Helmet Age & safety

[massey130]

here is my story. I worked in chemical and polymer plants for awhile doing operator and computer work. all the hardhats and plastic stuff had the little clock type date stamp in them. this was their useful life span. sure it is safety and liability driven, but if that kept me safe, i was good with that.

 

also a chemistry class in polymers showed me how all this stuff is derived. i can't quote the bond chains like i did back then to pass a test, but needless to say, the plastic bonds do weaken over time.

 

our helmets will weaken over time. how much depends on how you store and care for you helmet. my personal time period for replacement is around 6 years. like one poster said, my helmet is an insurance investment to keep my brain safe, so 150 bux or so every 5 - 6 years is a bargain in my book. and i get to pick a new design.

 

we all have our own idea of the helmet safety thresh hold, lets hope no one has to adjust the time frame from an accident.

[Condor]

I just tossed two Yamaha/Shoei's in the trash that were 10 years old. Not because I didn't think they would no longer protect the wearer... they were simply too small for my noggin... and the liners were glued in, filthy, and it looked like a cat had slept in them... into the dumpster they went.

 

I think this 5 year rule is a marketing gimmick to enhance helmet sales. I also think it's a parachute for the helmet industry when it comes to liability.

Fiberglass deteriorating? Give me a break. I'm in the boating industry, and we have FRP boat hulls that have taken a much more exposure and physical abuse, that are close to 50 years old still going strong, with no end in sight, then any helmet out there. When a boat is scrapped the hull is considered non-biodegradable and treated as such. No one knows just how long they will last, but it's a lot longer than 5 years. The jury is still out on some of the newer materials such as carbon fiber, but I bet they'll fair as well. Some of the plastic abs helmets will probably not last as long, but will probably absorb shock better than glass.

So my feeling is if the helmet is stored properly, and crash impact free, it's useful life goes way beyond 5 years.

[painterman67]

my only statement on this topic is that I just had to buy a new helmet. NOt because I didnt like it or I thought it was bad, but because it had a scatched shield. After a bad wreck many years ago I refuse to wear a shorty. All I wear is a full flip type helmet. Not as good as a fuul helmet but it eases my mind. Just try to get a new shield for a 7-10 year old helmet. Its darn near impossible.

 

 

 

David

[atlm]

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, this is worth reading:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/motorcycle_helmet_review/index.html

 

I plan to buy an Arai Profile this year, but it has nothing to do with safety, image, or my current 6 year old helmet being "worn out". It has everything to do with airflow, comfort, and fit.

[OB-1]

Here's what HJC says about their helmets:

 

Helmet Replacement (All Models) http://www.hjchelmets.com/images/block.gifhttp://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/support/warning.gifhttp://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/top_menu/top_menu2_margin_block.gifAlthough your HJC Helmet is constructed with the best materials available to offer a long-lasting product, it will eventually need to be replaced. Immediately replace your helmet if:

 

• It has suffered an impact. Your helmet is only designed for ONE impact. An impact may fracture the outer shell or compress the impact absorbing liner. You may not be able to detect this damage. Any impact in a crash or a drop from as low as 4 feet is enough to damage your helmet.

 

• The shell, lining, or retention system is damaged. The helmet shell, the impact absorbing lining, and the retention system must be in good condition to provide you with the most protection. http://www.hjchelmets.com/images/block.gifEven if your helmet has not been damaged, it needs to be replaced every 3 to 5 years depending on how much you use it. Over time, UV rays and adhesive and component aging will damage your helmet. Wearing a damaged helmet may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident.

If you are unsure if you need to replace your helmet, contact HJC America before using your helmet again.

 

Using Your Helmet Correctly http://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/support/warning.gifhttp://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/top_menu/top_menu2_margin_block.gifTo reduce the risk of serious injury or death and to help prevent damage to your helmet:http://www.hjchelmets.com/images/block.gif• Never adjust your helmet accessories while riding – Only make helmet adjustments when stopped.

• Never drop your helmet – Dropping your helmet may crack the shell or damage the protective foam. The damage may not be visible. Your helmet is only designed for ONE impact. Refer to "Helmet Replacement for more information on what to do after helmet has been dropped.

