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About Snell Memorial Foundation
History
Established in 1957 after the tragic death of Pete "William" Snell, the Snell
Memorial Foundation has been a leader in helmet safety both in the United States
and around the world. For over 50 years, the Snell Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit
organization, has been dedicated exclusively to head protection through scientific
and medical research, standards development, helmet testing, and public education.
Dr. Snively was the principal architect of the Snell Memorial Foundation.
In 1956, at the time of Snell’s crash, Dr. Snively had already
been interested in helmets and crash injury protection. Fired by Snell’s needless
death and with the support and encouragement of the SCCA and Pete’s friends
and loved ones, Snively intensified his efforts. Within a few years, under Snively’s
leadership, the newly incorporated Snell Memorial Foundation published the first
Snell standard for protective headgear. Over the next twenty years, Snively
revised this standard continually upward demanding more and more protective
performance from the helmet industry. Thanks to the support of the auto racing
public, whose numbers were soon swelled by a considerably larger motorcycling
public, Snively got that improved performance.
Integrity
Snell maintains independence from helmet manufacturers. There is no manufacturer
representative on the Snell Board of Directors. The Snell name and sticker on
every certified helmet have become symbols of head protection assurance. The
trust from the riding public and the endorsement from all top level international
and national racing authorities are demonstrated in their support for Snell
Standards going back more than half century. Snell updates standards at least
every five years based on new research findings and available technology.
Expertise and Efficiency
Well trained and experienced Snell staff maintains state-of-the-art test facilities
for helmet research and testing. Snell tests
all models and sizes before certification and continuously tests random samples
of certified helmets acquired from the market to ensure performance quality
of helmets sold to the public. Over 3,000 helmets are tested every year in Snell’s
certification and random sample testing programs to ensure the best head protection.
Competence
For decades
Snell has been known for its technical excellence and expertise in standards
development and helmet testing. But Snell still submits itself to another recognized
authority to demonstrate the quality of its own testing programs and procedures.
In 1997, the Snell Memorial Foundation's California laboratory has been awarded
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA 
) approval for helmet
testing. A2LA is an internationally recognized authority administering quality
laboratory accreditation programs to ISO/IEC Guide 25 "General Requirements
for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories" (currently
ISO/IEC
17025:2005 "General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration
Laboratories"). The scope of the A2LA accreditation includes all of the tests
covered in the Foundation's bicycle, motorcycle, auto racing, non-motorized
sports and harness racing helmet standards. The accreditation confirms that
the Foundation's California laboratory has the capability to perform Snell testing
and has the quality control necessary to assure the accuracy and validity of
Snell test results.
The Foundation sought this accreditation as part of its continuing
commitment to quality. Since its beginning in 1957, the Foundation has urged
manufacturers to design and build quality protective helmets and has urged the
public to seek out and wear them. As a recognized authority in helmet safety,
it is proper that the Foundation submit itself to another recognized authority
to demonstrate the quality of its own testing programs and procedures.
The Foundation looks forward to continuing in the A2LA program
in order to increase the recognition and value of Snell Certification Programs
for both helmet manufacturers and the helmet wearing public.
Research and Education
The Snell Foundation has been actively conducting and supporting research to
understand the nature and severity of head and brain injury and to increase
head impact protection in such activities as bicycling, motorcycling, auto racing,
skiing and other non-motorized recreational activities. The education aspect of Snell’s commitment to safety
and injury prevention is evident in its informative web site, brochures, posters,
videos, and other informational materials, its meetings with community and consumer
groups and its consultant role with manufacturers. The Snell lab has been a
favorite destination for school field trips, bicyclist and motorcyclist club
tours and training site for health and safety professionals. The Foundation helped
the establishment of the Snell Safety Education Center, Inc. in 1996 and has
provided financial and personnel support for the Center since then to strengthen
and continue its efforts to reduce head injury through education.
Recognition
The Snell safety helmet standards are recognized in the U.S and worldwide through support of the following organizations:
© 1996-2012 Snell Memorial Foundation, Inc. Contact info
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