There is no separate standard for it, and the helmets are currently certified to ANSI, ASTM or other existing bicycle helmet standards, despite the clear differences from helmets normally associated with those standards. At some point ASTM may want to consider a BMX standard. Finish on anvils Several labs have noted that helmets tested on a chromed hemispheric anvil are more prone to failure than when tested on a slightly rougher anvil. This is particularly severe when the helmet is wet or lubricated in any other way, such as from the slime that develops in some wet testing soak tanks. Many labs use grease pencil or another marker on their anvils to leave a visible trace of the impact site on the sample.
Untreated anvils are prone to rusting after testing of wet samples, a maintenance problem.
Despite the potential for increased maintenance it seems worthwhile to specify an anvil finish to remove the potential for variations between laboratories. A group of those who were most interested in this subject will continue discussions, particularly on what level of smoothness to specify. The include Dan Switalski, Denis Gingras and Marc Beusenberg. Potential New Standard Jim Sundahl noted that we may need to develop a mountaineering helmet standard. There are some unique requirements for the sport, including protection from falling rocks.