JARGON

EN 1078

The standard that all bicycle helmets sold in the UK must meet. It specifies test methods, construction requirements and features, including field of vision and shock-absorbing properties.

LINER

This is the layer of material (most commonly EPS foam) that provides the helmet’s impact protection. It’s surrounded by an outer shell that protects against knocks and scrapes.

EPS

Expanded polystyrene forms the bulk of the liner in most lids. It’s only good for single-impact protection because it deforms permanently to absorb crash forces.

EPP

An alternative to EPS, expanded polypropylene provides multi-impact protection, although often at the expense of some singleimpact protection capability.

KOROYD

Another alternative impact protection material, Koroyd is comprised of a large number of copolymer cylinders bonded together that deform on impact, absorbing the crash energy.

MIPS

The Multidirectional Impact Protection System is a plastic layer suspended within the helmet that reduces rotational motions (via a slip plane) transferred to the brain during an impact.