When you're on a worksite, safety is of the most importance. Wearing the proper head protection like a construction worker helmet, hard hat, or safety helmet reduces the potential of injury from falling objects, falls, spills, and more. Even if you already own a hard hat, you should always inspect and test your safety equipment for damage regularly. If you spot any damage, replace your hard hat immediately with something from our massive selection of Unity Tactical Construction and Work Helmets, Mercury Tactical Gear Construction and Work Helmets, Team Wendy Construction and Work Helmets, and more top brands. This ensures you are protected and ready for anything the next job throws at you.![]()
What Is a Construction Hat?
A construction helmet, or "hard hat," is a protective hat worn on worksites to protect the head from injuries from falling objects, collisions, bumps, scrapes, or hazardous electrical shocks. These are known as work helmets, safety helmets, construction hats, and more names, but they all share the goal of protecting your head when you're in a potentially unsafe area. Construction safety helmets can also save the head from UV radiation, rain, and falling debris of all kinds.
What Are the Different Hard Hat Styles and Classes?
Official regulations for hard hats define two distinct types of safety headgear. These same regulations also establish three classes of hard hats based on the level of electrical hazard protection provided. By understanding the different types and classes, you can get the perfect construction helmet for your job.
Hard Hat Types:
There are two types of hard hat helmets defined by the head area that is protected.
- Type I: Protects the top of the head and is commonly used in the United States
- Type II: Protects the top and sides of the head and is more commonly used in Europe
Hard Hat Classes:
The three classes are based on the protection they provide from electrical hazards.
- Class G (General) construction safety helmets are rated at 2,200 volts
- Class E (Electrical) construction safety helmets are rated at 20,000 volts
- Class C (Conductive) construction safety helmets do not offer electrical protection
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