Testing Facility
Welcome to BiaGuard’s cutting-edge impact testing facility, where we leverage the latest technologies like the Hybrid III headform and high-speed cameras. With over a decade of experience, our seasoned team specializes in testing and developing technologies related to head protection. Our facility excels in measuring kinematic motions during impacts, offering comprehensive insights into helmet behavior through oblique and flat anvil testing. Count on us for precise evaluations that contribute to advancing helmet design and safety standards.
Learn About Impacts
Understanding Impact
Facts About Impact
EPS Foam
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is made of beads that are 95% air and only 5% plastic. The fascinating structure of the beads and how tightly they are placed next to each other directly affect the shock absorption of the foam. Although an EPS foam is made of 95% air, during the standard impact test, its thickness does not reduce to 5% of its original thickness. In fact, if it does reduce to 50% of its original thickness, the shock absorption of the foam is considered to be a good performance.
Woodpecker
Woodpecker is an amazing bird, and it can teach us a lot about how we should handle the impact. While humans can get concussed at around 110g force, woodpeckers can tolerate impacts as high as 6,000g, thousands of times without sustaining any injury. There are three factors that help this little bird: 1) spongy skull, 2) neck muscle contraction during impact, and 3) small size brain, and 4) optimized brain orientation in the skull.
Standard Certification
The defined acceleration limits by the helmet standards are easy to pass. Over 50 years ago such limits were defined based on skull fractures tests performed on cadavers. Having a skull fracture means permanent brain damage or death. No wonder the cadavers did not object to the tests.
Virginia Tech STAR Rating
Did you know that the STAR rating number next to each helmet on VirginiaTech website is the chance of getting concussed if you hypothetically receive 1,000 impacts to your head while wearing that specific helmet?
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