Electrically ventilated helmets are becoming increasingly popular in sawmills: these personal protective equipment items, already widely used in agriculture and on construction sites, are the perfect solution for addressing the risks posed by wood dust.
Sabart has therefore added JSP-brand electrically ventilated helmets to its catalog: let’s find out how they work and all the details about these innovative products.
What are electrically ventilated helmets
Electrically ventilated helmets, more precisely known as electrically ventilated respiratory systems, offer a comprehensive solution for the purposes of personal protective equipment.
Designed to ensure the safety of workers exposed to harmful substances, airborne particles, or toxic gases, and to provide advanced respiratory protection in complex work environments, they combine multiple levels of protection into a single PPE:
- Head protection
- Eye and face protection
- Hearing protection
- Respiratory protection
When working in environments such as factories, forests, gardens, construction sites, or, indeed, sawmills, it is essential—as well as mandatory—to ensure risk prevention and wear equipment that provides the protections listed above:
- Hard hats or helmets to prevent accidental head injuries
- Goggles or face shields to protect against splinters, debris, or glare
- Ear muffs or earplugs
- Masks or respirators to protect the respiratory tract from dust, toxic substances, and gases.
The advantages of electrically ventilated helmets
Fortunately for workers, these risks do not always occur simultaneously. When, unfortunately, they do, it is quite uncomfortable and difficult to address them all while wearing goggles, a helmet, ear muffs, and masks at the same time.
This is where electrically ventilated helmets come in: let’s take a closer look at how they work.
These are electrically ventilated respiratory systems that incorporate several components with distinct functions into a single helmet:
- A battery-powered motor to draw air from the surrounding environment
- An air filter, which removes harmful particles, gases, or vapors
- Supply of clean air into the helmet itself
The full-face helmet system, being enclosed, isolates the operator from external noise, while the visor can be equipped with visual filters that, in addition to protecting the head, face, and eyes from impacts and debris, can also shield against sunlight or welding flashes. With a single PPE, therefore, operators can benefit from integrated protection for the respiratory tract, eyes, face, neck, head, and ears, all while enjoying a high level of comfort.
In fact, the system allows the operator to breathe easily thanks to a motor that actively draws in air, and to move with full mobility, without major restrictions or fit issues: no fit testing is required, as the operator breathes freely through already filtered air, and it does not interfere with facial hair, unlike filtering facepiece respirators.
Among the main advantages, however, are the possibility of customization to meet specific needs arising from different work environments, and significant cost savings due to the integration of multiple PPE items into one and the reduction in consumables compared to standard masks, thanks to the extended surface area of the filters.
Electrically ventilated helmets in sawmills
Given their wide-ranging and significant benefits, electrically ventilated helmets have found widespread use in various professional sectors:
- The chemical and pharmaceutical industries, to protect workers from chemicals, toxic vapors, and dust.
- The healthcare sector, in intensive care units or isolation areas for infectious or immunocompromised patients.
- Construction sites and maintenance, to protect workers from cement dust, iron dust, and other types of dust
- Agriculture and gardening, to protect the head and respiratory tract during the application of plant protection treatments.
More recently, electrically ventilated helmets have also become widely used in sawmills and woodworking shops, as there is growing awareness of how dangerous the dust produced by cutting hardwood (generally derived from broadleaf trees) and seasoned wood can be.
In fact, medical literature increasingly reports respiratory conditions linked to exposure to wood dust, primarily affecting the upper respiratory tract, and often associated with cancerous growths.
In this context as well, electro-ventilated helmets represent an advanced solution for worker safety, ensuring complete protection and comfort in a demanding environment such as a sawmill, where the risk of head and eye injuries remains consistently high.
JSP Electrically Ventilated Helmets
To meet the growing demands of sawmill workers, Sabart has added JSP’s PowerCap electrically ventilated helmets to its catalog, specifically the PowerCap Active IP and PowerCap Infinity models.
PowerCap Active IP 8hr
The PowerCap Active IP is a positive-pressure, electrically ventilated helmet with EN 166 eye protection and EN 812 head protection. Lightweight and ergonomic, it is designed to protect the user from dust and most airborne contaminants in accordance with EN 12941.
