What do we know about this device? A construction helmet is one of the measures for personal safety that is applicable at the construction site. Devices are standardized by a specially drawn up state standard, have certain differences and varieties. In all of this, we suggest that you examine in more detail below.
Construction helmet - what is it?
Another name is protective. This helmet is intended as a headgear for persons carrying out their activities in dangerous conditions. In addition to builders, it is widely used among miners, rescuers, cavers, skydivers, skiers, motorcyclists and so on. It is necessary to separate the device from the protective helmet of the military, which is also sometimes called a helmet.
What is the main purpose of the thing? The construction helmet is designed to protect the upper part of the human head from damage. In particular, from falling objects, splashes of harmful compounds, exposure to moisture, electric current.
Color varieties of helmets
There are several colors for these hats. Especially popular are orange construction helmets. But color differences are introduced here for a reason. For example, a white construction helmet is recognized to talk about the position of its "carrier".
Let’s thoroughly understand this issue. Imagine the color variations of protective hats in general:
- Yellow or orange construction helmet - for ordinary builders, workers, junior staff.
- Red - such a hat is given to engineers, foremen, craftsmen, technical mechanics, as well as chief power engineers and chief mechanics.
- White construction helmet - for managers of production facilities and organizations, heads of shops and sections, employees of the safety services at a construction site, public labor protection inspectorate.
- Blue - the color is characteristic of protective hats of mine rescuers.
- Brown - a helmet of this color is used by miners and miners.
Material and Specifications
As for the manufacture of headgear, the standards establish the requirements:
- For production only materials authorized by the Ministry of Health are used. That is, those that do not lead to the development of skin pathologies, the manifestation of allergic reactions.
- The material must necessarily be resistant to high temperature water, fuels and lubricants, alkalis, oil.
- The inside is durable but smooth materials. Size adjuster and fastening belt recommended. All seams are necessarily processed, as well as the surface of such a hat.
- The most common materials are plastic, polyester, polyethylene, reinforced polycarbonate. Before manufacturing, raw materials must pass through special processing to withstand impacts and splits. But metal is rarely used because of less perfect protective properties.
- On the sides there are troughs for draining water.
- Inside, an element is required for reliable fastening on the head - fixed or fixed type.
- Additionally, the thing can be equipped with a shock absorber and mitigation tapes, which make the impact of a falling object not so noticeable for the helmet owner.
- For greater comfort, softening materials are pulled on the helmet from the inside, equipped with additional fixation straps.
Helmet accessories
Types of construction helmets also differ in additional elements with which the protective object is equipped with:
- With chin strap. Serves for the best fixation of the helmet on the head of the builder. The headpiece sits securely on the top of the skull, does not slip.
- With chin strap fasteners. The element consists of two parts. One is securely attached to the helmet itself, and the second is fixed already on the belt itself. Helps at any time to attach the latter to the helmet, and also, if desired, detach it.
- With vents. Since helmets are made from airtight materials, the presence of special holes in them is very favorable, which contributes to the ventilation of air in the space between the head and the thing.
- With protective padding. This device allows you to further weaken the force of the object falling on the head.
- With cushioning tapes. And this element of the construction helmet allows you to significantly soften the blow per head.
- With interior upholstery. Supplement for comfortable headgear wear. Soft and pleasant to the body material covers the inner space of the helmet (including shock absorbers, if any).
- With shock absorbers. This supplement is very important from a security point of view. This design allows you to clasp your head from all sides. When a heavy object falls, the helmet with shock absorbers starts to spring, which significantly reduces its strength.
- With an occipital tape. Element for reliable fastening of a helmet. Located at the back of the head.
- With carrier tape. Almost all helmets have this addition - it helps to keep the protective object on the head. When donning, it covers the upper part of the skull at the point of maximum volume.
About standardization
Since such a headgear in some cases will be decisive in relation to the health and life of the builder, its composition, design, additional devices, shelf life should be normalized by serious documents. In Russia, these are state standards for construction helmets.
GOST will be the following:
- Production, operation - 12.4.087-84 (valid since 1984).
- Testing of the protective device at the manufacturer - 12.4.207-99.
- The new Russian state standard (created as a domestic alternative to the European one) is GOST R EH 397 / A1-2010.
- Import (European) standard - EN 397. Make sure that the product also has the CE mark - a mark of compliance with the requirements specified in EU directives.
Terms of Use
The same Russian GOSTs prescribe for the owner the following important rules for the operation of a protective headgear:
- This product cannot be repaired!
- Before working in hazardous conditions, it is imperative to inspect the helmet daily for defects.
- If the headgear is damaged in the inner casing, the outer part of the body, or it was subjected to impact, the thing becomes unusable. It needs to be replaced with a new one.
- The product must be sanitized. This immersion in a 3% solution of bleach (or 3-5% chloramine solution) for half an hour or an hour. Then the helmet is thoroughly washed in cold water, wiped or sent to natural drying.
Construction helmet expiration date
And again, we turn to the Russian state standard. The service life of the construction helmet is 2 years from the date of its manufacture. This period includes not only operation, but also preliminary storage of products in a warehouse. Such a period is connected with the fact that polyethylene, plastic may lose its properties over time (and especially under sunlight).
The maximum life of domestic products is three years. Foreign - 5 years.
It is also important to familiarize yourself with the product documentation before using it in hazardous construction work. The manufacturer must indicate the compliance of the helmet with GOST, a guarantee if the user complies with the conditions for its storage, transportation and operation.
Product cost
You must understand that the price of almost any product reflects its quality, functional features. And what about helmets? Here, the cost is proportional to the load that the headgear can withstand.
Therefore, for ordinary construction work, simple helmets are most often used. And for extreme, dangerous - professional devices, the cost of which will be appropriate.
Popular manufacturers
Construction helmets are fairly widespread products, which is why there are many manufacturers. Here are the most famous of them:
- Russian - "Special protection", "TC Rome", "Uvex SPR", "Elanplast".
- American - Peltor, MSA.
- French - SACLA.
Hard hat history
In conclusion, some interesting informative material from the history of a protective building helmet.
It originates from military affairs - from ancient times it was used to protect against explosions of shells, fragments, bullets with a small breakdown force. It was the helmet that was the transitional stage to the metal knight's helmet. By the way, the origin of its name is Latin. And it translates precisely as one of the names of the helmet.
It is known that helmets began to be used in the Russian army as early as the 16th century. By the 19th century, such a protective headdress was an indispensable part of cavalry uniforms (cuirassiers and dragoons). That is, troops fighting knives. The helmet was designed to protect the head from a fatal chopping blow from above. Therefore, it had the shape of a slightly elongated top. This kind of protection is the hardest to cut.
Gradually, the use of helmets was also appreciated in peaceful activities. In particular, in construction. Initially, helmets were used to protect the heads of workers from falling construction debris. However, the material of the product was thin plastic, which easily cracked from impact. In addition, the helmets were also very uncomfortable to wear - due to the lack of cushioning, the product rested uncomfortably on the head, slipped and crawled - there were no fastening belts either.
Even 30 years ago, builders, in order to really fully protect themselves, had to use heavy helmets that were intended for motorcyclists. Modern high-tech helmets issued in accordance with GOST are designed to protect its owner from several dangers at once - falling objects on his head, exposure to harmful liquid media, hot metals, bad weather. The most innovative designs are even equipped with a wear indicator.
A protective helmet is a mandatory attribute when carrying out construction work of any complexity. To the whole variety of products, one important requirement is compliance with GOST or equivalent international standards.