Hard hats are normally supplied with an information tag attached giving advice & lifetime expectancy. Some manufacturers say 3 years, others say an in-use life of up to five years, or even more. Anchor Safety can discuss options for up to 10 year's life expectancy - please call our Customer Care team for more information. Obviously how much exposure that they have had, how they have been stored and how many knocks they have had will determine the replacement interval; for example, hard hats solely deployed for Visitor use will have a longer usable life than hard hats used on a daily basis in hazardous environments.
Safety helmets need to be changed when damaged, for example, when they have been involved in an accident or when affected by sunlight. Hard hats will need replacing when the harness is damaged or if it is likely that the shock absorption or penetration resistance has deteriorated. For example, when the shell has received a severe impact, or if deep scratches occur (i.e. to a depth greater than 25% of the shell thickness) or if the shell has any visible cracks.
Good maintenance will also keep the hat in good working order and prolong its life. Assuming they have been well maintained & none of the above apply, replace according to manufacturer's instructions – and of course please always ask one of our team for help, if you are in any doubt.