• Never wear anything between your head and your helmet – This may reduce the effectiveness of your helmet.

• Never hang or hook your helmet on anything including mirror stalks, handle bar, or sissy bars – Doing so may cause damage to the helmet protective foam or liner.

• Never use insect repellent on or around your helmet – Insect repellant may damage your helmet’s visor, shell, protective foam, or other components.

• Never expose helmet to gasoline or gasoline fumes – Gasoline may damage your helmet’s visor, shell, protective foam, or other components.

 

- If you have any questions on what other substances may damage your helmet, please email us at info@hjchelmets.com.

Helmet Disposal http://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/support/warning.gifhttp://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/top_menu/top_menu2_margin_block.gifIf you buy a new helmet, destroy the old one to ensure it cannot be reused. Do not sell or give away your old helmet, even if it has not been damaged. Over time the protective foam in the helmet will adjust to the contours of your head. If someone else uses this helmet it will not provide them with as much protection.

[Condor]

Here's what HJC says about their helmets:

 

Helmet Replacement (All Models) http://www.hjchelmets.com/images/block.gifhttp://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/support/warning.gifhttp://www.hjchelmets.com/navigation/top_menu/top_menu2_margin_block.gifAlthough your HJC Helmet is constructed with the best materials available to offer a long-lasting product, it will eventually need to be replaced. Immediately replace your helmet if:

 

Holy Cow!!!!!!!! I'm surprized they didn't include exposure to air....

[djh3]

I was investigating simular posts to this because one of my current helmets is going on 6yr in my posesition. In the racing world in which I work we deal with a little higher certification all helmets MUST be SFI rated. How this is different from SNELL I'm not sure but I think its more an internantional set of rules. Anyways Anything made before 2005 is out. But some of that is a CYA deal, you kow lawers and all that.

My buddy had his favorite half helmet sitting on a bench in the garage over the winter a couple years back. His son was working in the garage and spilled belive it or not some car wash soap on the helmet. When my buddy went to pick the helmet up in the spring or whenever to move it it had this goo consitancy junk on it. So he wipped it off. Well it took the matte black finnish right off with it. I told him he might want to look for a new lid, because if the soap did that to the paint there aint no telling what it did to the shell.

My helmets are in good shape and havent been dropped or banged around. Not to discused looking inside neither. lol 5-6yr is proba a good "rule of thumb" to look at replacing them I would say 10 is not out of usefullness, especially if you ride it around in the trunk most of the time. Good thing big brother hasnt inculded this in some of thier "helpfull" rules and roadside checks.

[BOO]

The 82 year old guy I ride with quite often does not wear a helmet if he don't have to.

He has an old yellow helment with a leather liner and strap he carries around in the trunk.

I don't believe it is DOT. He will also wear it when it is raining.

BOO

[saddlebum]

1. If I had to buy a new helmet every time I dropped one I better start buying them by the case.
   
2. If dropping a helmet from only 2 1/2 or even 4 feet renders it useless, I would have to ask just how protective would this helmet be in an actual collision.
   
3. How much of this is ---A) to encourage continued helmet sales and--- B) just a means for company's to protect themselves from lawsuits. (The second being somewhat understandable since the majority of lawsuits are bogus money grabs.).
   

[djh3]

I am pretty particular about dropping my lid. On the lawsuits its the next best thing to hitting the loto, and probably easier to get money. File a lawsuit start to make big stinky settle out of court to keep big name company out of news and weeee off to the bank we go.

[Mike G in SC]

This is my dad's helmet,, still in good shape today.

[Flyinfool]

I am pretty particular about dropping my lid. On the lawsuits its the next best thing to hitting the loto, and probably easier to get money. File a lawsuit start to make big stinky settle out of court to keep big name company out of news and weeee off to the bank we go.

 

Ain't that the truth.

Where I work we make carpet cleaning equipment and chemicals, had a guy that worked as an auto painter for 40 years file a suit to claim that the first time he used our product on his carpet it destroyed his lungs. We gave him $10K out of court on a $1mil claim because it was cheaper that taking it to court and the bad publicity. We would have spent more than 10K on just our lawyers.