The Short Answer: Type I head protection is tested for impact to the top of the head only. Type II adds tested protection at the front, back and sides. Most hard hats are Type I and most safety helmets are Type II, so the choice comes down to whether workers face impacts that arrive at an angle. Neither type describes electrical protection, which is a separate class rating.
Malta Dynamics builds both types, and the question of which one a crew needs comes up on nearly every head protection call. The answer is found from the hazards on your site, and the standard gives you a clean way to read them.
This guide covers what ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 tests, what OSHA requires, and how to match a rating to the work in front of you.
What ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 Actually Tests
ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is the American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, and its testing requirements define the two types. A shell earns its rating in a lab, and the test tells you exactly what it has been proven to handle.
Type 1, Top Impact Only
Type 1 covers impact to the crown. Testing measures how much impact energy the helmet absorbs when a mass strikes the top of the shell, and whether a pointed object can penetrate at that same spot.
This is the traditional type and the rating of most hard hats on a construction site. That covers the hazard most crews picture when they think about head protection, which is an object falling from above.
Type 2, Top and Lateral Impact
An ANSI Type 2 rating covers everything Type I does and adds additional protection at the front, back and sides. Testing measures impact absorption from various angles rather than the crown alone, and adds off-center penetration resistance. Where a chin strap is supplied, retention requirements apply to it.
That difference matters when impact energy does not arrive straight down. A swinging load, a slip on scaffolding or a fall where the head strikes a beam all deliver lateral impact that Type I was never tested against.
Type and Class Are Two Different Ratings
The ANSI types cover impact. The class covers electrical exposure, and the two ratings are independent of each other.
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Class C: offers no electrical protection and is often vented for airflow
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Class G: tested at 2,200 volts
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Class E: tested at 20,000 volts
Class G and Class E are designed for work environments where electrical hazards are present, with Class E rated for higher voltage exposure. Class C is built for environments where electrical contact is not a concern, which makes it the standard choice for general construction, where ventilation and comfort during long shifts take priority. Understanding the class rating matters when switching helmet types. A crew moving from a Type I Class E hard hat to a Type II Class C helmet gains broader impact coverage but is no longer rated for electrical exposure. Checking the class before upgrading the type ensures the new helmet still fits the hazards on your site.
ANSI/ISEA published a 2026 revision of Z89.1 in September that adds optional Type I+ and Type II+ designations, both built around chin strap performance and helmet retention. Existing Type I and Type II equipment stays compliant, and the base classifications covered here did not change.
Does OSHA Require Type I or Type II?
OSHA requires head protection wherever workers face falling objects or electrical hazards. 29 CFR 1910.135 and 1926.100 both point to ANSI Z89.1 for performance requirements. Neither one names a type, since the safety standards behind the rule set a performance level rather than a product choice.
Your Hazard Assessment Picks the Type
The decision falls to the employer under 1910.132(d), which requires assessing workplace hazards and selecting personal protective equipment to match what the assessment finds. A work environment running swinging loads and a job site with occasional overhead debris come out of that assessment in different places.
Write the assessment down and update it when the work changes. That document is what you show an inspector who asks why your crew wears one type and not the other.
How to Tell What Your Crew Wears Now
Safety helmets and hard hats carry the same marking scheme inside the shell. It gives the manufacturer, the ANSI designation, the type and class, the head size range and the date of manufacture.
Run that check before buying anything. Sites that standardized years ago are often carrying a mix of ratings without knowing it, and the audit is what surfaces it.
Type I vs Type II Head Protection Side by Side
Malta Dynamics builds hard hats in Type I and the APEX safety helmet line in Type II. The table below compares what that means across the two.
| Type I | Type II | |
|---|---|---|
| Impact tested | Top of the head | Top, front, back and sides |
| Penetration tested | Crown | Crown and off-center |
| Chin strap | Not required, sold separately on some models | Retention tested when supplied, included on every APEX helmet |
| Typical form | Cap style and full brim hard hats | Safety helmets |
| Electrical classes available | Class E and Class G | Class E and Class G |
| Weight range | 0.7 to 3.0 lb | 2.0 to 3.0 lb |
| Starting price | $17.99 | $69.99 |
Cost is the clearest difference between the two. An APEX safety helmet starts at $69.99 and a cap style hard hat starts at $17.99. Weight is closer than people expect, since the ranges overlap and a 2.0 lb Type 2 helmet comes in lighter than a full brim hard hat fitted with a visor.
