HelHHelmet Standards - Australia 

A helmet that meets either the Australian or European Standards is legal to wear on the road in Australia, ensuring it is in good condition. The Australian Standard is to a degree being phased out of motorcycle accessory shops as the European Standard opens up a large range of helmets to riders. Ensuring you are wearing a helmet that passes one or the other will keep you out of strife.

This advice is a guide only. It is general in nature. It cannot be relied upon for you to make decisions.

 

IN AUSTRALIA IN 1972, IT BECAME LAW THAT WEARING A HELMET THAT MET A CERTAIN STANDARD, WAS MANDATORY WHEN RIDING A MOTORCYCLE ON THE ROAD.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAT ARE NOW LEGALLY ACCEPTED IN AUSTRALIA. 

In Australia, helmets must meet either the Australian Standard or the European Standard for them to be legally used on the road.
Australian Standard helmets are “certified” by a privately owned certification services company.
European helmets are “homologated” by a European government.

DOT and SNELL helmets are not currently legal for Road use in Australia.
(Side note - ECE helmets are not legal for road use in the USA, DOT helmets are not legal for road use in the UK.)

All helmets must be marked as to what standard they comply to. Helmets must have a label sewn into the helmet declaring the standard that they meet. This is generally either in the crown liner of the helmet for Australian Standards, or on the chin strap for European Standard. There may also be a sticker on the outside of the helmet.

Australian Standards
The two Australian standards are AS 1698-1988 and AS/NZS 1698:2006.
For Australian Standard compliant helmets, as indicated in the standard, no attachments should be made to the helmet except those recommended by the helmet manufacturer.

(Side note - you can now remove the outside Australian Standards sticker from your helmet IF there is a label sewn inside the helmet.)

 

 

Australian Standards sticker outside a helmet.

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Australian Standards tag inside a helmet.

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All accepted Australian Standards stickers

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European Standards
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. The mark will be in the form of a circle surrounding the letter "E", followed by the distinguishing number of the country that has granted approval. The number to the right of the "E" may vary from one model of helmet to another.

The current numbers and their corresponding Governments are; 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, 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, 31 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 32 for Latvia, 34 for Bulgaria, 36 for Lithuania, 37 for Turkey, 38 (vacant), 39 for Azerbaijan, 40 for The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

There is currently no 15, 30, 33, 35, 38 or 41.

The numbers on the ECE have different meanings as illustrated below.

 

The ECE 22.05 tag explained. This tag is from a Full Face helmet.

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This European Standards sticker is not always present. The helmet MUST still have an internal tag.

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European Standards tag inside a helmet. They are not always this visible.

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European Standards tag inside a helmet. Sometimes they are a little more hidden. The full tag is still there and accessible if required.

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European Standards tag inside a Shoei X-Spirit III

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European Standards tag inside a Arai Chaser X

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For ECE 22.05 compliant helmets, no component or device may be fitted to or incorporated in the protective helmet unless it is designed in such a way that it will not cause injury and that, when it is fitted to or incorporated in the protective helmet, the helmet still complies with the requirements of this standard.