- Eye and Face Protection
1mm-thick polycarbonate visor with aluminum corners for impact resistance—secured with rivets.
The IP version offers eye and face protection compliant with EN 166 1 B, ideal for working in environments where there is a risk of splinters and debris. Protective films for IP visors are available.
- Powered air
Compliant with EN12941 TH1P, it guarantees a consistent fresh air flow of 160 liters per minute, eliminating breathing resistance and visor fogging.
- Impact Protection
The shell utilizes JSP HardCap A1+ technology, exceeding the EN 812 standard. The helmet liner is easily removable, cleanable, and machine washable.
- Micro USB Charging
PowerCap Active comes with a micro USB cable for charging in just 5 hours. The PowerBox 1 battery pack features a built-in level indicator, allowing you to easily check the charge level.
PowerCap Infinity
The PowerCap Infinity PAPR is a fully integrated TH3 powered air-purifying respirator that offers four of the highest levels of protection in a single, compact, tubeless unit. Providing 4-in-1 protection, it is the perfect choice for many industries where dust and solid and liquid particulates pose health hazards. The PowerCap Infinity represents the latest innovation in assisted ventilation technology, combining decades of JSP innovation across the fields of respiratory, head, eye, and face protection.
- Powerful Twin Turbo
The patented Twin Turbo technology delivers variable airflow to optimize energy efficiency and improve user comfort. Real-time diagnostics, managed by internal and external pressure sensors, ensure that the device delivers the necessary airflow based on the user’s breathing while maintaining a minimum of 160 L/min as required, but capable of reaching 240 L/min of filtered air if the user’s breathing accelerates.
- No Fit Test Required
PowerCap Infinity eliminates the need for a Fit Test, ensuring that a high volume of filtered air is delivered to the breathing zone, offering a high level of protection
- Head Protection
PowerCap Infinity is built around the super-durable ABS shell of the Olympus EVO 5 industrial safety helmet. Equipped with a Revolution Flex ratchet harness, the helmet is designed to reduce pressure and ensure a perfect fit and all-day comfort
- Protective and Panoramic Visor
The optical class 1 visor complies with EN166.B, tested to withstand the impact of a 6mm steel ball fired at 430 km/h. The visor is equipped with a replaceable polycarbonate protective film to prevent scratches and extend its lifespan indefinitely.
- Extensive Testing Hundreds of hours
of field testing were conducted while the subject used a treadmill, all carried out in a specially constructed isolated chamber containing concentrated airborne sodium chloride (NaCl) particles. This process optimized the weight, balance, and seal integrity of the gaskets. Countless user tests were conducted, putting the PowerCap® Infinity® to the test in a wide variety of tasks and conditions. - Minimal Maintenance
The PowerCap® Infinity® was developed with a modular design, making it easy to disassemble and reassemble for cleaning and maintenance. To ensure optimal performance of the PowerCap® Infinity®, it is important to perform maintenance regularly. No special tools are required.
- TH3 Performance
PowerCap Infinity offers TH3 respiratory protection, with a nominal protection factor of 500 (UK APF 40). TH3 is the highest possible classification under the EN12941:1998 + A2:2008 standard.
- Smart PPE
Real-time diagnostics monitor the flow twice per second, providing the user with accurate and dynamic feedback. During high demand (accelerated breathing by the user), the inlet flow is regulated and monitored to maintain positive pressure inside the PPE at all times. Feedback on battery and filter status is provided via LEDs visible from the inside and audible alerts.
- High-Efficiency Filters
High-capacity HEPA filters, together with pre-filters and aerodynamically optimized filter guards, ensure that the PowerCap Infinity delivers a minimum of 160 liters per minute of filtered air with maximum battery efficiency. Filters can be easily replaced using a quick-change bayonet fitting.
- Protective Earmuffs
The PowerCap Infinity was developed to integrate seamlessly with Sonis helmet-mounted ear muffs (optional). Designed by JSP’s Research and Development team in collaboration with a leading UK acoustic engineering research facility, the Sonis® helmet range achieves an unmatched SNR of 36 dB. The frame and ear pads work together to provide the user with excellent protection and comfort.
