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| CE 1385 Certification Helmets for canoeing and white water sports | |
| Introduction The most common head injury in canoeing and white water sports happens when a person strikes an underwater object after capsizing. Under these circumstances it is extremely unlikely that the speed of impact will be greater than 18 km/h (5 m/s) because this is the highest recorded rate of flow in a white water river. This standard includes the International Canoe Federation classification of risks. |
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The most common site of injury is the frontal or forehead area or the side of the eye socket. To achieve the performance of which the helmet is capable, and to ensure stability on the head, it needs to be as close fitting as possible consistent with comfort. The helmet has to be securely fastened on to the head, and any chin strap has to be under tension at all times. |
| A proportion of the energy of an impact is absorbed by the helmet, thereby reducing the force of the blow sustained by the head. The structure of the helmet may be damaged in absorbing this energy and any helmet that sustains a severe blow needs to be replaced even if damage is not apparent. | |
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The
protection given by a helmet depends on the circumstances of the accident
and wearing a helmet does not always prevent death or long term disability.
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CE 1385 standard This European Standard specifies requirements for helmets for canoeing and white water sports for use in waters of classes 1 to 4 as classified by the International Canoe Federation. The levels of protection recognize that most fatalities in canoeing and white water sports result from drowning after concussion and not from brain damage. |
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This
standard is not intended to apply to helmets for use in extreme white water
situations such as those where the jumping of high waterfalls is undertaken,
because the need for impact absorption for such a helmet, and the area of
the head to be protected, are greater than those for most canoeing and white
water sports. The standard applies to helmets with and without holes in
the shell. NOTE: This standard does not provide performance requirements for visors, chin- guards or face-guards. |
All helmets loose their impact resistance over time. We reccomend that paddling helmets be replaced after every serious impact, and even if you never experience an impact, your lid needs to be replaced every third paddling season. |
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| International Canoe Federation classification of risks. | |
| Class 1 | Not difficult. Regular current, small waves and riffles, occasional small rapids; pebble banks, no or few obstructions. |
| Class 2 | Moderately difficult. Clear and wide passages; irregular current, rapids bigger waves, easy eddies, stopper and whirlpools; simple obstructions in the passage, small ledges. |
| Class 3 | Difficult. Course not always easily to recognize. High and irregular waves, long rapids, stopper, boils and whirlpools; occasional boulders, drops and various obstructions in the passage. |
| Class 4 | Very difficult. Course difficult to recognize, inspection from shore is advised; big hydraulics, keepers and boils; staggered boulders in main stream, ledges with keepers. |
| Class 5 | Exceedingly difficult. Inspection from shore is mandatory; extreme hydraulics, keepers and boils; narrow in the only line of passage, high drops in cascades with difficult entrances and/or exits. |
| Class 6 | The absolute limit of difficulty. Usually considered unrunnable. All previous mentioned difficulties increased to the limit of practicability. Attempts at certain water levels imply a high risk to life. |
| NOTE | Helmets for use in water classes 5 and 6 are outside the scope of this standard. It is expected that these helmets will have performance requirements in excess of this standard. |
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