Do plastic hardhats have an expiration date?

[zxcvbob]

I was cleaning out my dearly departed pickup today before the junk man comes to tow it away tomorrow.    I noticed my 3M hardhat that lived in the truck is faded from the sun.  It wasn't worn very often but it's several years old.  (I can look up exactly how old in my Amazon history but haven't done that yet)  Does a hardhat (or bicycle helmet for that matter) that's never been involved in an accident still need to be replaced periodically just from UV exposure?  It doesn't seem to be brittle, just faded.  But a 15 year old tire can look okay too...

[Nick1911]

A little googling suggests that the replacement interval is set by the manufacturer, and it is frequently five years.

That said, they are cheap.  If you have any doubt about it's integrity, throw it out.

[Boomhauer]

Yes.

[Hawkmoon]

Yes. There should be a symbol molded into the underside of the brim that shows the month and year of expiration.

https://simplifiedsafety.co.uk/resources/the-clock-is-ticking-on-your-hard-hat

https://bizfluent.com/12289527/osha-rules-on-hard-hat-expiration

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hard-hat-life-based-upon-recommendations-law-terry-penney

[zxcvbob]

Yes.

I bought this one 6 years ago.  (I just looked it up)  3M recommends replacing after 2 to 5 years -- I just looked that up too -- assuming that mean actual use not just sitting on the truck seat and worn occasionally.   And they say fading is a bad sign.  So 6 years old and faded, I should replace it.  And keep the new one where the sun can't get to it (behind the seat)

I didn't remember that they were just $10.

[MechAg94]

5 years is what I am accustomed to.  That is also our company policy.  

Anyone ever seen hard information on how fast the strength or impact resistance falls off?  

[MechAg94]

I bought this one 6 years ago.  (I just looked it up)  3M recommends replacing after 2 to 5 years -- I just looked that up too -- assuming that mean actual use not just sitting on the truck seat and worn occasionally.   And they say fading is a bad sign.  So 6 years old and faded, I should replace it.  And keep the new one where the sun can't get to it (behind the seat)

I didn't remember that they were just $10.

I have been told it is 5 years from the date of manufacture and it doesn't matter if it is used or not.  I couldn't say how that number was arrived at though.

[MillCreek]

I had read that I should replace my motorcycle helmets every five years.

[Hawkmoon]

5 years is what I am accustomed to.  That is also our company policy.  

Anyone ever seen hard information on how fast the strength or impact resistance falls off?  

Can't get hard data. It's dependent on both temperature and UV exposure. Indoors in a factory a hardhat should last a lot longer than working outdoors in Arizona.

[Boomhauer]

The only time I wear a hard hat is on a customer site that absolutely requires it (around here most don’t) or at a quarry (absolutely requires it due to MSHA, even if you are in a wide open space usually). I don’t recall an age limit in the MSHA book but the inspector will probably still write a fine if the hard hat is older than five years and they check it. MSHA is known for being absolutely ridiculous about what they write fines for.

[K Frame]

R metal hard hat still made?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Boomhauer]

I think so but not seen often due to the electrical hazard they pose

[Perd Hapley]

Be a man, bob! Don't be one of these sissies that runs out and buys a new hard-hat every other year. A real man's not afraid to let his brain get aired out a little, every so often. It h
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sn't hert me nnnnnnnnone.