January 2021 – but it’s a bit more complex than that! Most notably, not only do you need to understand when the new standard will come into force, but also you need to be in touch with the limits set by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as to when helmet manufacturers must have made their products compliant. Below is a timeline which will help guide you through it:

Under UN ECE 22.06 the impact testing procedure is improved, involving impact tests at both higher and lower velocities and looking at the effects on different points on the helmet.

Rotational tests will be introduced for the new ECE standard approval. New UN ECE 22.06 involves an impact test against a 45-degree angle to further ensure the rotation protection of the helmet. This is because studies show that significant injuries can happen from the twisting motion of the head during an impact.

Keeping track of regulatory changes is a complex business and remaining compliant can be challenging for organisations to manage. To overcome the challenges posed by UN ECE 22.06, helmet brands and manufacturers need the support of well-informed experts capable of navigating the new regulatory landscape in a timely and effective manner.