Service life of industrial safety helmets manufactured from fibre-reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin

Status:

completed 10/2002

Aims:

Industrial safety helmets manufactured from fibre-reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin are regarded as having an exceptionally long service life. Such helmets are frequently used for up to ten years, and in the past were generally replaced only following an accident or when visibly damaged, as the material was assumed not to age under environmental influences. The purpose of the present study was to produce a recommendation for the service life of helmets manufactured from fibre-reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin.

Activities/Methods:

The study of the resistance to ageing was performed on 90 industrial helmets which had been worn in a number of plants. The helmets were manufactured between 1988 and 1996 inclusive. They were tested in accordance with EN 397, "Industrial helmets", the current standard for industrial helmets.

Results:

The newest helmet which failed in this study to meet the requirements of the standard was manufactured in 1991, and had been in practical use for eight years at the time of the test. Based upon these results, a recommendation is issued for industrial safety helmets manufactured from fibre-reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin to be used for not longer than eight years. This recommendation formed the basis for inclusion in the relevant BG regulation of a recommended service life for industrial safety helmets manufactured from fibre-reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin.

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