Views: 2 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-07-17 Origin: Site
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ASTM F2040 and EN 1077 are both widely referenced ski helmet safety standards, but they are not identical and do not have the same regulatory role.
ASTM F2040 is a performance specification commonly used for recreational snow-sport helmets in North American and international markets. EN 1077 is a European standard for helmets used by alpine skiers and snowboarders. In the European Union, EN 1077 can be used within the conformity-assessment process required before an eligible ski helmet carries the CE marking.
ASTM F2040 is a helmet performance standard, EN 1077 is a European helmet standard, and CE is a regulatory conformity marking rather than a separate helmet test.
A buyer should therefore not ask only whether a helmet is “CE certified.” The more useful questions are:
Which exact standard has the helmet been tested against?
Does the test report identify the same model, shell and size?
For EN 1077, is the helmet Class A or Class B?
Is there a valid EU Declaration of Conformity?
Does the certification apply to the intended sales market?
Have any materials or structural components changed since testing?
This guide explains the technical and commercial differences between ASTM F2040 and CE EN 1077, the tests they cover and the documents buyers should verify before purchasing or sourcing ski helmets.
Comparison Point | ASTM F2040 | EN 1077 |
Full name | Standard Specification for Helmets Used for Recreational Snow Sports | Helmets for Alpine Skiers and Snowboarders |
Current referenced edition | ASTM F2040-18 | EN 1077:2007 |
Main application | Nonmotorized recreational snow sports | Alpine skiing, snowboarding and similar activities |
Common market relevance | Frequently referenced in North America and other international markets | European and EEA markets |
Regulatory role | Voluntary consensus performance specification unless required by a market, contract or buyer | Harmonized standard supporting EU PPE conformity |
Main technical areas | Impact attenuation, retention strength and positional stability | Shock absorption, penetration resistance, retention, coverage, field of vision and marking |
Protection classes | No equivalent Class A/Class B division | Class A and Class B |
CE marking included? | No | EN 1077 may support CE conformity, but the standard itself is not the CE marking |
Main buyer evidence | Test report linked to the exact product | EU type-examination documentation, Declaration of Conformity and model-specific test evidence |
ASTM currently lists F2040-18 as its active recreational snow-sport helmet specification. EN 1077:2007 also remains the current European standard referenced for alpine ski and snowboard helmets and is included in the European Union’s 2026 list of harmonized PPE standards.
The phrase “CE EN 1077 helmet” is common in product descriptions, but it combines two different concepts.
EN 1077 establishes performance requirements and test methods for alpine ski and snowboard helmets.
Its scope includes requirements involving:
Helmet construction
Materials
Field of vision
Extent of head coverage
Shock-absorbing capacity
Resistance to penetration
Retention-system strength
Retention-system effectiveness
Durability
Marking
Information supplied by the manufacturer
The standard contains two protection classes: Class A and Class B.
The CE marking indicates that the manufacturer accepts responsibility for the product’s conformity with the applicable European Union legislation.
For ski helmets sold as personal protective equipment in the EU, the relevant framework is Regulation (EU) 2016/425. The manufacturer must complete the applicable conformity-assessment procedure, prepare technical documentation, issue an EU Declaration of Conformity and affix the CE marking before placing the product on the market.
A helmet does not pass a “CE test.” It is tested and assessed against applicable requirements, after which the manufacturer may affix the CE marking when regulatory conformity has been demonstrated.
ASTM F2040 defines performance requirements for helmets used in nonmotorized recreational snow sports, including skiing and snowboarding.
It is a performance-based specification rather than a design standard. This means manufacturers can use different shell structures, liner materials and ventilation layouts as long as the finished helmet meets the applicable requirements.
The helmet is mounted on a standardized headform and dropped onto specified impact surfaces.
ASTM F2040 references different anvil geometries, including:
Flat anvil
Hemispherical anvil
Edge anvil
These impact surfaces represent different contact conditions rather than attempting to recreate every possible skiing accident.
The helmet is evaluated according to limits defined by the standard. Passing indicates performance within the specified laboratory conditions; it does not mean that the helmet can prevent every head injury.
Helmets are conditioned under different environments before testing.
The ASTM specification identifies conditions that include:
Ambient
Hot
Cold
Wet
Environmental conditioning helps evaluate whether temperature and moisture exposure materially affect helmet performance.
