new helmet legislation

[High Scale]

I was told that the Petzl helmet has a working life of ten years.

[rubble79]

I climb using a standard husky lid with out any problems. the adapted rock climbing hats rarely has a visor and ive heard ear muffs can be a problem too.

[Lancstree]

How does a change in legislation like this work? Once it becomes necessary to have a helmet that complies with mountaineering helmet standards for climbing, how are people made aware of this? Is there any documentation relating to it besides the British Standard docs themselves? Suppliers might be able to answer this one

[Nick Waring]

Petzl Vertex has an inadequate degree of adjustment...they are for folk with big heads....!!!

 

It didnt fit me, and i got a big head. couldnt get the chinstrap to adjust past my ears properly.

[Lancstree]

I've got a small napper and the one I tried on today felt pretty comfortable. Though petzl isn't the only choice and I've yet to try others.

[Ross Smith]

i like the vertex ..but i think my next might be a kong

any pics of kong helmet steve

[benedmonds]

I have looked long and hard for a decent helmet I've had the:

- erin rock, which is too heavy

- kong, which has poor ear defender attachments and is not easy to adjust size with just a velcro band

- vertex vent, best of the clinbing lids I've tried but still don't like the chin strap..

[Peter]

Anyone tried the new helmet with stein on the front yet?

[Mesterh]

Just buy a Husky helmet and be done with it, nobody looks cool in any type of helmet whatsoever.

[treequip]

These changes are coming about because the standard forestry helmet offers next to no lateral impact protection. This isn’t the fault of the (EN397 standard) helmet, it’s a perfectly competent piece of kit but 397 is a broad specification and it is primarily concerned with crown impact.

 

Andy

 

Clearly when working from a rope and harness the most minor of swings is more likely to end in a lateral impact than a crown impact. In the worst case scenario a good thump on the side results in the ear defender mounting getting rammed into your temple with a considerable point loading. Ever wondered how a beast feels faced with a captive bullet device?

 

So is the 397 helmet fit for purpose? Well of course it is. It is fit for the purpose it was designed for but not for some of the applications we are using it for. Compare the rope access industry, you don’t see them wearing an adapted builders helmet with a bit of elastic to hold it on your head. Why should we put up with less.

 

Sports helmets go some way towards solving the problem and as another adapted solution they are making strides. I distinctly remember my first Ecrin with clamp on ear muff attachment that made me look like the human cannon ball.

 

The most recent and relevant standard for head protection is EN14052 High performance industrial helmets 2005.

 

I know where I would rather have my head.