2015 Helmet Rules clarification

[pcaram]

I will have to replace my SA2015 helmet pretty soon. But I'd like to understand the time frame. Different rules say different things on the timeframe.

First, the Zone 8 Rule book, page 31, paragraph C clearly states that my SA2015 should expire on December 31, 2026. But the Zone 8 Tech Inspection guidelines says February 28, 2026. This is a pretty big difference. Needless to say, I'd like more time given the tight timeline between when 2025 helmet can begin to come out October 1, 2025 and the February 2026 date.

Related to this, I'm also considering a helmet rated as FIA 8860-2018. I guess that's the latest FIA standard. The rules say FIA is accepted but it doesn't talk about expiration dates on those helmets. If I get an FIA 2018 rated helmet, how long would that be good for?

[tb911]

According to the Zone 8 Rules, December is the correct replace-by date, as the manufacturers frequently get new models out late. Also, the FIA models will follow the same expiration rules as SA, per Z8 rules.

[EricMarc-Aurele]

November 20th, 2024 the PCA national HPDE committee messaged PCA DE organizers:

The PCA National HPDE Committee would like to share the following updates with you:

(1) Snell Safety certified SA2015 Helmet Extension:

Because the Snell SA2025 helmet certification labels will not be released until April 2025, manufacturers will not be able to sell SA2025 helmets until October 1, 2025. To accommodate this timeline, Porsche Club of America’s HPDE program will allow the use of SA2015 helmets through February 28, 2026. This extension provides sufficient time for the supply chain to procure and stock inventory and for drivers to order and receive the updated helmets.

Effective March 1, 2026, Snell SA2015 helmets will no longer be permitted.




I need to do research about the use of FIA standard helmets...

[pcaram]

But that's my point, the National Rules say February 2026 but the Zone 8 rules say December 2026. So does that mean the Zone 8 rules are wrong or that we're ignoring them for the National rules by precedence?

[VinhLy]

The Zone 8 Rule Book is not wrong, and we are technically not ignoring anything. How about we use the following sentence?

PCASDR typically conforms to National's helmet guidance.

In our advertisement messages, we have been saying "Snell SA2015 helmets are acceptable before 01 Mar 2026." for a while now.

[kleggo]

Effective March 1, 2026, Snell SA2015 helmets will no longer be permitted.

That seems quite clear. Thanks Eric