English Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-09-24 Origin: Site
CE EN 1078 is the mandatory European safety standard for helmets used in cycling, skateboarding, and roller skating. It sets requirements for helmet construction, impact absorption, and retention system strength, and any helmet sold in the EU for these activities must carry a CE mark backed by EN 1078 testing. This guide breaks down what the standard covers, its three core testing requirements, and the new rotational impact testing introduced in EN 1078:2025.
EN 1078 applies to helmets designed for three specific activities: cycling, skateboarding, and roller skating. This shared scope reflects the similar impact risks across these sports — low-to-moderate speed falls where the head strikes a hard, flat surface.
For European buyers and distributors, this means a single EN 1078 certification can often support product lines across multiple categories, provided the helmet design and testing account for each intended use. It's worth noting that EN 1078 differs from standards for motorized sports (like motorcycle helmets under ECE 22.06) — those involve higher-speed impacts and require separate certification.
EN 1078 certification is built on three core requirements: field of vision and design, impact absorption, and retention system strength. Each element is tested independently before a helmet can receive its CE mark.
Design Requirements: The helmet's shell must provide adequate coverage of the head, including a defined field of vision to ensure the helmet doesn't obstruct peripheral sight while riding. Ventilation and shape are also assessed to confirm the helmet doesn't compromise the wearer's safety or usability.
Impact Absorption: The helmet is tested by dropping it onto flat and curbstone-shaped anvils from set heights. Sensors measure the shock transmitted to a test headform, which must stay below a defined threshold to pass. This test simulates a rider's head striking pavement or a curb edge during a fall.
Retention System (Chin Strap) Strength: The chin strap and buckle system must hold the helmet securely in place during an impact. Testing verifies the strap won't stretch excessively, release unexpectedly, or fail under load — ensuring the helmet stays on the head when it's needed most.
EN 1078:2025 introduces a rotational impact test requirement, addressing angled impacts that cause the head to rotate rather than move in a straight line. Previous versions of the standard focused primarily on linear impact absorption — a direct, perpendicular hit to the helmet. Real-world falls, however, often occur at an angle, generating rotational forces linked to a higher risk of brain injury.
The updated standard now requires helmets to be tested for their ability to reduce rotational acceleration during angled impacts, aligning EN 1078 more closely with independent safety systems like MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). For European buyers, this means helmets certified under EN 1078:2025 offer a more complete safety profile than those tested only under earlier versions of the standard.
Manufacturers now need to incorporate slip-plane liners, low-friction shell coatings, or similar rotational-management technology into their helmet designs to meet this requirement. Buyers sourcing helmets should confirm which version of the standard — EN 1078:2012+A1:2012 or EN 1078:2025 — a given product has been tested against, since the rotational impact requirement is not retroactive.
EN 1078 certification isn't optional for helmets sold in the EU — it's a legal requirement tied to the CE marking process. Beyond compliance, it gives buyers and distributors a verifiable safety benchmark to communicate to end consumers, retailers, and regulatory bodies.
For businesses sourcing helmets internationally, working with a manufacturer experienced in EN 1078 testing reduces the risk of compliance delays or product recalls. Jiangmen Shengtao Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. (HKLY Sports), a China-based bike helmet manufacturer with 28 years of experience, produces bicycle, skate, and mountain climbing helmets designed to meet CE, CPSC, and ASTM standards, offering OEM/ODM support for buyers navigating multiple regional certifications (view bicycle helmet range).
EN 1078 is best suited for buyers targeting the European market, while other regions require different certifications — CPSC 1203 governs the U.S. market, for example. CPSC 1203 mandates a more rigorous impact absorption test, which typically results in a heavier helmet, while EN 1078 testing produces lighter helmets suited to European cycling conditions. Buyers selling across both markets often need helmets tested and certified to both standards, or should work with a manufacturer capable of dual-certifying product lines (see our full comparison: CPSC 1203 vs. CE EN 1078).
Does an EN 1078-certified helmet automatically meet CPSC 1203 requirements?
No. EN 1078 and CPSC 1203 have different impact absorption thresholds and test methods, so a helmet certified under one standard is not automatically compliant with the other. Helmets intended for both the EU and U.S. markets typically need separate testing and certification for each standard.
Is rotational impact testing mandatory for all EN 1078 helmets sold in Europe?
Rotational impact testing is only mandatory for helmets certified under EN 1078:2025. Helmets certified under the earlier EN 1078:2012+A1:2012 version remain legally sellable in the EU until phased out, though buyers seeking the latest safety benchmark should specifically request 2025-compliant products.
How can buyers verify a helmet's EN 1078 certification before placing a bulk order?
Buyers should request the manufacturer's official EN 1078 test report and CE certificate, which identifies the testing body, the standard version tested against, and the specific helmet model covered. Reputable manufacturers, such as established China-based bike helmet manufacturers with in-house R&D, will provide this documentation readily as part of the sourcing process.
