Frequently asked questions about our products and services

We currently offer:

• Industrial Safety Products
  • Head Protection
  • Face Protection
  • Hearing Protection
  • Climate Control
• Respiratory Protection
  • Supplied Air Respirators
  • Powered Air-Purifying Respirators
  • Supplied Air Accessories
  • Air Quality Products
• Fire & Rescue
  • Wildland
  • Structrual
  • Air, Rescue
  • EMS / SAR
  • Climate Control
  • Thermal Imaging
• Thermal Imaging
  • Firefighting Thermal Imagers
  • TacSight Law Enforcement Thermal Imagers

We offer our products through a network of worldwide channel partners. To locate our distributor in your area, please check our Distributor Locator.

1898 Safety Way
Cynthiana, Ky 41031

Bullard is located in Central Kentucky’s northern Bluegrass area, 34 miles northeast of Lexington, 107 miles east of Louisville, 59 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio, and 205 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee.

For a map and more detailed directions, click here.

Yes. For general questions, you can contact customer service.
For sales related help, please contact one of our sales team.

When we say we invented the hard hat, we’re not kidding. For an in depth look at Bullard’s history, check out the following link: http://www.bullard.com/company/bullardhistory.shtml

Go to the drop-down menu located directly under the main banner. Click on the button named “Photos”, or click here to open the photo gallery in a new window.

Users of industrial head protection devices must realize that these products do not have an indefinite useful life. Bullard recommends ... read more

Bullard ANSI Z89 Type 1 hard hats have been tested and found to be compliant to the requirements of the standard when worn with the shell turned backwards. To perform properly in this manner ... read more

Currently, there are no requirements or tests to examine the effect that a cap or any other object worn inside a hard hat may have on hard hat performance. Therefore, Bullard recommends that hard hat users should never carry or wear anything inside a hard hat. read more

The use of self-adhesive stickers by individual users to "personalize" their hard hats or for other marking or identification purposes is a common practice. Because of the type of adhesive used in typical pressure-sensitive stickers ... read more

When properly installed, Bullard faceshields provide only limited protection from flying particles and splash or spray of hazardous liquids. Certain models, so designated, also provide antiglare protection. DO NOT use any faceshield unless ... read more

To meet the demands of high heat environments, Bullard produces hats and caps in technologically advanced thermoplastic materials. read more

Hard Hat Date Codes are molded into the underside brim of Bullard hard hats and caps to indicate when they were molded. read more

Bullard warrants to the original purchaser that the hard hat and suspension system are free of defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of two (2) years from the date of manufacture. read more

Head and Face Protection Industry Standards and Regulations ... read more

All hearing muffs are assigned an NRR (Noise Reduction Rating). The NRR rating is the stated rating by which the protector will decrease the noise reaching the workers ears. NRR requirements must be determined by the employer through evaluation of the area where workers may need hearing protection.

Yes, you can be overprotected with more NRR than you need. This can be dangerous as you might not be able to hear warning sirens, forklifts, or other sounds in your surrounding.

This material (Thermoset Resins) is the “glue” which is needed to hold glass fibers together in a composite helmet shell. Thermoset resins are ... read more

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question. The high heat resistance of modern thermoplastic materials has effectively eliminated ... read more

Typical heat exposures due to firefighting fall well within the range of performance for composite and thermoplastic helmets. Concerns should be raised when ... read more

Although there is a remote chance that some fuel fires could deposit enough hydrocarbons on a recent thermoplastic helmet to create damage, it is unlikely. Manufacturers have not seen any ... read more

For the best cleaning results, disassemble the helmet according to the instruction manual provided with the helmet. Mild soap and lukewarm water remove most dirt and some smoke residue. Rinse the helmet with lukewarm water after using any cleaning agent. If stronger cleaning agents are required ... read more

It is first important to define the word chip. The safe definition is anything similar to the chip you might observe in paint. Any chip in a composite helmet ... read more

Any helmet should be removed from service if it has sustained a substantial blow from falling objects. The same would be true if the wearer has fallen and his head and helmet impacted the ground. This may seem ... read more

Occupational Safety & Health Administration http://www.osha.gov

National Institute Occupational Safety & Health http://www.cdc.gov/niosh

(POA) Point of Attachment: A Pressure Gage, regulator, relief valve, and congruous fitting are necessary to be considered a POA.

