Seeking Help with Safety Helmet Tests and Standards as per IS 2925: Can You Share Insights?

Dear All,

As per Indian Standard IS:2925-198, the following tests are mandatory for Safety Helmets:

1. Clearance above the head
2. Shock Absorption Resistance
3. Penetration Resistance
4. Flammability Resistance
5. Water Absorption
6. Heat Resistance
7. Sterilization
8. Resistance to corrosion of Metal Parts

Could anyone provide further details regarding each test:
1. How each test is conducted?
2. What the expected results of each test should be?
3. Are there any additional tests beyond those mentioned in IS 2925?
4. Can anyone share the STANDARD FOR LOAD-CARRYING HELMETS?
5. Can anyone provide details of Helmets made of Fiberglass? Also, any supplier details who can provide the same would be appreciated.

Please provide me with the details. This information would be very helpful to me. If you do not have the IS standard, please provide me with the above-mentioned details based on any other standards.

I am genuinely seeking assistance and am in need of it now. I hope to receive some help soon.

With regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Dear Friends,

How many safety people are their in this forum, not many I presume.

ISI print and publish all the standards. Safety department is supposed to have all those standards pertaining to safety and avoid procurring sub-standard equipment and force workers to have a false sense of protection. You may check with any technical library or write to ISI to obtain the list and raise a purchase request immediately. No management will reject your request.

Now Quality control on Helment. I am giving you the tests done by ANSI. IS mostly follow the same.

A sample of hard hats from each batch or production shift is set aside for testing according to the ANSI criteria. Some samples are cooled to 0°F (-18°C) for a two-hour period prior to testing, and others are heated to 120°F (49°C) for two hours before testing. The Type I impact test involves dropping an 8-lb (3.6 kg) steel ball from a height of 5 ft (1.5 m) on the top of the hat as it sits on a head form; no more than 1,000 lb (4,400 N) of peak force can be transmitted to the head form, and no more than 850 lb (4,000 N) of average force can be transmitted. The Type I penetration test involves dropping a 2.2-lb (1-kg) pointed steel penetrator with a 60 angle on the top of the hat from a distance of 8 ft (2.4 m); it must not make contact with the head form. In addition, Type II impact and penetration tests involve dropping helmeted head forms onto steel anvils and pointed steel penetrators.

Under earlier ANSI standards, electrical conductivity was tested by measuring current in bodies of water inside and outside the hat. Since 1997, the test has been performed using metal foil on opposite surfaces. The conductivity test is performed on a sample that has already withstood the impact test. The most rigorous criterion (for the highest class designation) requires the hat to with-stand 20,000 volts for three minutes with no more than nine milliamps of current leakage, followed by exposure to 30,000 volts with no burn-through permitted. For the flammability test, a hard hat is positioned on a head form and exposed to a 1,550°F (843°C) flame for five seconds. There must be no visible flame on the helmet five seconds after removal of the test flame.

Respond if it is useful only pl

Regards,

Kesava Pillai

Dear Sir,

Frankly, I was already familiar with the ANSI standard. However, I was confused about whether I can compare it with IS. Your response clarified that IS mostly follows these tests, which is helpful to me. I will make sure to track Indian Standards.

Thank you very much for your prompt response. I look forward to receiving the same level of assistance in the future.

With regards,
Dipil Kumar V

Safety helmets should withstand the impact of a plumb bob weighing 500g with a conical steel point having an included angle of 36 degrees or a spherical point with a radius of not more than 0.5mm. This impact test involves dropping the weight from a height of 3 meters with the pointed end downward onto the top of the crown of the helmet. The helmet should not get pierced, dented, or suffer any failure of integral parts during this test. This standard is in accordance with IS 2925:1984.

Mano

The gap between the harness and crown of the helmet must be a minimum of 1.2 inches (3 cm) as per ANSI.

Dear Dipil, I too have ANSI standards. I am attaching the same as additional reference. To be frank, we used to get the safety helmets if they have the IS standards. I have not delved deep into it. However, I will try to collect these details from our vendor as soon as possible. Regards.

Tests Carried On 'HELMET'

Climate Condition Test
The specifications IS 2925:1984 interrelate these three conditions as follows:
i) Very Hot climate: A temperature of 50 ± 5º C for 4 hours in an oven.
ii) Very Cold climate: A temperature of -10 ± 2º C for 4 hours in a refrigerator.
iii) Heavy Rainfall: Water flowing all over the surface at 1 ltr/mm for 4 hours.

Shock Absorption Test
A rectangular block having a horizontal striking surface of 180mm x 180mm weighing 3 kgs is allowed to fall freely over the helmet from a height of 1.5 ± 0.05 meters. It is ensured that the force transmitted is not greater than 5KN, i.e., 510 kgf.

Penetration Test
The IS specification IS 2925:1984 states that if a striker of mass 500 gm with a conical steel point having an included angle of 36º and a spherical point radius is dropped on the helmet, mounted on the head foam from a clear height of 3.0 meters, the helmet's shell should not be pierced enough to allow the point to touch the head foam. The depth of penetration should not exceed 10mm.

Flame Resistance Test
IS 2925:1984 has framed certain specifications for flame resistance. A blue flame is generated by a burner with a temperature the same as that of the melting point of copper. This flame is exposed to the surface of the helmet at a 45º angle for a period of 10 seconds, and then the helmet is removed. It is ensured that the helmet does not catch fire within 5 seconds of the removal of the flame.

Electrical Insulation Test
As per IS 2925:1984 standards, an inverted helmet is placed into a container containing a solution of chloride in water (6 gms/ltr). The same solution is filled inside the helmet as well. The helmet is allowed to stand for a period of 18-24 hours at room temperature. An A/C voltage of 2000 V is generated between two electrodes, and an ammeter is connected in series. It is to be ensured that no current flows and there is no deflection in the ammeter.

Water Absorption Resistance Test
As per IS 2925:1984, a helmet immersed in water at a temperature of 25º C & 35º C for 24 hours should not gain more than 5% of its mass.

Heat Resistance Test
IS 2925:1984 ensures a baseline conformity to heat resistance. The shell is placed in an oven for 15 minutes maintained at a constant temperature of 93 ± 5º C. Upon removal from the oven, the shell should not separate, distort, or soften.

As per my knowledge, there is no such STANDARD for Load Carrying Helmets as of now.

As for the supply of FRP helmets, you can contact Mr. Keerti Raj Singh
Mob: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons], a renowned supplier to L&T and various others in Raipur.

Regards,
Ravi

M/s Concord India and M/s Industrial Component are the companies/suppliers who manufacture/supply fiberglass safety helmets as per IS 2925, which are also approved by DGMS. I will provide you with the detailed address on Monday as it is in our office file.

Thanks and Regards,
Ajay Gupta

I just wanted to know what is the actual weight of a safety helmet (IS 2925) and what weight it should carry on top of the helmet (Max. weight) so that it will not harm the human head.

Regards,
Pramod

I read all the posts on this thread today. Very good knowledge shared by Mr. Kesava Pillai, Ravi, and KVS. Thanks to all. To add to these posts, let me share some of my views.

Catalogue of IS Standards

A catalogue of all the latest IS Standards is published every year by ISI (Indian Standards Institute), which contains a list and the latest revisions and amendments. We procure this catalogue every year. Even I hold a personal copy of this catalogue.

In case of confusion, try to locate the relevant IS standard number by referring to the index of this catalogue and procure the standard. This would definitely solve most of the day-to-day problems.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir