Page 44 - OHS, February/March 2025

H E A D P R O T E C T I O N
The Differences Between Type I and Type II Head Protection
Safety professionals must understand ANSI performance requirements, OSHA
recommendations, and other factors to make the best determination.
BY KEVIN KURKOWSKI
der ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019) as
Ind ustrial head protection is certifi ed un-
either Type I or Type II based on many
criteria. Understanding the diff erences
between Type I and Type II, coupled with
the latest recommendations from OSHA
and your own hazard assessment of your
jobsite and application, can help you deter-
mine the appropriate head protection solu-
tion for your needs.
What is ANSI/ISEA Z89.1?
Th e American National Standard for Indus-
trial Head Protection, ANSI/ISEA Z89.1,
outlines “Types and Classes, testing and
performance requirements for protective
helmets. Th ese include recommended safety
requirements for authorities considering the
establishment of regulations or codes con-
cerning the use of protective helmets.”1
ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 was prepared by
members of the International Safety Equip-
ment Association’s (ISEA) Head Protection
Group as a revision to the 2009 edition
and approved by a consensus review panel
comprised of technical experts, unions,
construction industry and other user
groups, test labs, and certifi cation and gov-
ernment agencies.
Type I Hard Hat Requirements
Type I hard hats based on ANSI standards
are rated to reduce force as a result of a
linear impact to the top of the head only.
Th ey are not rated to reduce force from
front, back, or side impacts.
Th ere are four specifi c performance re-
quirements for Type I hard hats:
1. Flammability
No fl ame can be visible for fi ve seconds
aft er removing the test fl ame from the hard
hat surface.
2. Force Transmission
Hard hats are preconditioned to hot
and cold environments and tested by plac-
ing them onto a headform and dropping
an object – typically an anvil or steel ball –
weighing approximately 8 pounds with
a spherical striking face with a radius of
close to 1.9” from a height that yields an
Kings Access/stock.adobe.com
impact velocity of 18 ft /s. Any single hard
hat must not transmit force to the test
headform exceeding 1,000 pounds of force.
Additionally, test results for each precondi-
tioned temperature are averaged, and these
averages shall not exceed 850 pounds of
force to the test headform.
3. Apex penetration
Th is test also involves precondition-
ing hard hats to hot or cold environments,
and then placing them on headforms. A
pointed steel penetrator is then dropped
onto the hard hat from a height that yields
an impact velocity of approximately 23 ft /s.
Th e penetrator cannot make contact with
the top of the headform.
4. Electrical classifi cation (Class G,
Class E, or Class C)
Class G and Class E hard hats must
meet appropriate performance require-
ments:
■ Class G to withstand 2,200 volts for
one minute. Maximum leakage shall not ex-
ceed three milliamperes.
■ Class E to withstand 20,000 volts for
three minutes aft er impact. Maximum leak-
age shall not exceed nine milliamperes.
Class C hard hats are not tested for elec-
trical insulation.
Type II Hard Hat Requirements
Type II hard hats based on ANSI standards
are designed to reduce force as a result of
an impact to the front, back, sides, AND
top of the head.
In addition to the four performance
requirements of a Type I hard hat, Type II
performance contains three additional re-
quirements:
1. Impact energy attenuation
Hard hat is dropped onto a spherical
object at various angles around the hard
hat, above a designated test line.
2. Off -center penetration
A penetrator is dropped vertically, and
the hard hat is rotated at diff erent angles
above a designated test line. Th e penetra-
tor cannot contact the headform at any of
the angles.
3. Chinstrap retention (optional)
If a Type II hard hat is provided with
a chin strap, the chinstrap must be tested
for retention, must remain attached to the
hard hat and must not stretch beyond one
inch in length.
EN397:2021 and EN12492:2012
Requirements
When choosing an industrial hard hat, it
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