Will LRRS adopt the CCS/ASRA helmet requirement in 2017?

[RocketPunch]

The specific item I am referring to is highlighted in bold below base on the 2016 LRRS rule book section 7.1.2:

"7.1.2 The helmet must meet DOT plus Snell (USA)
approval or the British Blue Label standard BSI
6658 Type A helmet standard or the European
ECE22-04 & ECE22-05 P standard. The
appropriate stickers must be attached."

This means you can legally race in a helmet with ECE ONLY certificaton, but you cannot race in a helmet that is Snell ONLY because any Snell approved helmet also requires DOT certification. What is interesting to me is CCS/ASRA does not have that requirement under section 5.1.1 of their 2016 rule book, which reads:

"5.1.1 Undamaged full-face helmet with face shield and bearing a stamp of
approval from one of the following international standards:

Snell M2010 or M2015(USA)
BS. 6658 TYPE. A (GREAT - BRITAIN)
ECE 22 - 04 & ECE 22 - 05 “P” (EUROPE)
JIS 8133:2000 / JIS 8133:2007 (JAPAN)
All these listed standards will remain valid as long as the
rider can prove a date of manufacture within the last 5 years"

In addition, similar regional racing organization such as WERA or national racing organization such as Moto America also do not have the "must meet DOT plus Snell" requirement, which as far as I can tell is an extremely uncommon requirement. In addition, Japan's JIS T8133 also meets and is legal in CCS/ASRA and MotoAmerica.

Obviously I have no knowledge of the intention behind the requirement nor how certain rule come to be. May be LRRS can consider it as a suggestion to adopt the the CCS/ASRA helmet standard in 2017, by excluding the DOT requirement and may be add JIS certification to the mix.

Thank you.

Reference:
http://www.nhms.com/documents/2016_lrrs_rulebook.pdf
http://www.ccsracing.us/forms/2016/r...book%20std.pdf
WERA Motorcyle Road Racing :: Rulebook :: v2016n10x10 ::
http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Desk...1&documentid=3

[lrrs313]

Is it possible to purchase a helmet that is Snell certified and NOT DOT certified? I thought a helmet had to be DOT certified to be sold in the US

[Kurlon]

Is it possible to purchase a helmet that is Snell certified and NOT DOT certified? I thought a helmet had to be DOT certified to be sold in the US

Given that DOT is based on self testing with no external verification, I can't imagine why you WOULDN'T throw a DOT label on if selling in the US. I can't claim to have ever seen a non DOT SNELL on the shelves in Maine.

[tsorfas]

I don't think that's a new rule?

[Philkinson]

Can we also discuss why carbon helmets aren't allowed?

[Kurlon]

So, rereading, I think the intent is all helmets must be DOT, PLUS one of the following:
SNELL
BSI 6658 Type A
ECE22-04
ECE22-05 P

Carbon fiber helmets ARE allowed, the only shell material outlawed is polycarbonate, and that is based on LRRS observations of post crash head issues and helmet types.

[RocketPunch]

So, rereading, I think the intent is all helmets must be DOT, PLUS one of the following:
SNELL
BSI 6658 Type A
ECE22-04
ECE22-05 P

I can see your interpretation, and probably is the intended interpretation. The way you wrote it would be much more clear than what is in the 2016 rulebook; Which to me is open to interpretation the way it is written now.

Yet again, I would argue why do we need DOT approval when pretty much no one requires it? How would having a DOT sticker "improve" the safety of riders when all the mentioned safety standards ALONE already exceeds it?

I just wanted to point out, in case it is being misinterpreted, my intention is not trying to create work for anyone nor to "reinvent the wheel".

[tsorfas]

Can we also discuss why carbon helmets aren't allowed?

that statement is incorrect

[jasnmar]

I don't think that's a new rule?

I don't either, but I could be misremembering.

I think that there has been this discrepancy between LRRS and CCS for a few years now.

[Philkinson]

that statement is incorrect

Polycarbonate isn't carbon fiber? Welp, research time for me

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[jasnmar]

Polycarbonate isn't carbon fiber? Welp, research time for me

No. Very different.

[tsorfas]

truth is your probably dont want to wear a non DOT SNELL Helmet anyways

[jasnmar]

If one is sold for use specifically outside the US (Europe or Asia probably) that is Snell certified, there would be no reason to get a US DOT certification (or to even test it). I suspect that this would be a small number of actual helmets, but possible.

Those "skull cap" type helmets can even have a dot certification. It's pretty "minimal" as certifications go.

[Kurlon]

Those "skull cap" type helmets can even have a dot certification. It's pretty "minimal" as certifications go.

They likely never bothered with testing, just slapped the sticker on there. That's why I personally won't wear a DOT only helmet even if not racing.

[CBR929RE]

Polycarbonate isn't carbon fiber? Welp, research time for me

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

polycarbonate is plastic. definitely nothing like carbon fiber which is a 2 part composite material (carbon fiber material and resin).

[Johnny B]

I think that there has been this discrepancy between LRRS and CCS for a few years now.

There are a few areas where LRRS and CCS differ, most notably we don't allow coolant additives with propylene glycol but CCS does.
We tend to go with what WERA (Definitely not a "regional" organization) does for a few safety related items.

[Uncle Snake]

Just in case for the absolute moron....... Dot D O T Approved Motorcycle Helmet Stickers Decals Labels 4 Pack | eBay

[Johnny B]

Just in case for the absolute moron....... Dot D O T Approved Motorcycle Helmet Stickers Decals Labels 4 Pack | eBay

Yes. A plain moron would hand letter the helmet himself.

[OreoGaborio]

Polycarbonate isn't carbon fiber? Welp, research time for me

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

"Polycarbonate" is a fancy word that loosely translates to "shit plastic that's used to make disposable forks, spoons and knives"

Translated literally:

"Poly" meaning "Many",
"Carbon" meaning "Carbonara" and
"Ate" meaning.... "consumed".

So "many things with which to eat spaghetti carbonara".