Modular Helmets and ECE 22.06: What P/J Means
On a modular (flip-up) helmet approved to ECE 22.06, the letters after the approval number tell you how the chin bar may be used. “P” means the helmet was approved with a protective lower face cover. “J” means it was approved as an open-face (jet) helmet. “P/J” means it was approved in both configurations, so the rider may ride with the chin bar up or down. A modular helmet marked only “P” is meant to be ridden with the chin bar closed. Importers should check this marking on every modular model, because it changes what the helmet can be sold and used for.
The codes in the approval mark
UN Regulation No. 22 in its 06 series defines four helmet types and requires the approval number on the label to be followed by a slash and one of these codes:
| Code | Meaning | Typical helmet |
|---|---|---|
| J | No lower face cover | Open face (jet) |
| NP | Lower face cover that does not protect the chin | Open face with a non-protective chin piece or peak |
| P | Protective lower face cover | Full face; also modular helmets approved only with the chin bar closed |
| P/J | Movable or detachable protective lower face cover, approved in both conditions | Modular helmets approved for riding with the chin bar up or down |
The regulation’s definition of a P/J modular helmet adds an important limit: chin protection is only provided with the lower face cover in position. A P/J helmet ridden with the chin bar up is approved as an open-face helmet in that configuration, not as a full-face one.
Why it matters for importers and dealers
- Product claims. Only a P/J helmet should be marketed for riding with the chin bar raised. Listing a P-only modular as “ride open or closed” makes a claim the approval does not support.
- Testing. The regulation requires P/J helmets to be tested in each configuration, and adds tests specific to the movable chin bar. That is why a modular helmet cannot simply be assumed to be P/J.
- User information. Riders need to know how to lock the chin bar and in which positions they may ride. Check that the user information supplied with the helmet says this in the language of your market.
- Counter advice. Staff should show riders the label and explain the marking, not only the flip mechanism.
How CYRIL modular helmets are presented
CYRIL lists the THUNDER as a dual-visor modular helmet. In the 2026–2027 catalog, the THUNDER, REVOLT and TRAIL NAVI pages carry the note “ECE 22.06 APPROVED” and an icon labelled “full face – jet”, showing that the helmet is designed to be used in both configurations. Before you order a modular model for a specific market, ask us for the approval documents and a sample label for that model, and confirm the code after the approval number.
A checklist for modular helmets
- Read the code after the approval number on the sample label: P, or P/J.
- Match the label to the approval documents for the model, size range and market; see our guide to certification documents.
- Check that the chin bar locks positively in each position allowed by the marking, and that staff can demonstrate it.
- Confirm the user information explains the riding positions and the chin bar lock.
- Write product descriptions that match the marking exactly.
For the wider choice between helmet types, see full face vs modular vs open face, and for reading the rest of the label, see how to read helmet safety labels.
Markets outside UN Regulation No. 22
The P/J system belongs to UN Regulation No. 22. Markets that use other standards, such as the United States with FMVSS No. 218, do not use these codes. If you sell a modular helmet in more than one market, check the rules and labelling for each one separately.
Considering a modular helmet for your range? Ask CYRIL for samples and the approval documents for the model and market you plan to sell in.