With the 2007 edition of NFPA 1971 expiring next year, work on the 2012 version as it applies to helmets is all but done — though it is not set for final acceptance until the committee’s April meeting.

NFPA 1971 committee member Mike McKenna said not to expect radical changes to the standard governing fire helmets. There were rumors that the committee had considered adopting the European design over the American design.

“It came up,” McKenna said, “for about 45 seconds.”

The European design’s lack of popularity aside, McKenna said that the committee has no intention of restricting design; rather, its focus is on safety performance.

What the committee did look at is how to remove the subjectivity from performance testing. For example, committee members looked at the position of the face shield during heat testing. All face shields melt. But, when in the full upright position, the shield melts onto the top of the helmet — a passing mark. A shield that is partially down will melt down the sides, and fail.

“We have concentrated on fixing the test methods — the glitches and inconsistencies,” McKenna said.

The committee also looked at objects under the helmet that also will melt. However, he said that he could not elaborate on that until after the final standard was adopted.

• Read the main story, "Looks Do Matter," to learn why the European style of helmet has its advantages, but virtually no chance of widespread acceptance in the U.S.