ECE stands for Economic Commission for Europe, which was created by the United Nations. On Friday 11th December 2015, helmets passing the European Standard 22.05 became legal for use on NSW roads. The remaining States and Territories followed suit and by 2016 ECE helmets were legal across Australia. This change was accepted warmly by motorcycle riders, and sellers of motorcycle gear alike. European Standard helmets tend to be lighter and cheaper, but just as strong as Australian Standard helmets. The range of helmets available to suppliers grew immensely. The European standard is also known as ECE 22.05 and ECE 22.06.

ECE 22.05 and ECE 22.06 may be used in IHRA Australia Competition for the following categories:

·       All motorcycle classes

·       Sedans slower than 10.00 sec (1/4 mile) / 6.37 sec (1/8 mile)

·       Open cars slower than 10.00 sec (1/4 mile) / 6.37 sec (1/8 mile)

·       Real Street

Note: Both ECE 22.05 and ECE 22.06 will expire 10 years from date of manufacture or purchase. A receipt may be used as proof of purchase date. Mandatory

Accepted:              ECE 22.05 Type P                           ECE 22.06 Type P

(Label typically affixed inside the helmet on the chin strap)

The ECE mark consists of a circle surrounding the letter E followed by the distinguishing number of the country that has granted approval.

E numbers

1 for Germany, 2 for France, 3 for Italy, 4 for the Netherlands, 5 for
Sweden, 6 for Belgium, 7 for Hungary, 8 for the Czech Republic, 9 for Spain, 10 for Yugoslavia, 11 for the United Kingdom, 12 for Austria, 13 for Luxembourg, 14 for Switzerland, 15 (vacant), 16 for Norway, 17 for Finland, 18 for Denmark, 19 for Romania, 20 for Poland, 21 for Portugal, 22 for the Russian Federation, 23 for Greece, 24 for Ireland, 25 for Croatia, 26 for Slovenia, 27 for Slovakia, 28 for Belarus, 29 for Estonia, 30 (vacant), 31 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 32 for Latvia, 33 (vacant), 34 for Bulgaria, 35 (vacant), 36 for Lithuania, 37 for Turkey, 38 (vacant), 39 for Azerbaijan, 40 for The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 41 (vacant),

In 1959, Snell Foundation published the United States' first standard for protective helmets. Since then, each new Snell standard has set a higher bar for the helmet industry demanding the best protection reasonably possible within current technology. Today, racing communities count on Snell Foundation to recommend the best headgear available for use in motorsport activities.

Every five years the Snell Foundation issues a new standard to update its auto racing helmet standard. The changes are never sweeping, only enough to make the best use of advances in helmet technology since the previous Snell standard was issued. The Snell SA2025 for auto racing helmets takes effect October 1, 2025. By lowering the peak g criteria from 300g set in SA2020 to 275g in SA2025 in all helmet sizes, Snell Foundation demands that SA2025 certified helmets must reduce the amount of force transmitted to the wearer’s head. SA2025 standard also calls out more impact severity by increasing the impact energy on the first of the two impacts at each impact site.  In other words, Snell SA2025 implements tougher pass/fail criteria (lower peak g limit) while subjecting helmets to a harder impact in testing (higher impact energy). Helmets certified to SA2025 will be on the market starting October 1, 2025. Manufacturers will stop production of SA2020 certified helmets by March 2026.

Gradual and incremental changes in Snell Standards have always been the approach that the Snell Foundation has taken to continuously demand more protective helmets based on scientific and medical research as well as available technology and materials. As a not-for-profit organization, here at Snell we have maintained our focus on the same mission when the Foundation was established in 1957: encourage the development and use of premium headgear to reduce and prevent unnecessary brain injuries.