Understanding your helmet’s European certification
Without specific European helmet standards for work at height, Petzl relies on two existing standards:
Warnings
- Carefully read the Instructions for Use used in this technical advice before consulting the advice itself. You must have already read and understood the information in the Instructions for Use to be able to understand this supplementary information.
- Mastering these techniques requires specific training. Work with a professional to confirm your ability to perform these techniques safely and independently before attempting them unsupervised.
- We provide examples of techniques related to your activity. There may be others that we do not describe here.
EN 12492:
Climbing and mountaineering helmet
EN 397:
Helmet for industrial use
Intended for different environments, these two standards each have their own design and performance requirements.
To meet a standard, the helmet must meet all its design and performance requirements.
Certain design requirements differ between the two standards, which precludes dual certification, and/or implies partial compliance with the two standards.
Here are the main design requirement differences between the two standards:
1. Difference in design requirements
VENTILATION
EN 12492: 2012
Total ventilation area
greater than 4 cm2
EN 397: 2012
Total ventilation area
less than 4.5 cm2
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- EN 12492: 2012 compliance: STRATO VENT / VERTEX VENT
- EN 397: 2012 compliance: STRATO / VERTEX / VERTEX VENT with shutters closed
CHINSTRAP STRENGTH
EN 12492: 2012
Chinstrap strength:
Greater than 50 kg to reduce the risk of the helmet coming off in a fall.
EN 397: 2012
Chinstrap strength less than 25 kg to reduce the risk of strangulation if the helmet becomes snagged.
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- With the DUAL chinstrap on the STRATO and VERTEX (as of 2019) lines, you can adapt the chinstrap strength to the hazards anticipated in your work environment (see DUAL chinstrap technical tip).
INTERNAL VERTICAL CLEARANCE
EN 12492:
EN 397: 2012
The EN 397 standard requires that internal vertical clearance be no less than 25 mm.
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- Due to the requirement, helmets with a liner, such as STRATO helmets, cannot meet the standard.
2. Difference in performance requirements
SHOCK ABSORPTION REQUIREMENT
This requirement aims to qualify the helmet’s ability to protect the head against falling objects.
EN 12492: 2012
Impact force
F ≤ 10 kN
EN 397: 2012
Impact force
F ≤ 5 kN
PENETRATION REQUIREMENT
EN 12492: 2012
Penetration
No contact between the point and the head
EN 397: 2012
Penetration
No contact between the point and the head
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- All of the helmets in the Petzl VERTEX and STRATO line comply with the tests in the two standards that involve impact-absorption capacity and penetration.
FLAME RESISTANCE
EN 12492: 2012
EN 397: 2012
10 second exposure at 5 cm
Requirement: stops burning 5 seconds after the flame is removed
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- STRATO and VERTEX helmets, as well as VERTEX VENT helmets with shutters closed, all comply with the test.
PROTECTION AGAINST MOLTEN METAL SPLASH
EN 12492: 2012
EN 397: 2012
No penetration of molten metal
Burns no longer than 5 seconds
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- STRATO and VERTEX helmets, as well as VERTEX VENT helmets with shutters closed, all comply with the test.
Compliance with the EN 50365 electrical standard:
EN 50365:
Electrically insulated helmet for use at low-voltage installations.
For a helmet to meet EN 50365, it must first meet all requirements of EN 397.
WHAT ABOUT MY HELMET?
- Only the VERTEX helmet can meet the EN 50365 standard. The STRATO helmet does not meet EN 50365 as it does not meet all requirements of EN 397 (e.g. the internal vertical clearance requirement).
