January Sixth, Two Thousand and Twenty 

San Marin High School 

Bryce Bernales - Cais Wang - Henry Zang 

 
Design Explanation 
Our helmet weighs about three pounds because helmets meeting FMVSS No. 218
generally weigh about three pounds; these helmets feel more substantial. Also, to meet the
minimum Federal safety standard, our helmet has an expanded polystyrene (stiff foam having the
appearance of styrofoam) inner liner that is at least ¾-inch thick.

With an increase in head collisions in the past years, we have also designed our helmet to
absorb more of the impact. We did this by making the back of our helmet have a 2-inch thick
polystyrene layer instead of a ¾ inch thick layer to better absorb the blow. When a cyclist and a
car collide, the acceleration from the car over powers the cyclists acceleration, causing the car to
force the person to the ground. A car's front is designed to be able to absorb the impact from a
hard surface such as a tree by using a crumble zone to decrease its inertia. When a person's body
impacts with the ground, there is a certain amount of g force exerted on the body. We designed
our helmet to decrease the amount of g’s the body would experience if impacted from the back.

With our helmet having a longer back then most other helmets, we had to keep our design
smooth so as to not increase the amount of drag. With the shell of the helmet being made out of
polycarbonate plastic, it can also absorb any friction or kinetic friction exerted onto it to keep the
person safe.
Safety Standards 
● Thick Inner Liner
○ Helmets meeting the minimum Federal safety standard have an inner
liner usually about one-inch thick of firm polystyrene foam.
Sometimes the inner liner will not be visible, but you should still be
able to feel its thickness. Unsafe helmets normally contain only soft
foam padding or a bare plastic shell with no padding at all.
○ Met
● Sturdy Chin Strap and Rivets
○ Helmets meeting the DOT safety standard have sturdy chin straps
with solid rivets.
○ Not met
● Weight of Helmet
○ Depending on design, unsafe helmets weigh only one pound or less.
Helmets meeting FMVSS 218 generally weigh about three pounds.
Become familiar with the weight of helmets that comply with the
Federal safety standard. These helmets provide a more substantial
feel.
○ Met
● Design/Style of Helmet
○ The DOT safety standard does not allow anything to extend further
than two-tenths of an inch from the surface of a helmet. For example,
while visor fasteners are allowed, a spike or other protruding
decorations indicate an unsafe helmet.
○ Met

Materials 
● Polycarbonate Plastic for the shell
● Expanded polystyrene as padding

Extra Functions 
● Flip up Visor
● Extended back protection
Resources
1. https://braunslaw.com/library/why-motorists-hit-motorcyclists-head-on/

2. https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2013/04/08/motorcycle-helmet-standards-explained-dot

-ece-22-05-snell/

3. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100624092526.htm

4. https://helmetsaves.life/what-are-helmets-made-of-e843028ccffe