Helmets, Shock Absorption / Impact Attenuation Using MEP

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published 16 CFR Part 1203 Safety standards for bicycles to cover all bicycle helmets. Helmets meeting this standard provide protection against skull fractures and severe brain injuries when the helmet is used correctly.

The structure of the standard in question is as follows:

• 1203.1 Scope, general requirements and effective date
• 1203.2 Purpose and basis
• 1203.3 Documents referenced
• 1203.4 Definitions
• 1203.5 Building requirements - Projections
• 1203.6 Labeling and instructions
• 1203.7 Samples for testing
• 1203.8 Conditioning environments
• 1203.9 Test head forms
• 1203.10 Selection of test head form
• Marking the 1203.11 Impact test line
• 1203.12 Test requirements
• 1203.13 Test program
• 1203.14 Environmental vision test
• 1203.15 Spatial stability test (rolling resistance)
• Dynamic strength of 1203.16 retention system test
• 1203.17 Impact attenuation test

The modular elastomer programmer (modular elastomer programmer, MEP) according to the standard is a cylindrical pad, usually made of a polyurethane rubber, used as a consistent impact medium for the system control procedure. MEP is typically 152 mm in diameter and 25 mm in thickness.

When conducting impact attenuation tests, the impact reduction tester should be checked before and after each test by dropping a spherical impactor into an elastomeric test environment (MEP). The test to be applied is explained in detail in the 1203.17 Impact attenuation test item of the standard.

helmetsn Increasing the energy absorption (shock absorption) properties significantly increases the safety of the users. However, the shock absorption performance of industrial helmets under repeated effects must be evaluated. In impact tests, the relationships between the power of the transmitted force and the number of blows are analyzed. It has been observed that helmets suffer cumulative structural damage with increasing number of hits, and shock absorption performance decreases when large impacts continue.

Within the scope of head protection equipment testing services, our organization also provides shock absorption / impact attenuation testing services using helmets, MEP.