Overview
EN ISO 10256-4:2024 - "Protective equipment for use in ice hockey - Part 4: Head and face protectors for goalkeepers" (ISO 10256-4:2024) is a CEN-adopted international standard that specifies performance requirements and test methods for head and face protectors intended exclusively for ice hockey goalkeepers. Published December 2024 and replacing the 2018 edition, this standard defines safety, ergonomics and labelling criteria for goalkeeper helmets, masks and integrated face protectors.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard concentrates on practical safety and testable performance areas, including:
- Scope & definitions - clear limits: applies only to goalkeeper head/face protectors.
- Ergonomics - fit, comfort and adaptation to user morphology to ensure effective protection.
- Innocuousness (materials & design) - suitability of materials, surface conditions and avoidance of nuisance risks.
- Markings and information - required labelling, instructions and identification for safe use and traceability.
- Protected area (coverage) - defined head and face regions that the protector must cover.
- Penetration tests - requirements and methods (including Type D1 and D2) to assess resistance to sharp object penetration.
- Puck impact resistance - specified contact and toughness tests to evaluate performance against puck impacts.
- Field of vision - minimum visibility requirements so the protector does not impair play or safety.
- Shock-absorbing capacity - tests to measure energy attenuation and reduce head injury risk.
- Retention system - tests for straps, extensibility and strength to ensure the protector remains secure in play.
- Test methods & conditioning - sampling, environmental conditioning and tolerances for reproducible laboratory testing.
Keywords: EN ISO 10256-4:2024, ice hockey goalkeeper helmet, head and face protectors, puck impact resistance, penetration test, field of vision, retention system.
Applications and who uses this standard
This standard is essential for:
- Manufacturers and designers of goalkeeper helmets and face protectors for product development, verification and certification.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies performing performance and safety testing.
- Procurement teams, clubs and federations specifying equipment to meet recognized safety levels.
- Regulators and safety officers seeking alignment with PPE legislation (see Annex ZA relating to EU Regulation 2016/425).
- R&D and quality control teams integrating standard test methods into production checks.
Practical uses include product design validation, CE / regulatory compliance support, procurement specifications, and marketing claims backed by standardized test results.
Related standards
- Part of the ISO 10256 series on ice hockey protective equipment; this document supersedes EN ISO 10256-4:2018.
- Annex ZA maps the standard to essential requirements of EU Regulation 2016/425 for personal protective equipment where applicable.
For safe, compliant goalkeeper protection, EN ISO 10256-4:2024 provides a clear, testable framework for performance, labelling and testing.
