Do Helmets have a self life ?

[Steve C]

I've seen the general wisdom and specific advice of change after five years. I replaced my old Arai last year after 10-years(!) and, to be honest I was relieved I never had to test its shelf life because I had no confidence in it at all by then. And, as someone above has suggested - they really do rot from the inside and all the glues and fibres just break down and fall out - not a nice experience

On the plus side, we do seem to get a lot more helmet for our money now than then.

[skyrise]

its possible but i don't think they rot.. or that the plastic falls apart..

the i think the difference between the old and new helmets is the protective layer on the inside..

if you feel your old one on the inside roof it will probably be rock hard.. but the new one should feel soft and a little spongy

[skyrise]

I've seen the general wisdom and specific advice of change after five years. I replaced my old Arai last year after 10-years(!) and, to be honest I was relieved I never had to test its shelf life because I had no confidence in it at all by then. And, as someone above has suggested - they really do rot from the inside and all the glues and fibres just break down and fall out - not a nice experience

On the plus side, we do seem to get a lot more helmet for our money now than then.

ok maybe they do rot... its just that i have seen some really old well used ones ones that have been fine...

[Lumiya]

YES Helmets do have a shelf life.

Polycarbonate (plastic) helmets weaken on exposure to UVA and should be replaced every 2 years.

Fibreglass/Kevlar do not have the same weakness but the inner material (normally high density polystyrene) does shrink with age and hence doesn't absorb impacts as well (that's why an old helmet always feels loser than it used to) and should be replaced every 5 years.

Kymmy

[j]

Interesting comments manufactures will always want you to buy new helmets. So to conform to the standards the manufactures set they tend to say change them every 3 to 5 years.
How ever I attended a lecture given buy the textile department of Leeds Uni a while ago and the speaker gave demonstrations and examples of modern safety helmets polycarbonate, kevlar, carbon fiber. The results suprised several college
1)the older style helmets had a far better inpact absorbsion conpaired to modern helmets tested.This was because old helmets had a thicker shell 8>10 mm compaired to the modern 1>2mm skins.
2)helmets that were exposed to antartic ozone for 3 years. there was no degregation in outer shell strength.
3) the only faults with the helmet was to the rivets and glue and webbing that is being attatched to the helmet.
But its up to you do you want that hair on the back of the neck feeling or can you use 3>5 years as bench mark to let your partner allow you to buy a new shinny peice of kit

[Gadget]

Shelf life or not, I replace mine every 3 years max', but straight away if it gets damaged. For the sake of a few quid, it's not worth the risk if something goes wrong. (My work helmet gets replaced every two years max).
You've only got one head and it's easy broken, you need to look after it.

[StumpyFingers]

You may find this interesting.

http://www.helmets.org/replace.htm

Although I never really know who to trust with the advertising blub of today I just replace when I need a tighter or quiter helmet.

[jonbott]

bugger mines about 10 but still like it