EN 397

The guideline EN 397 is the European safety standard for safety helmets.
The standard specifies that safety helmets must provide shock absorption through elastic and plastic deformation, penetration resistance against pointed and sharp objects, flame resistance and elastic contact resistance. An optimal fit must be guaranteed when wearing the helmet.
In addition, the helmet should still provide protection at very low temperatures (down to -20°C/-30°C) and at very high temperatures (up to 150°C).
To fully comply with the safety standard, the helmet should not lose its shape when subjected to lateral forces and should protect against splashes of molten metal.
A safety helmet that complies with EN 397 must be labelled as follows: the standard must be marked on the helmet, along with the name and mark of the manufacturer, the year and quarter of manufacture, the helmet type, the size and size range (the head circumference in cm) and an abbreviation for the helmet material.
Finally, it is important for the helmet that it can be combined with other accessories (i.e. hearing protection, face protection or similar).