to its suitability shall be sought before its
introduction.
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
Helmet materials which come, or could come into prolonged contact with the skin, shall be in accordance
with EN ISO 13688:2013, 4.2.
4.1.2 Design
When checked according to 5.1, there shall be no sharp edges, roughness or internal projection(s) on any
part of the helmet which is in contact or potential contact with the wearer when the helmet is worn, such
as is likely to cause injury to the wearer.
4.1.3 Retention system
The helmet shall be fitted with a retention system (3.6), including a chin strap. The chin strap shall be
adjustable in length. The part of the chin strap which comes into contact with the jaw shall have a
minimum width of 15 mm under a load of (250 ± 10) N when tested according to 5.2.
4.1.4 Ventilation
The helmet shall be ventilated.
When checked according to 5.1, the overall sum of the ventilation areas shall not be less than 4 cm .
NOTE Holes that are designed to attach accessories (3.10) are not considered ventilation holes.
4.1.5 Ergonomics
The helmet shall be designed to minimize any discomfort to the wearer and shall remain in place when
fitted and fastened according to the manufacturer's instructions and information. When tested according
to 5.3, there shall only be YES responses recorded.
4.1.6 Weight
Each helmet type shall be weighed using a weighing machine with an accuracy of 5 grams. Each
measurement shall be within the range of ±10 % compared to the weight claimed by the manufacturer in
subclause 6 f).
The tolerance indicated in 7 g) shall be no more than ±10 %.
NOTE The range of ±10 % covers the variability of 3 times the standard deviation in helmet production.
4.2 Performance requirements
4.2.1 Shock absorption
4.2.1.1 Vertical force transmission
When a helmet is tested according to 5.8 with the hemispherical striker described in 5.8.3.5, the force
transmitted to the headform shall not exceed 10 kN.
4.2.1.2 Front, side, rear and off-crown force transmission
When a helmet is tested according to 5.8 with the flat striker described in 5.8.3.5, the force transmitted
to the headform shall not exceed 10 kN.
4.2.2 Penetration
When a helmet is tested according to 5.9 on two impact points, that are at least 50 mm apart from each
other, with the conical striker described in 5.9.3.4, there shall be no contact between the striker and the
headform.
oSIST prEN 12492:2024
prEN 12492:2024 (E)
4.2.3 Retention system strength
When tested according to 5.10, the dynamic extension shall not exceed 35 mm and the residual extension
shall not exceed 25 mm. For this purpose, the extension shall include slippage of the fastening device.
Following the test, the retention system shall still permit the helmet to be released from the headform.
Damage to the retention system shall be accepted provided that the above requirements are met.
4.2.4 Retention system effectiveness (roll off)
When tested according to 5.11, for the front way and rear way tests, the helmet shall not come off the
headform.
5 Test methods
5.1 General examination of material and construction
Confirm by reference to appropriate documentation (e.g. materials specification, safety data sheets
relating to the helmet), by normal or corrected vision and/or tactile examination and/or by measurement
of the helmet that it conforms to 4.1.1 and 4.1.2. Record if the requirements are fulfilled.
NOTE Examples of documents, which can be presented as evidence of chemical innocuousness, are given
below:
a) materials specifications;
b) safety data sheets relating to the materials;
c) information relating to the suitability of the materials for use with food, in medical devices, or other
relevant applications;
d) information relating to toxicological, allergenic, carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction or mutagenic
investigations on the materials;
e) information relating to ecotoxicological and other environmental investigations on the materials.
5.2 Retention system design
Check that the chin strap is adjustable in length.
Load the chin strap with a force of (250 ± 10) N at a speed of (500 ± 50) N/min and maintain during
(60 ± 10) s. Then measure and record the width of the chin strap.
5.3 Ergonomics
5.3.1 General
The testing is a subjective assessment of the helmet by the test subject (the wearer) and the observer
during the test series. The sample and conditioning are as defined in Table 1.
The test subject shall be familiar with the use of helmets and shall select an appropriate helmet according
to the manufacturer's instructions and information for the assessment to start. If the helmet does not
properly fit on the wearer’s head, another test person shall be selected.
The observer shall record the test subject’s responses after the test series.
5.3.2 Procedure
The test subject shall don and adjust the helmet following the manufacturer's instructions and
information and respond to the following questions.
...