All head protection must be tested to the relevant European Safety standards and must be CE marked. It is more than head knowledge – Act now and keep within the law. EN 397 sets the requirements for industrial safety helmets, protecting the wearer against head injuries.
The EN 397 standard
EN 397 is the European standard for industrial safety helmets. This standard specifies the requirements and test methods for industrial safety helmets to protect the wearer against head injuries.
EN 397 provides vigorous guidance on industrial safety helmet requirements, including the physical requirements, materials and construction, external and internal vertical distance, performance requirements, shock absorption, resistance to penetration, test requirements, conditioning for testing, measurement of clearance, distances and wearing height, apparatus, test procedures, marking and much more.
The requirements and test methods specified in EN 397 are designed to offer the wearer improved protection against head injuries caused by falling objects, debris, rain, or electric shock. This standard also aims to improve the performance and quality of industrial safety helmets.
Note, EN 397 specifically refers to industrial safety helmets. This is different from EN 12492 which covers helmets for use in mountaineering.
BS EN 397:2012+A1:2012
EN 397 was last updated in 2012, with a further amendment brought into effect in the same year. To reflect these changes, the latest version of this standard is BS EN 397:2012+A1:2012.
Changes that came into effect with this safety standard update include:
- The normative references in Clause 2 and in the text have been updated. EN 960 has been dated throughout the text
- Code letters have been extended to size designations and between brackets EN 960:1994 equivalent code letters
- Annex B has been changed into an informative annex with the adaptation of modal verbs. The bibliography has been updated
EN 397 requirements
EN 397 specifies the requirements and test methods for industrial safety helmets. These requirements help safeguard the wearer against mechanical impacts which could have possible consequences such as brain injuries or skull fractures.
This standard also covers quality and performance requirements for industrial safety helmets to protect against lateral deformation of the helmet, as well as protecting the wearer from dangerous head injuries.
Industrial safety helmets certified in accordance with EN 397 may meet these requirements; they are, however, not mandatory requirements:
- Shock absorption, vertical
- Very low temperatures (-20'C or -30'C)
- Penetration resistance (against sharp and pointed objects)
- Very high temperatures (+150'C)
- Flame resistance
- Electrical insulation (440 V)
- Chin strap attachment: chin strap releases at minimum 150N and maximum 250N
- Molten metal (MM)
- Lateral deformation
Tests will be conducted to assess whether or not the helmet meets the above requirements. Any helmet that has been tested in accordance with EN 397 will feature the relevant pictogram.
Impact/shock absorption
Industrial safety helmets intended to protect the wearer from falling hazards will be assessed using a series of impact tests. This test is carried out in a variety of conditions including pre-conditioning to high temperature, low temperature, water immersion and UV ageing. There is also the option to expand the temperature range for the preconditioning if claimed by the manufacturer.
Penetration resistance
A penetration resistance test will be carried out to ensure the helmet offers the wearer sufficient protection against sharp or pointed objects. This test is carried out on helmets pre-conditioned to high temperature, low temperature, water immersion, and UV ageing.
Design requirements
EN 397 also specifies design requirements for industrial safety helmets. These requirements ensure the helmet has been designed with wearer protection in mind. The design requirements will include a variety of ergonomic and safety-based requirements, such as the area of coverage provided, field of vision afforded during wear, and the clearance between the head and shell of the helmet.
Chin strap anchorage
EN 397 requires the helmet to be supplied with a chin strap to ensure retention in typical workplace conditions. Under EN 397, either the helmet shell or headband should be fitted with a chinstrap or should feature anchorage points to allow for the attachment of a chinstrap. The chin strap must also adhere to a number of tests and requirements, such as having a minimum width of 10mm when untensioned.
Optional tests
EN 397 also includes a number of optional tests for helmets that claim to provide additional protection. For each of these optional requirements, the helmet must undergo tests to ensure it is suitable to protect the wearer against the stated hazards.
The optional tests for EN 397 include:
- Very low temperatures (-20'C or -30'C)
- Penetration resistance (against sharp and pointed objects)
- Very high temperatures (+150'C)
- Flame resistance
- Electrical insulation (440 V)
- Molten metal (MM)
- Lateral deformation
