American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection (ANSI)

This is the fifth revision of the standard that provides performance and testing requirements for industrial helmets, commonly known as hard hats. It is a revision of ANSI Z89.1-1997, which established the types and classes of protective helmets, depending on the type of hazard encountered. The 1997 version included specifications for helmets designed to offer protection from lateral impact, or top-only impact, giving employers and users the flexibility to specify the helmet that best meets the needs of their specific workplace.

Industrial head protective helmets meeting the requirements of the 2003 standard are classified as Type I for top protection or Type II for lateral impact protection. Both types are tested for impact attenuation and penetration resistance. Type II helmet performance requirements include criteria for impact energy attenuation from impacts from the front, back and sides as well as the top; off-center penetration resistance, and chin strap retention.

The three classes indicate the helmets electrical insulation rating, unchanged from 1997:

Class E (electrical) are tested to withstand 20,000 volts;

Class G (general) helmets are tested at 2200 volts; and

Class C (conductive) provide no electrical protection.

Changes in this revision of the standard are minor compared to the 1997 version. Redundancy in the previous test methods has been eliminated, with only the most severe anvil test retained. In an effort to recognize state-of-the-art materials performance and technology, some physical requirements for helmet components that did not provide added user value, or limited design or performance, were removed.