JJWalecka
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
What's the benefit of having a hard hat with a Phenolic shell?
OK, I see there's a little bit of confusion ...
Most hard hats you see have a 'general use' rating, and some also have an 'electrical' rating as well.
"Electricians" are not required by any government rule to use any hard hat at all. Many firms suply 'bump caps,' which don't have any rating at all.
It's worth noting that NO vented hard hat carries the 'electrical' rating. I don't think that's an issue; I've seen far more problems from heat stress than electrical shocks to the head.
A hard hat may be made from anything; there are still such hats made from stainless steel.
The "phenolic" hats are said (by thier users) to be more comfortable and lighter in weight than the typical plastic hats. They are certainly much more heat resistant; I've had to enter areas (briefly) that would turn the usual hard hat into silly putty - even for that brief exposure. It's almost as if the plastic 'catches' the heat. Go in wearing a 'cowboy' style hat, and you come out wearing an 'Amish Farmer" style hat
Personally, I think the main attraction of the phenolic hats is their trimmer fit and smoother style. The plastic ones usually have some sort of ridges molded into them.