PROTECTIVE CAP COOLING WITHOUT COOLING VENTS

The weather is starting to warm up in most parts of the country and it won't be long before we are looking at ways to try to keep workers cool in temperature extremes. A relatively recent fad is protective caps with "ventilation vents" in the crown that are supposed to provide a cooling effect. In our opinion, that is a potentially risky, ineffective and unnecessary way to reduce the temperature within a protective hat or cap.

The proponents of ventilation slots claim they reduce trapped heat. The reason heat is "trapped" is because of small, snug fitting shells that do not allow air to circulate to clear it. They claim they reduce perspiration levels. The reason perspiration levels are high is because of small, partial, non-absorbent sweatbands. They claim they let cool air in. The minuscule amount of air that might pass through the vents can contain dirt, dust, debris and potentially hazardous substances that can accumulate in the vents. Finally, flying or falling objects can become lodged in the vents concentrating impact force at that point and potentially overwhelming the impact attenuation capability of the cap. Whether there is a 1 in 10 or 1 in a million chance of that happening, it is a risk and as long as there are alternatives, it is a risk that does not have to be taken.

The alternative begins with a smooth crown protective cap design with no ridges, ribs, slots or vents. That design eliminates the risks that vented caps can present.

The model shown is a Fibre-Metal by Honeywell SUPEREIGHT cap. In addition to eliminating risk, this cap design provides proven cooling for the wearer. When we talk about "cooling" we are talking about reducing the temperature within the cap relative to the temperature of the ambient air in the work environment. First, safety officials should select a light color cap which will deflect much of the heat to which the wearers head would be exposed. Next, the ANSI Standard for head protection requires a fixed space between the top of the suspension and the caps hard shell. That creates an air space that along with the full shell size and design allows air to freely circulate within the cap at a much greater volume than is possible with several small vents in the crown.

The next step in the cooling process is a by-product of the freely circulating air. The illustration below shows the unique 360 degree sweatband in the SUPEREIGHT cap. That not only absorbs more perspiration than the partial sweatbands of the vented caps, it actually provides an "air conditioning" effect as the the air circulates over the moist sweatband causing evaporation.

For those who prefer ratchet headbands, which only have partial sweatbands, the same cooling effect applies but on a reduced level. But there is a solution for that too. The Fibre-Metal brand by Honeywell provides a model unlike any other. Their SWINGSTRAP models combine their full 360 degree sweatbands with a ratchet headband so you get all of the benefit of the ratchet band along with the cooling effect of the full sweatband.

Some years ago, The Fibre-Metal Products Company had tests done to determine if their protective caps actually did cool the inside temperature of the cap. The caps were placed on head forms, a heat source was applied to the ambient air, and the temperature was taken outside of the cap and inside of the cap with a heat probe. The tests proved that the temperature within the cap was consistently 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the temperature of the air outside of the cap. If you are considering a vented cap, ask for similar documentation.

To quote Fox News, "we report, you decide". If you are looking for potential cooling for your workers who wear head protection in temperature extremes, look at all of the options. Ask yourself why assume risk when the same or better result can be achieved without the risk. Our goal here is to inform, show what is available, provide some alternatives. If you can find something that satisfies your needs better, by all means use it.