The retention system includes the chin strap, buckle and related components that help keep the helmet on the wearer’s head.
ASTM F2040 includes a dynamic retention-strength test intended to evaluate whether the system remains functional under a defined load.
The standard also includes a roll-off or positional-stability test.
This test evaluates whether the helmet is likely to move excessively or come off the headform under a specified force and direction.
ASTM’s official description confirms that F2040 covers conditioned impact testing, dynamic retention strength and positional stability using defined impact anvils. It also states that the protection provided by a compliant helmet remains limited.
EN 1077 evaluates the helmet as a complete protective system rather than testing only its foam liner.
The helmet undergoes impact testing to assess how effectively its structure manages impact energy.
As with ASTM testing, laboratory compliance represents performance under specified conditions. It should not be interpreted as protection against every speed, impact direction or fixed obstacle.
EN 1077 includes a penetration-resistance requirement.
This evaluates whether a specified test object can penetrate the helmet sufficiently to contact the protected headform area under the defined test conditions.
The extent and level of penetration protection differ between Class A and Class B helmets.
The standard evaluates both:
Strength of the retention system
Effectiveness of the retention system
A buckle or chin strap must not only resist a load; the complete helmet must also remain positioned as intended.
EN 1077 defines protected areas relative to standardized headform reference planes.
This coverage requirement is central to the difference between Class A and Class B.
The helmet must not obstruct the wearer’s required field of vision.
This prevents a manufacturer from increasing coverage in a way that creates unacceptable visual restriction.
The standard also addresses product construction, skin-contact materials, potentially harmful components and parts that might injure the wearer.
Its published requirements distinguish protective padding, comfort padding and sizing padding.
EN 1077 does not use Class A and Class B as simple quality grades.
Both classes are covered by the standard, but they serve different design priorities.
Feature | EN 1077 Class A | EN 1077 Class B |
Head coverage | More extensive | Reduced in certain areas |
Ear and side coverage | Greater structural coverage | More open design may be permitted |
Penetration protection | Higher degree over a larger protected area | Protection applies to a reduced coverage area |
Hearing | May reduce environmental sound more than an open design | Generally supports better hearing |
Ventilation potential | More restricted by greater coverage | More freedom for ventilation and open-ear construction |
Typical product direction | Maximum-coverage designs and some competition-focused products | Recreational, lightweight and ventilation-focused designs |
The standard’s introduction explains that Class A protects a larger area of the head and offers a higher degree of penetration protection, while Class B was introduced to accommodate demand for greater ventilation and improved hearing.
Class B does not mean that a helmet has failed EN 1077. It means that the helmet complies with the Class B requirements and uses a different balance between coverage, hearing and ventilation.
A distributor should nevertheless state the class clearly. Writing only “EN 1077 certified” can leave buyers uncertain about the helmet’s actual coverage category.
They cover several similar protection principles, but they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Both standards evaluate areas such as:
Impact performance
Retention-system performance
Helmet stability
Product construction
Marking or product information
However, they differ in:
Test procedures
Headforms and test configurations
Impact conditions
Required coverage
Penetration requirements
Conditioning procedures
Labeling requirements
Regulatory context
A helmet that has passed ASTM F2040 has not automatically passed EN 1077. The reverse is also true.
Compliance with one ski helmet standard does not prove compliance with another standard unless the complete helmet has been separately assessed against both.
For a dual-standard product, the buyer should request evidence identifying:
ASTM F2040 edition
EN 1077 edition
EN 1077 protection class
Helmet model number
Size range
Shell configuration
Retention system
Test laboratory or notified body
Report and certificate references
European harmonized standards are generally voluntary technical routes rather than legislation themselves.
However, using a harmonized standard whose reference has been published in the Official Journal gives the manufacturer a presumption of conformity with the essential health and safety requirements covered by that standard.
EN 1077:2007 appears in the EU’s current list of harmonized standards supporting the PPE Regulation. This makes it the established conformity route for conventional alpine ski and snowboard helmets.
A manufacturer may theoretically use another technical solution, but it would need to demonstrate that the alternative satisfies the applicable essential health and safety requirements. For most commercial ski helmet projects, using EN 1077 is the clearer and more practical route.
Recreational ski helmets are normally handled as Category II PPE under the EU risk-classification structure.
