01
Purpose
EN 397 covers design, impact/penetration performance, testing and marking requirements for industrial protective helmets. The current European edition is EN 397:2025 with its 2025 corrigendum.
Head ProtectionTECHNICAL PPE LIBRARY
EN 397
Industrial Protective Helmet Standard
EN 397 covers design, impact/penetration performance, testing and marking requirements for industrial protective helmets. The current European edition is EN 397:2025 with its 2025 corrigendum.
Product type
Industrial protective helmet
Field focus
Code + product + conditions of use
TECHNICAL PRODUCT IDENTITY
EN 397
EN 397:2025Standard & editionT1 / T2Helmet typeSIZESizeOPTIONALOptional marksAlways verify the actual product label, manufacturer technical documentation and conformity markings.
02
Typical use
Construction, maintenance, manufacturing and industrial work with head-impact or falling-object hazards.
03
What to look for?
On current products, check EN 397:2025 marking, T1/T2 type, manufacturer, size and any declared additional-performance markings.
CLASSES & SELECTION LOGIC
Technical classes in this standard
A class code is not a selection decision by itself. Interpret it together with task-specific risk assessment and manufacturer data.
T1
Type 1
Current EN 397:2025 type for on-crown impact protection.
T2
Type 2
Adds higher-energy crown and front/rear/side (off-crown) impact performance.
OPTIONAL
Optional performance
Low/high temperature, special electrical, molten-metal, electrostatic, visibility or off-crown penetration properties count only when specifically marked/declared.
READ THE PRODUCT LABEL
Code & marking decoder
EN 397:2025Standard & editionCurrent European standard; a 2025 corrigendum (AC:2025) has also been issued.T1 / T2Helmet typeIdentifies Type 1 or Type 2 performance.SIZESizeHead-size range.OPTIONALOptional marksSpecial performance only when declared by the manufacturer and marked on the product.
READ THE PRODUCT IN THE FIELD
Where is the standard marking found?
Location varies by manufacturer and design. These are the first places to check; final verification must use the actual product and manufacturer documentation.
1
Permanent standard/type marking and manufacturer label inside the shell
The marking should be legible, durable and match the product.
2
Size and traceability information inside shell / under brim
The marking should be legible, durable and match the product.
3
Manufacturer instructions and declared additional-performance markings
The marking should be legible, durable and match the product.
STANDARD FAMILY
Standards often reviewed together
EN 397:2025Industrial protective helmets; current edition distinguishes T1/T2 types
EN 50365:2023Electrically insulating helmets for live working are covered by a separate specialist standard; verify when required by the task
EN 12492:2025Mountaineering helmets are a separate product standard; do not assume equivalence from appearance
COMMONLY CONFUSED
They are not the same thing
T1 ≠ T2
In current EN 397, T1 addresses crown impact performance; T2 adds higher-energy crown and off-crown impact performance.
WRONG-SELECTION EXAMPLE
A typical field mistake
For electrical or work-at-height hazards, accepting a helmet solely because it says “EN 397” without checking type and additional performance.
Why is this a problem?
T1/T2 type and special-application performance must be verified for the task.
Better approach
Check the risk assessment, EN 397 edition/T1-T2 marking, manufacturer documentation and any task-specific specialist standard together.
WHERE IN THE FIELD?
Typical applications
01
Construction & scaffolding
02
Maintenance
03
Petrochemical
04
Manufacturing
05
Energy
06
Logistics
HSE FIELD CHECK
30-second field check
Use for quick pre-checks. It does not replace certification, competent inspection or task-specific risk assessment.
CHECK FOCUS
Any crack, impact damage or major deformation in the shell?
CRITICAL MISTAKE
For electrical or work-at-height hazards, accepting a helmet solely because it says “EN 397” without checking type and additional performance.
BETTER APPROACH
Check the risk assessment, EN 397 edition/T1-T2 marking, manufacturer documentation and any task-specific specialist standard together.
1
Any crack, impact damage or major deformation in the shell?
2
Are suspension, chinstrap/retention system and attachments correct and complete for the product?
3
Are size adjustment and helmet type (T1/T2) suitable for the task?
4
Are service life and inspection status within manufacturer instructions?
5
Is any task-required optional performance actually declared on the product?
RELATED SERNEM RESOURCES