16 CFR § 1203.13 - Test schedule.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t16/s1203.13"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "16 CFR § 1203.13 - Test schedule."
title_number: 16
title_name: "Commercial Practices"
section_number: "1203.13"
section_name: "Test schedule."
chapter_name: "CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS"
part_number: "1203"
part_name: "SAFETY STANDARD FOR BICYCLE HELMETS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 2056, 2058, and 6001-6006. Subpart B is also issued under 15 U.S.C. 2063. Subpart C is also issued under 15 U.S.C. 2065."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 11729, Mar. 10, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1203"
---


# 1203.13 Test schedule.

(a) Helmet sample 1 of the set of eight helmets, as designated in Table 1203.13, shall be tested for peripheral vision in accordance with § 1203.14 of this standard.

(b) Helmet samples 1 through 8, as designated in Table 1203.13, shall be conditioned in the ambient, high temperature, low temperature, and water immersion environments as follows: helmets 1 and 5—ambient; helmets 2 and 7—high temperature; helmets 3 and 6—low temperature; and helmets 4 and 8—water immersion.

(c) Testing must begin within 2 minutes after the helmet is removed from the conditioning environment. The helmet shall be returned to the conditioning environment within 3 minutes after it was removed, and shall remain in the conditioning environment for a minimum of 2 minutes before testing is resumed. If the helmet is out of the conditioning environment beyond 3 minutes, testing shall not resume until the helmet has been reconditioned for a period equal to at least 5 minutes for each minute the helmet was out of the conditioning environment beyond the first 3 minutes, or for 4 hours, (whichever reconditioning time is shorter) before testing is resumed.

(d) Prior to being tested for impact attenuation, helmets 1-4 (conditioned in ambient, high temperature, low temperature, and water immersion environments, respectively) shall be tested in accordance with the dynamic retention system strength test at § 1203.16. Helmets 1-4 shall then be tested in accordance with the impact attenuation tests on the flat and hemispherical anvils in accordance with the procedure at § 1203.17. Helmet 5 (ambient-conditioned) shall be tested in accordance with the positional stability tests at § 1203.15 prior to impact testing. Helmets 5-8 shall then be tested in accordance with the impact attenuation tests on the curbstone anvil in accordance with § 1203.17. Table 1203.13 summarizes the test schedule.

Table 1203.13—Test Schedule

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Helmet 1, Ambient | X |  | X | X FlatX Hemi | 22 |
| Helmet 2, High Temperature |  |  | X | X FlatX Hemi | 22 |
| Helmet 3, Low Temperature |  |  | X | X FlatX Hemi | 22 |
| Helmet 4, Water Immersion |  |  | X | X FlatX Hemi | 22 |
| Helmet 5, Ambient |  | X |  | X Curb | 1 |
| Helmet 6, Low Temperature |  |  |  | X Curb | 1 |
| Helmet 7, High Temperature |  |  |  | X Curb | 1 |
| Helmet 8, Water Immersion |  |  |  | X Curb | 1 |