NOCSAE conducts and funds scientific research and collects and analyzes data relating to standards development.
NOCSAE's work broadened later into enhancing "athlete safety through scientific research, education, and where feasible, the creation of performance standards for protective equipment.
The SI threshold works by limiting the magnitude of linear head accelerations that result when the helmet is struck.
[5] In 1978, the NCAA modified their rules of play to require helmets certified to NOCSAE's standard.
[5] In 2017, the United States Polo Association (USPA) mandated helmets certified to the NOCSAE ND050 Standard Performance Specification.
[8] The same year, the NFSHS began requiring that all balls used in high school baseball competition meet the NOCSAE standard.
[10] The same year, the NFSHS began requiring catchers wear chest protectors certified to the NOCSAE commotio cordis protective device standard, ND200.
[9] Beginning in January of 2021, the NCAA required lacrosse goalkeepers and field players to wear protective equipment certified to the ND200 standard.
[15][16] To be certified compliant to a NOCSAE standard, equipment models must score less than 1200 SI on each of 16 impacts at 12 mph including two at high temperatures and two randomly selected locations, plus seven additional impacts at two different lower speeds which have lower SI threshold requirements.