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Helmet Steel

DOT Helmets Vs. Snell Helmets - Which One To Choose?

Almost all the helmets that are manufactured in the United States of America have at least one of the two levels of safety certification attached to them. This includes the certification offered by the Department of Transportation (popularly known as DOT) and the Snell Memorial Foundation (or simply Snell).

The DOT standard of safety for helmets is the minimum standard that must be followed by all manufacturers to bikers on the road. Therefore, this is mainly a parameter that is required to be followed. However, the Snell standard is more stringent, and has many more parameters that require satisfaction before certification.

The Snell standard is a voluntary testing of helmets offered by the organization to a not-for Profit Company that makes other protective riding gear as well. This standard is regarded as the highest among all safety standards of helmets in the world.

Although both standards require the helmets to hit steel ended anvils to test their impact which is identical to one caused due to an accident on road, the safety standards and testing procedures for DOT and Snell helmets are extremely carried from one another.

All riders depend on the standard safety of motorcycle helmets offered by DOT and Snell. What makes this standardization helpful is that when one is buying a helmet, he or she does not have to rely on the word of the manufacturer regarding the authenticity of the safety provision. As long as the helmet is certified by either method of standardization (DOT or Snell), the rider is assured of being provided with minimum guaranteed safety by the helmet during riding.

DOT Rating

DOT rating does not require each helmet to be tested to pass the standardization. This rating demands that the manufacturer "feel" the fact that the helmet made passes the test. Therefore, no real test is performed on the helmet to rate it with DOT. However, occasional testing on any piece of the product can be carried out to test the safety provision.

The testing mainly involves observation on high impact. A simulated head is placed inside the helmet which is then dropped from a height of ten feet. A force of 400 G is the maximum impact that the head is subjected to in such a case. G stands for the force due to gravity on the object.

Snell Rating

Snell rated helmets involve way more complex testing procedures. There are a number of these tests that are carried out on each and every helmet that is brought to be tested. Therefore, manufacturing companies may take the initiative to bring their helmets to get them tested for Snell rating. Obviously these tests have to be paid for by the makers of the helmets.

The testing processes involve exertion of high impact force, heat resistance and shell penetration. There are seven types of such tests.

Safety Matters

Although most riders are choosy about the color, fit and comfort of their helmets, a lot of them also have issues with the price. Nothing is more important than the safety measure of the helmet. Therefore, it is a bad idea to buy a helmet only because it is reasonably priced. You may have to pay with your safety in such a case in future.

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