NO SUCH THING AS An
ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION:
The crucial differences between ballistic and public order helmets
When it comes to police head protection, there is no all-in-one, general purpose solution. Different operational scenarios demand specialized equipment tailored to their unique requirements and threats. A prime example of this is the distinction between ballistic helmets and public order helmets. While both are crucial for ensuring officer safety, attempting to create a hybrid public order helmet that also offers ballistic protection is ill-advised due to the stark differences in their design construction and intended purposes.
Ballistic helmets and riot control helmets serve entirely different purposes, and their design construction is optimized to address specific threats encountered in their respective scenarios.
Purpose-Built Design
Ballistic helmets are designed to absorb small, light objects moving at very high velocities, while public order helmets are built to absorb impact from larger, heavier objects and need the ability to absorb multiple hits.
SCHUBERTH P100N PuBLIC ORDER HELMET
On the other hand, public order helmets have an entirely different purpose. They are designed to absorb impact from heavier, higher energy objects, moving at a slower speed. A modern public order helmet has two principal protective components: a semi-hard outer shell, usually made from plastic, fiberglass, or a mixture of materials, and a soft, thick inner liner made of expanded polystyrene or polypropylene “EPS” foam. High quality public order helmets, like the Schuberth P100N, are built with aramid for additional cut resistance and FR properties found in the material. The P100N helmet from Schuberth combines multiple layers of aramid composite with an EPS foam backing. When the helmet is attacked, the exterior aramid fiber layers delaminate (or separate), dissipating some of the force before it reaches the interior EPS foam.
The hard outer shell serves two important purposes: preventing helmet penetration by pointed objects that could otherwise puncture the skull, and providing structural support to the inner liner, preventing it from disintegrating upon impact with items thrown or weapons striking it. This is particularly significant since the foams used in the inner liner have limited resistance to penetration. The foam liner’s purpose is to crush upon impact. The goal is to reduce the force and deceleration experienced by the user‘s head, thus minimizing the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) while maintaining a degree of structural integrity.
Understanding Head Injuries in Law Enforcement
Therefore, a carefully balanced structure with a rather thin outer shell that distributes the impact is needed. It needs to crack in a controlled fashion while keeping the outer layer intact. A hard ballistic shell would directly transfer the energy, overwhelming the foam liner, risking breakage and structural compromise. The foam under the shell will further absorb and distribute the energy over a wider area, reducing the risk of brain injury. This careful design permits partial, controlled cracking within a limited area while preserving structural integrity, enabling the helmet to provide multi-hit capability.
The distinctive nature of ballistic and riot threats necessitates different design approaches for each type of helmet. There is no all-in-one solution when it comes to police head protection. Ballistic helmets and riot control helmets serve entirely different purposes, and their design construction is optimized to address specific threats encountered in their respective scenarios. Attempting to create hybrid riot helmets that also offer ballistic protection is impractical and could compromise officer safety. Police users need to be equipped with dedicated, purpose-built helmets for each operational context, maximizing their effectiveness and safety in the line of duty.
THE BEST PUBLIC ORDER HELMETS IN THE WORLD.
SCHUBERTH helmets are for use in all situations where personal safety is at stake. High performance helmets, designed in collaboration with police personnel to ensure the protection of the men and women who keep us safe.
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