Before marketing open- and closed-chin-bar use, verify that the exact modular helmet and approval material identify the applicable P/J designation, that the movable or detachable lower face cover is the reviewed configuration, and that markings and user instructions describe permitted use accurately. P/J does not mean chin protection is provided while the lower face cover is open or removed.
What must a buyer verify before marketing a modular helmet for open- and closed-chin-bar use?
Define the use claim before selecting the modular helmet
Write whether the sales brief asks for a protective lower face cover in position, use without that cover in the protective position, or both. Do not postpone this question until packaging because the intended claim affects which approval designation and instructions the buyer must review.
Also identify the destination countries and sales channels. UN Regulation No. 22 approval scope and national road-use rules are separate questions, so an importer should confirm local use and marketing requirements with its qualified adviser rather than advertise a universal legal permission.
Read P, J and P/J as product-scope designations
UN Regulation No. 22 distinguishes helmet types identified as J, P and P/J. The regulation describes P/J as a modular helmet with a movable or detachable protective lower face cover that meets the specified requirements in both conditions of use, with and without the chin guard in position.
The same definition states that chin protection is guaranteed only when the lower face cover is in position. Marketing should therefore state the reviewed modes precisely and should not turn P/J into a claim of equal facial coverage in the open condition.
Match the designation to the exact chin-bar configuration
Request the complete approval communication and identify the approval holder, helmet type, approval number, chin-bar or lower-face-cover configuration, visor, sizes and relevant drawings or photographs. Compare those items with the quoted factory and brand model rather than relying on the word 'modular.'
Hinge parts, locking hardware, shell or liner construction, visor and accessories can be configuration review triggers. Ask the responsible approval holder to resolve any difference in writing and do not transfer a P/J statement from a neighboring model.
Approve markings and instructions with the physical sample
Check the approval marking and P, J or P/J suffix on the exact sample, then compare the operating instructions, warnings, latch operation and artwork with the reviewed configuration. Record the sample size, chin-bar revision and document version in the buyer's approval sheet.
The buyer should also define a functional production check for opening, closing, latching and visible component condition. That check supports consistency with the approved sample; it is not a substitute for regulatory testing or evidence from the approval holder.
Keep the public claim inside the verified scope
Use product-page, box, manual and retailer training language that reflects the exact designation and tells customers when the lower face cover provides chin protection. Avoid broad statements such as 'safe open or closed' or 'legal open everywhere,' which go beyond the approval definition and local-use review.
If P/J status, size scope, markings or instructions remain unresolved, market only the configuration and use that the evidence supports—or hold the product release. KC modular models require this exact model-level confirmation before any certification or open-mode claim.
| Buyer question | Evidence | Marketing boundary | Hold trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which designation applies? | Complete approval communication and marking | Use P, J or P/J exactly as supported | Suffix is absent or conflicts |
| Which chin bar was reviewed? | Drawings, photos and configuration identifiers | Describe the exact production configuration | Hardware or construction differs |
| What is protected when open? | UN Regulation definition and instructions | Do not promise chin protection without the cover in position | Copy implies equal facial coverage |
| Where may it be used? | Destination-specific adviser review | Avoid universal legality language | Local road-use question is unresolved |
Risk notes
- A modular appearance does not establish P/J approval for the exact configuration.
- P/J does not guarantee chin protection when the protective lower face cover is not in position.
- A UN approval designation does not by itself answer every country's road-use or marketing rule.
Factory checks
- Which complete approval communication identifies the offered modular model as P, J or P/J?
- Do the sample's chin bar, hinges, locks, visor, sizes and markings match that communication?
- Which operating instructions and warnings will ship with every destination-market version?
RFQ checklist
- Destination countries and intended open- or closed-mode marketing claims
- Exact modular factory model, brand model and requested sizes
- P, J or P/J designation and complete approval communication
- Chin-bar, hinge, locking hardware and visor configuration references
- Physical sample with approval marking and operational instructions
- Artwork wording for product page, retail box and manual
- Buyer-appointed reviewer for local road-use statements
Sources
- UN Regulation No. 22 - Rev.5 - 06 seriesUNECE · Accessed 2026-08-08
- Addenda to the 1958 Agreement: Regulations 21-40UNECE · Accessed 2026-08-08
