About Helmet Inspection
Pick up the slider on each of the inspections and drag them from left to right to view an alternative perspective from our inspection process.
These are examples of a single inspection point on the rear of the helmet.
Moving the slider to the right reveals an annotation. This annotated area depicts significant structural damage to the helmet. Damage that’s not visible to the naked eye, and damage that would cause this helmet to be ineffective on a subsequent impact to the same region.
Helmet Integrity
is affected by a number of variables, and this is why manufacturers typically state that the serviceable lifespan is between 3 and 5 years. This is not a ruse by the manufacturers to get you to buy a new helmet every 3 – 5 years. It’s simply a statement of fact. Your helmet is a consumable item, which degrades over time. The more you use your helmet the quicker the degradation process happens.
Helmet Construction
Two of the main components used in the construction of protective headgear are (a) an outer shell and (b) an inner liner.
The shell is designed to be your first line of defence. In the event of an impact, it dissipates shock across the outer structure. If the shell integrity is compromised, the inner liner is being asked to absorb more of the impact force.
The materials used in the construction of the outer shell will dissipate shock forces across the helmet, but only once. Once the shell has taken an impact, the safety integrity of the helmet may or may not have become compromised, and safety-critical damage can very often go un-noticed from a visual inspection.
As such, a visual inspection with the naked eye, in many cases, is ineffective.