Hard hats are fundamental safety equipment on job sites, serving as a primary defense against overhead hazards. Modern construction and industrial environments present complex dangers that require comprehensive safeguards. The Type 2 hard hat represents advanced safety gear engineered to address these evolving workplace threats by offering enhanced protective capabilities.
Understanding the Hard Hat Classification System
The system for categorizing industrial hard hats in North America is governed by the ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 standard. This standard provides a framework for evaluating protective headwear performance and ensures safety equipment meets minimum requirements. The classification system uses two primary criteria: the “Type” and the “Class.”
The Type designation addresses the area of the head protected from impact and penetration hazards. The Class designation focuses on the hard hat’s ability to provide electrical insulation. Both ratings are independently determined and printed on the helmet to inform users of its specific capabilities.
Defining the Type 2 Hard Hat
A Type 2 hard hat is defined by its capacity to protect the wearer from impact and penetration originating from both the top and the sides of the head. This dual-protection requirement expands the helmet’s safety scope beyond simple overhead hazards. The design requires structural components capable of managing energy transfer across the entire shell, including the front, rear, and lateral aspects.
Achieving this 360-degree protection requires integrating an energy-absorbing inner liner, typically made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. This foam is positioned between the suspension system and the outer shell, acting as a crushable zone that absorbs kinetic energy during a side impact event. When a lateral force is applied, the EPS liner compresses, dissipating the impact energy before it reaches the wearer’s skull.
The ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 standard mandates specific tests for Type 2 helmets to evaluate their ability to withstand impact forces applied off-center. These requirements ensure the structural integrity holds up against glancing blows or strikes from horizontal trajectories.
The Difference: Type 1 Versus Type 2
The fundamental distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 hard hats lies in the scope of protection offered against impact forces. A Type 1 hard hat is engineered and tested exclusively to protect the wearer from vertical impacts and penetration, meaning hazards falling directly onto the crown of the head. Type 1 models offer minimal certified protection against strikes originating from the sides.
The Type 2 classification provides comprehensive protection across the entire perimeter of the helmet. This difference is codified in the testing procedures required by the governing standard. While both types undergo vertical impact testing, only Type 2 hard hats must successfully pass lateral impact and offset penetration tests.
The lateral impact test measures the helmet’s ability to absorb energy from forces applied to the side of the shell. The offset penetration test ensures that sharp objects striking the helmet from an angle do not penetrate the shell. Selecting between the two types is a choice between crown-only coverage and a 360-degree protective shell designed for multi-directional hazards.
Electrical Protection Classes (G, E, and C)
All hard hats, including Type 2 models, are categorized by their ability to provide electrical protection, known as the Class designation. This classification addresses the risks posed by exposure to electrical conductors. A Type 2 hard hat must carry one of these three Class ratings, providing personnel with a clear indication of both its mechanical and electrical safety capabilities.
General (G) Class
The G Class hard hat provides protection against low voltage conductors, tested to withstand 2,200 volts.
Electrical (E) Class
The E Class offers a higher degree of protection for environments with significant electrical hazards, tested to resist up to 20,000 volts. Helmets in both the G and E classes are non-conductive, meaning they do not possess vent holes or metallic components that could compromise their insulating properties. These properties are measured by testing the leakage current when the helmet is subjected to the specified voltage.
Conductive (C) Class
The C Class offers no electrical protection. C-Class hard hats often feature ventilation holes or may contain conductive materials, and they should never be used where electrical hazards are present.
When Type 2 Protection Is Required
Type 2 hard hats are necessary in work environments where the probability of a lateral impact is elevated. These scenarios often involve working near moving equipment, such as overhead cranes or rotating machinery, where a person might strike their head against a stationary object or be hit by a swinging load. Environments with numerous horizontal obstructions also necessitate the additional side protection offered by the Type 2 design.
Confined spaces, like manholes, tanks, or pipes, frequently present a high risk of lateral impact due to restricted movement and protruding structural elements. Workers operating at heights, particularly during scaffolding erection or dismantling, may also face increased risk from glancing blows. Site safety assessments should mandate Type 2 headwear whenever hazards are not exclusively limited to objects falling from above, ensuring comprehensive head safety from any direction.
Inspection and Maintenance for Safety Compliance
Maintaining the integrity of a Type 2 hard hat is important because its performance relies heavily on the condition of its energy-absorbing components. Users must regularly inspect the outer shell for any signs of cracks, gouges, or deep abrasions, as these defects can compromise impact resistance. The internal expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam liner, which is responsible for lateral protection, requires careful inspection for compression, dents, or separation from the shell.
Any damage to the foam liner immediately nullifies the Type 2 rating, requiring the helmet to be taken out of service. Proper storage is also a required maintenance step, as prolonged exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) radiation can degrade the polymer materials. Hard hats carry manufacturer-specified replacement dates, often ranging from two to five years from the date of manufacture, regardless of use.
Any hard hat that has sustained a significant impact, even if no visible damage is present, must be replaced immediately. This protocol ensures that the structural integrity and energy-absorption capacity remain at the level certified by the Z89.1 standard.