There are three most common certifications on the market: DOT certification, SNELL certification, and ECE certification. You may only know these kinds of certifications for helmets, but you don’t know the difference between these certifications, and you don’t know why ECE certification can be recognized by the public. In this article, let's briefly analyze why ECE certification can get so much support.
DOT certification
DOT certification is a must-obtain certification for motorcycle helmets to enter the US market as stipulated by the US Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA).The certification adopts a manufacturer's guarantee system for the product. As long as the manufacturer claims to meet the standards stipulated by DOT, the DOT certification mark can be affixed to the helmet. As shown below:
This leads to the uneven quality of products on the market. However, NHTSA will conduct spot checks on helmets sold on the market. If they fail to pass the test, the seller will be required to recall the product and impose a high fine. This is also the main reason why DOT certification is not recognized by most people.
SNELL certification
SNELL certification covers a variety of helmets, among which the motorcycle helmet standard is M2020, and M2020 is divided into M2020D, which is biased towards DOT; M2020R, which is biased towards ECE. SNELL standards are generally updated every 5 years.
ECE22.06 certification
Helmet ECE certification is an approval system based on the technical quality standard (ECE Regulation No.22) formulated by the Economic Commission of Europe, and the helmet is tested and certified by an authorized institution. Currently, the No.22-05 and No.22-06 versions alternate. After March 1, 2024, the 22-05 version will not be available for sale.
To compare these three standards, we need to understand what changes ECE22.06 has made compared to its previous standards.