For Category II PPE, the regulatory route includes:
EU type-examination under Module B
Conformity to type based on internal production control under Module C
Under Module B, a notified body evaluates the technical design and representative product type. The manufacturer then remains responsible for ensuring that production units continue to conform to the approved type.
The PPE Regulation specifies Module B followed by Module C for Category II products. It also requires an EU Declaration of Conformity and product identification that supports traceability.
The certificate should identify:
Manufacturer
Product or model
Applicable standard
Protection class
Sizes or product range
Notified body
Certificate number
Issue date
Relevant limitations or annexes
The model shown on the certificate must match the model being ordered.
The declaration should include:
Product identification
Manufacturer’s name and address
Applicable EU legislation
Harmonized standard used
Notified body information
EU type-examination certificate reference
Authorized signature and date
The Declaration of Conformity should either accompany the PPE or be accessible through an internet address provided in the product instructions.
Test reports should be traceable to:
The exact helmet design
Representative samples
Applicable sizes
Shell and liner construction
Retention components
Test standard and edition
Test date
Laboratory or notified body
A one-page certificate image without model details is not sufficient evidence for serious B2B procurement.
Not necessarily.
The EU PPE Regulation requires a notified-body identification number beside the CE marking for Category III PPE when the notified body is involved in ongoing production surveillance.
Category II PPE follows Module B and Module C, so a ski helmet can legitimately show the CE mark without a four-digit notified-body number immediately beside it.
The EU type-examination certificate and Declaration of Conformity should still identify the notified body that conducted the Module B assessment.
This is an important distinction because buyers sometimes incorrectly assume that every valid CE-marked helmet must show a four-digit number after the CE logo.
For an ASTM F2040 helmet, inspect for:
ASTM F2040 reference
Manufacturer or responsible company
Product model
Helmet size
Production or traceability information
User warnings
Care and replacement instructions
For an EN 1077 and CE-marked helmet, inspect for:
CE marking
EN 1077:2007 reference
Class A or Class B
Manufacturer identification
Model and size
Batch, serial or other traceability code
Instructions in the required market language
Access to the EU Declaration of Conformity
The EU PPE Regulation requires the product to carry a type, batch, serial number or another identification element. It also requires the manufacturer’s identifying information on the PPE, packaging or accompanying documentation.
Helmet certification applies to a defined product configuration.
The following changes can potentially affect compliance:
Shell material
Shell thickness
EPS density
Impact-liner geometry
Vent size or position
Ear coverage
Chin-strap webbing
Buckle design
Strap anchor position
Fit-adjustment system
Comfort padding
Size range
Decorative components attached to the shell
Not every cosmetic change requires full retesting, but structural changes should undergo technical review by the responsible manufacturer and, where necessary, the test laboratory or notified body.
A supplier should not use a report from one helmet to support a visually similar but technically different model.
Before approving a wholesale or private-label helmet, use the following document checklist.
Document or Check | What to Verify |
Product specification | Model, size, shell, liner, buckle, straps and ventilation match the approved sample |
ASTM test report | F2040 edition and exact model are clearly identified |
EU type-examination certificate | Model, EN 1077 class, sizes and notified body are listed |
EU Declaration of Conformity | Regulation, standard, certificate and manufacturer information are consistent |
Label artwork | Standard, class, CE mark, traceability and warnings are accurate |
User instructions | Correct languages, fit guidance, limitations, care and replacement information |
Golden sample | Production reference is signed and retained |
Bill of materials | Safety-critical materials and suppliers are controlled |
Change-control procedure | Structural changes cannot be made without review |
Incoming inspection | Shell, foam, straps, buckles and labels are checked |
Production QC | Dimensions, assembly and retention components are monitored |
Final inspection | Random finished helmets are compared with approved specifications |
A capable supplier should be able to answer questions such as:
Which models have been tested to ASTM F2040?
Which models have been assessed to EN 1077?
Is the EN 1077 product Class A or Class B?
Which sizes are covered by the certificate?
Does each size use a separate shell and impact liner?
Which notified body issued the EU type-examination certificate?
Can the EU Declaration of Conformity be reviewed?
Which components are considered safety-critical?
What happens if a vent, buckle or liner is changed?
How is production conformity controlled?
Can pre-production samples be tested before bulk production?
Are private-label markings included in the compliance review?
