What is a Class G hard hat?

A Class G hard hat (General class) is the standard ANSI -rated safety helmet designed to reduce the danger of contact with low-voltage electrical conductors. It's proof-tested to 2,200 volts and covers most day-to-day construction , general contracting, and maintenance work where some electrical exposure is possible but high-voltage contact is not the primary hazard.

What is G in a helmet?

The 'G' stands for General, one of three electrical protection classes defined by ANSI along with Class E (Electrical) and Class C (Conductive). It refers specifically to the helmet's electrical insulation rating, not its impact type or shell material.

How many volts does a Class G hard hat protect against?

Class G hard hats are tested and rated to withstand up to 2,200 volts. That's a meaningful difference from a hard hat electrical rating of Class E , which is tested to 20,000 volts. Class G is meant for general job sites, not high-voltage line work.

What is a Type 2 G hard hat?

A Type 2 G hard hat combines two separate ANSI ratings: Type 2 impact protection (which guards against lateral or side impacts, not just top-of-head blows) and Class G electrical protection (rated to 2,200 volts). You'll see this combination on climbing-style helmets like the Honeywell Fibre-Metal design , which pairs a Type 2 shell with a dual locking ratchet suspension.

Class G vs Class E hard hat, what's the actual difference?

The difference is the voltage rating and the intended exposure level. Class G protects to 2,200 volts and suits general construction . Class E protects to 20,000 volts and is built for linemen, utility workers, and anyone working near or on energized electrical systems. If your crew works around high-voltage lines, a Class E hard hat is the safer choice, not a Class G .

Who needs a Class E hard hat instead of Class G?

Electrical linemen, utility crews, substation technicians, and anyone regularly working near high-voltage equipment need the higher protection of a Class E hard hat. General contractors, framers, roofers, and most trades that face incidental electrical exposure are typically fine with a general purpose hard hat rated Class G .

Are Class G hard hats conductive?

No. Class G hard hats are non-conductive up to their 2,200-volt rating, which is what distinguishes them from Class C hard hats . Class C hard hats are conductive and offer no electrical protection at all, they're built for lightweight comfort in non-electrical environments. If you need to compare the three, our hard hat types and classes breakdown covers all of them side by side.

Class G Hard Hat: ANSI Rating, Voltage & Buying Guide

Class G Hard Hat: Common Buyer Questions

What is a Class G hard hat?: A Class G hard hat (General class) is the standard ANSI-rated safety helmet designed to reduce the danger of contact with low-voltage electrical conductors. It's proof-tested to 2,200 volts and covers most day-to-day construction, general contracting, and maintenance work where some electrical exposure is possible but high-voltage contact is not the primary hazard.
What is G in a helmet?: The 'G' stands for General, one of three electrical protection classes defined by ANSI along with Class E (Electrical) and Class C (Conductive). It refers specifically to the helmet's electrical insulation rating, not its impact type or shell material.
How many volts does a Class G hard hat protect against?: Class G hard hats are tested and rated to withstand up to 2,200 volts. That's a meaningful difference from a hard hat electrical rating of Class E, which is tested to 20,000 volts. Class G is meant for general job sites, not high-voltage line work.
What is a Type 2 G hard hat?: A Type 2 G hard hat combines two separate ANSI ratings: Type 2 impact protection (which guards against lateral or side impacts, not just top-of-head blows) and Class G electrical protection (rated to 2,200 volts). You'll see this combination on climbing-style helmets like the Honeywell Fibre-Metal design, which pairs a Type 2 shell with a dual locking ratchet suspension.
Class G vs Class E hard hat, what's the actual difference?: The difference is the voltage rating and the intended exposure level. Class G protects to 2,200 volts and suits general construction. Class E protects to 20,000 volts and is built for linemen, utility workers, and anyone working near or on energized electrical systems. If your crew works around high-voltage lines, a Class E hard hat is the safer choice, not a Class G.
Who needs a Class E hard hat instead of Class G?: Electrical linemen, utility crews, substation technicians, and anyone regularly working near high-voltage equipment need the higher protection of a Class E hard hat. General contractors, framers, roofers, and most trades that face incidental electrical exposure are typically fine with a general purpose hard hat rated Class G.
Are Class G hard hats conductive?: No. Class G hard hats are non-conductive up to their 2,200-volt rating, which is what distinguishes them from Class C hard hats. Class C hard hats are conductive and offer no electrical protection at all, they're built for lightweight comfort in non-electrical environments. If you need to compare the three, our hard hat types and classes breakdown covers all of them side by side.

Understanding the ANSI Class G Rating

ANSI splits hard hat electrical protection into three classes: General (G), Electrical (E), and Conductive (C). A Class G hard hat sits in the middle of the electrical hazard spectrum. It's not built for high-voltage line work, but it does offer real insulation against incidental contact with energized conductors up to 2,200 volts. This makes it the default choice for the vast majority of construction sites, where crews might brush against a live wire or exposed conduit but aren't intentionally working inside an electrical hazard zone.