What the extra cost buys is coverage. Type I is rated for the hazards it was built to handle, and where those are the only hazards a crew meets, it is the right call. A hazard assessment captures the hazards at that point in time, but the hazards around a crew can change as work progresses.
Matching the Rating to the Work
Start with the hazards on your site, not the product. The type rating covers impact direction, and the class rating covers electrical protection. Match both to the work your crew is doing.
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Work at height: A fall can produce impact at any angle. Type II is tested for front, side and rear impact in addition to top impact.
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Cranes, hoists, falling tools and swinging loads: Suspended loads can strike a worker from the side. Type II covers that lateral impact.
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Tight industrial and mechanical spaces: Workers straightening up into fixed steel take repeated front and side impacts at low energy. Type II is rated for that contact angle.
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Electrical work: The class rating comes first. Class E is tested to 20,000 volts. Malta Dynamics builds Class E into both a Type I hard hat and a Type II full brim safety helmet, so electrical protection does not limit the type choice.
OSHA's safety and health information bulletin on safety helmets recommends them over traditional hard hats for work at height, electrical work and high-temperature environments. This bulletin offers guidance rather than a regulation, so it shapes what an inspector may expect to see rather than what is strictly required.
Malta Dynamics offers on-site training and inspection services covering hazard assessment, equipment inspection and rescue planning. That assessment is what the type and class decision rests on.
What the Type Rating Does Not Tell You
Retention and Fit
A safety helmet’s shell and suspension work together to absorb and distribute impact energy. Traditional Type I hard hats are tested for impacts to the top of the head, while Type II safety helmets are also tested for impact protection from the front, back, and sides.
Retention helps keep that protection in place. Every APEX Type II safety helmet includes an adjustable four-point chin strap that helps reduce the chance of the helmet being displaced during a slip, fall, sudden movement, or impact.
Brim, Face Shields and Accessories
Brim style is a little about preference, but also changes protection for the sun, and may require different accessories. A full brim adds 360 degree coverage from sun, rain and falling debris, while the cap style runs lighter and fits lower for tight spaces.
Accessories are matched to specific shells. Helmet-mounted earmuffs fit the standard APEX shell and a separate full brim version fits the full brim helmets, while face shields mount through a weight-compensating bracket sized to the shell. Confirm the fit before placing a crew-sized order.
Choosing the Right Head Protection for Your Crew
Type 1 is tested at the crown, and Type 2 adds protection from the front, back and sides, in addition to the crown, and with additional impact testing. The class rating describes the electrical exposure. The hazard assessment decides which pairing is best for your crew.
Malta Dynamics designs and builds head protection for construction, manufacturing, aviation and utilities, including hard hats, APEX Type II safety helmets, accessories and the replacement parts that keep a good shell working.
Explore our full line of head protection or call our team at (855) 781-9917 to talk through what your crews should be wearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Type II hard hat better than a Type I?
Type II offers broader impact protection, adding tested coverage at the front, back and sides on top of the crown. Whether that makes it better protection for a given crew depends on the hazards they actually face. Type I is rated for top impact, and the hazard assessment determines which one the work calls for.
What is the difference between ANSI type and ANSI class?
The type covers impact and the class covers electrical exposure. Type I is tested at the crown and Type II adds the front, back and sides. Class C offers no electrical protection, Class G is tested at 2,200 volts, and Class E is tested at 20,000 volts.
Does OSHA require Type II safety helmets?
No. OSHA requires head protection meeting ANSI Z89.1 under 1910.135 and 1926.100, and neither rule names a type. The employer's hazard assessment under 1910.132(d) is what determines which type belongs on a given site.
Does a Type II helmet have to include a chin strap?
The base Type II classification does not require one, though retention requirements apply when a chin strap is supplied. Every APEX Type II safety helmet includes an adjustable 4-point chin strap.
How do I tell if my hard hat is Type I or Type II?
Look at the markings inside the shell. The ANSI designation, the type and the class are printed there along with the manufacturer, the head size range and the date of manufacture.