REANSON’s skiing helmet product range includes customizable ABS-shell helmet designs and describes a project process covering needs assessment, design, sampling, testing and bulk production. Buyers should still confirm the applicable standard, certificate and covered configuration for each selected model rather than assuming one certification applies to the entire category. (Reanson Sports)
CE is a conformity marking. The underlying product assessment may use EN 1077 and the requirements of the PPE Regulation.
Ask whether the document is:
An EU type-examination certificate
A Declaration of Conformity
A laboratory test report
A voluntary certificate with no regulatory function
These documents are not interchangeable.
Class A and Class B provide different coverage. The class should be identified in product specifications and marketing materials.
Different sizes may use different molds, foam thicknesses or geometry. Confirm which sizes are covered by the test evidence.
ASTM testing does not replace the EU PPE conformity process.
A report must match the exact helmet being manufactured and sold.
Structural changes can invalidate the relationship between the approved product and the production model.
Passing a standard does not make a helmet injury-proof. ASTM explicitly states that helmet protection is limited, and no laboratory standard reproduces every real-world crash.
The correct requirement depends primarily on the destination market.
Sales Situation | Recommended Compliance Direction |
Product intended for the EU or EEA | PPE Regulation conformity, CE marking and normally EN 1077 |
Product intended for North American buyers | ASTM F2040 is commonly requested |
International retail collection | Consider dual ASTM F2040 and EN 1077 assessment |
Competition or specialist use | Confirm additional organizer, federation or market requirements |
Ski-mountaineering helmet | Verify whether a different or additional standard applies |
Multi-sport helmet | Each claimed sport may require separate applicable standards |
Do not select a standard based only on which test appears easier or less expensive. Start with the target market, product use and buyer specification.
Companies developing an international collection can review REANSON’s custom ski helmet options and define the destination market and required compliance route before finalizing molds, materials and labels.
The broader REANSON sports product portfolio may also support projects that require coordinated helmets and ski goggles, but each protective product should be assessed against its own applicable standard.
ASTM F2040 and EN 1077 both provide structured methods for evaluating recreational snow-sport helmets, but they should not be treated as identical certifications.
Use ASTM F2040 when it is required by the target market, customer or commercial specification.
Use EN 1077 as the established technical route for alpine ski and snowboard helmets entering the European PPE market. Confirm whether the helmet is Class A or Class B and complete the appropriate CE conformity process.
For international sales, dual assessment may simplify product positioning, but only when both standards are supported by model-specific documentation.
The most reliable certified ski helmet is not simply the one with the most logos—it is the helmet whose design, production sample, labels and compliance documents all refer to the same verified product configuration.
Before confirming an order, compare the certificate, report, Declaration of Conformity, product label and physical sample. Any inconsistency should be resolved before bulk production or market launch.
ASTM F2040 is commonly used for recreational snow-sport helmets in North American markets. EN 1077 is commonly used for alpine ski and snowboard helmets in Europe. Select the standard required by the intended sales market.
EN 1077 identifies the technical helmet standard. CE indicates conformity with applicable EU legislation. CE and EN 1077 are related in the European compliance process, but they are not the same thing.
No. Both cover snow-sport helmet performance, but their test methods, coverage rules, penetration requirements and regulatory roles differ. A helmet must be separately evaluated to claim compliance with both.
Class A provides greater head coverage and a higher degree of penetration protection over a larger area. Class B permits reduced coverage to support better ventilation and hearing.
Class B is a recognized class within EN 1077. It must meet the applicable Class B requirements, but it provides less coverage than Class A. Buyers should choose according to use, comfort and coverage priorities.
Only when the product is being placed on a market where CE conformity is required. ASTM F2040 compliance alone does not authorize CE marking.
Not by itself. Buyers should check the Declaration of Conformity, EU type-examination certificate and supporting documentation to see which standard and product model were assessed.
For Category II PPE, a four-digit notified-body number is not normally required beside the CE mark. The notified body responsible for EU type-examination should still appear in the conformity documents.
Yes, a helmet can be assessed against both standards. The manufacturer must have valid evidence showing that the exact product configuration meets each standard separately.
Request the model-specific test report, EU type-examination certificate where applicable, EU Declaration of Conformity, product specification, label artwork, instructions, quality-control plan and approved production sample.