Most hard hats sold for general contracting, framing, roofing, plumbing, and light industrial work carry a Class G designation by default. If you're outfitting a crew with construction hard hats, there's a good chance the stock helmet you're already using is Class G rated. Always check the manufacturer spec sheet stamped inside the shell to confirm before you assume a rating.

Class G vs Class E Hard Hat: Key Differences

The Class G vs Class E hard hat question comes down to voltage exposure on the jobsite. Class G is tested to 2,200 volts. Class E is tested to a much higher 20,000 volts, making it the required standard for utility linemen, substation crews, and anyone working around high-voltage transmission equipment. Wearing a Class G hard hat on a high-voltage job is not a safe substitute, and wearing an unnecessarily heavy Class E helmet on a general job site is overkill for most crews.

If your team splits time between general labor and electrical-adjacent work, it may be worth stocking both. Our Class E hard hats and Class G hard hats can both be custom-printed with your company logo, so switching classes doesn't mean sacrificing brand consistency across your crew.

Type 1 vs Type 2 Class G Hard Hats: Which Style Fits Your Crew

ANSI ratings also cover impact type separately from electrical class. Type I helmets are designed to reduce the force of a blow to the top of the head only. Type II helmets add lateral impact protection, guarding against blows from the side, front, or back, which matters for crews working in tight spaces, on scaffolding, or around swinging equipment.

A Type II G hard hat combines Type II lateral impact protection with the 2,200-volt Class G electrical rating. Climbing-style helmets like the Honeywell Fibre-Metal climbing safety helmet are a common example of this combination, built with a dual locking ratchet suspension that stays secure during overhead or angled work. For crews comparing shell styles side by side, our comparing different hard hat styles guide walks through cap-style versus full-brim options as well.

Who Actually Needs a Class G Hard Hat

General contractors, framers, roofers, plumbers, and most industrial maintenance crews are well served by a general purpose hard hat rated Class G. It covers the realistic hazard profile on most job sites: falling debris, incidental contact with low-voltage wiring, and general impact protection, without the added bulk or cost of a Class E helmet.

Mining operations and heavy industrial sites often lean toward full-brim styles for added sun and debris coverage, like the MSA Skullgard full-brim hard hat, which pairs well with a Class G rating for underground and surface work. If you're still deciding between class options for your specific trade, our common hard hat questions page addresses jobsite-specific scenarios in more detail.

Class G vs Class E vs Class C: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's how the three ANSI electrical protection classes stack up. Always verify the class rating stamped inside any hard hat before assigning it to a jobsite task.

Class	Voltage Test Rating	Conductive?	Typical Use Case
Class G (General)	2,200 volts	No	General construction, framing, roofing, plumbing, light industrial
Class E (Electrical)	20,000 volts	No	Linemen, utility crews, substation and high-voltage work
Class C (Conductive)	No electrical rating	Yes	Non-electrical environments where lightweight comfort matters most

Custom Class G Hard Hat Styles Worth Outfitting Your Crew In

These are among the most requested shells for crews looking for a Type II, general purpose hard hat build with full custom branding. Confirm class and type ratings against the manufacturer spec sheet for your specific jobsite requirements before ordering.

Type II Safety Helmet

Honeywell Fibre-Metal Climbing Style Safety Helmet, Type II, Black

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Type II Safety Helmet

MSA V-Gard H1 Safety Helmet, Type II, White

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Type II Safety Helmet

MSA V-Gard H2 Safety Helmet, Type II, Ratchet Suspension, Vented - White

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Full-Brim Hard Hat

MSA Skullgard Full Brim Natural Tan Hard Hat

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Ready to Outfit Your Crew with Custom Class G Hard Hats?

Order custom-printed general purpose hard hats with your company logo, crew names, or safety branding. Bulk pricing kicks in at 12+ units, with production turnaround of 12 business days plus shipping.

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What Is a Class G Hard Hat and When Do You Need One?

Class G Hard Hat: Common Buyer Questions

Understanding the ANSI Class G Rating

Class G vs Class E Hard Hat: Key Differences

Type 1 vs Type 2 Class G Hard Hats: Which Style Fits Your Crew

Who Actually Needs a Class G Hard Hat

Class G vs Class E vs Class C: Side-by-Side Comparison

Custom Class G Hard Hat Styles Worth Outfitting Your Crew In

Honeywell Fibre-Metal Climbing Style Safety Helmet, Type II, Black

MSA V-Gard H1 Safety Helmet, Type II, White

MSA V-Gard H2 Safety Helmet, Type II, Ratchet Suspension, Vented - White

MSA Skullgard Full Brim Natural Tan Hard Hat

Ready to Outfit Your Crew with Custom Class G Hard Hats?

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