Reference: 42CFR Part 84 Subpart J .149.
Download a complete copy at www.cdc.gov/niosh/pt84abs2.html

Regulator allows adjustment of air pressure to manufacturer’s specified pressure range based on range of hose length used (see 84.149 (b)).

Pressure gauge allows verification of this pressure setting at the point of attachment (see 84.149 (b)).

Pressure relief valve prevents pressure from exceeding 125 psi (see 84149 (d) (1)).

Congruous fitting allows connection of “Detachable couplings” as part of NIOSH approved respirator system (see 84.131 (5)).

The maximum length of hose allowed from the “Point of Attachment” to the worker is 300 ft. (91m) for type C Supplied Air Respirators. This hose must be provided in multiples of 25 ft. (7.6m).

Reference: 42CFR Part 84 Subpart J.149 - Table 8, Air Supply-Line Requirements and Tests

American National Standards Institute http://www.ansi.org

42CFR84.141 42 is the Department of Public Health. 84 is the Approval of Respiratory Protective Devices. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/part84.txt

29CFR1910.134 29 is the Department of Labor. CFR means Code of Federal Regulation. 1910 is the OSHA section. 134 is the Respiratory Protection section.

No, employers are only required to fit test respirators with tight-fitting facepieces. 29CFR1910.134(f)

Yes, the CC20 Series, the RT Series, the GR50 Series, the 88VX Series, and the PC90 Series are all loose fitting and therefore do not require employers to perform fit testing.

Yes, the FAMB Series, Spectrum Series, and PA40 Series Mask PAPR.

Before the initial use, whenever a different facepiece is used, whenever a visible change in employees physical condition is observed, and annually thereafter. 29CFR1910.134(f)(1) and 29CFR1910.134(f)(2)

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health - an atmosphere that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual’ ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere. 29CFR1910.134(b)

Yes, the SPECPDE can be used in such an environment.

29CFR1910.146

1. A space that is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and
2. Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and
3. Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Reference: 29CFR1910.146(b)

29CFR1926.62

Yes the 88VX Series Abrasive Blasting Respirator has been approved for this application. Reference: . August 30, 1995 OSHA Interpretation Letter

No. NIOSH only approves complete systems not components so they cannot be mixed and matched.

Reference(s):

• NIOSH respirator users notice November 6, 1984. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/87-116-g.pdf
• NIOSH approval label : Caution and Limitation N
• 29CF1910.134 (h)(4)(i)
• www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=12716

Assigned Protection Factor.

The protection factor is the ratio of the contaminant concentration divided by the exposure limit (usually PEL or TLV). For example if the PEL is 100 ppm and the protection factor is 10, then the user will be protected against concentrations up to 1000 ppm.

Permissible Exposure Limit. This is the contaminant concentration that OSHA enforces. Subpart Z of 1910.1000 contains tables with contaminants and their PELs.

Threshold Limit Value. This is the contaminant concentration limit that American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (http://www.acgih.org) updates each year and is sometimes more stringent than the PEL.

Air Purifying Respirator. No, Bullard does not sell this type of respirator.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. No, Bullard does not sell this type of respirator. Bullard does sell an ESCBA which is a Pressure Demand Supplied Air Respirator with SCBA style egress bottle (Part No. SPECPDE).

It means a positive pressure atmosphere-supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the facepiece when the positive pressure is reduced inside the facepiece by inhalation. Reference: 29CFR1910.134(b)

The Bullard Cartridge Selector Guide is a good tool for identifying the appropriate respirator for specific substances. The NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards also provides respirator selection guidelines. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/

Pounds per Square Inch. This is pressure.

Cubic Feet per Minute. This is flow or volume.

Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear – this is the term often used for terrorist attack situations.

The complete specifications are detailed in ANSI/Compressed Gas Association Commodity Specification for Air, G-7.1-1989, which include:

• Oxygen Content of 19.5-23.5%
• Hydrocarbon (condensed) content of 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air or less
• Carbon monoxide (CO) content of 10 ppm or less
• Carbon dioxide content of 1,000 ppm or less; and
• Lack of noticeable odor

Reference: 29CFR1910.134(i)(1)(ii)

In Canada the requirements include:

• Oxygen Content of 20-22%
• Hydrocarbon (condensed) content of 1 milligram per cubic meter of air or less
• Carbon monoxide (CO) content of 5 ppm or less
• Carbon dioxide content of 500 ppm or less; and
• Lack of noticeable odor

Compressed Gas Association. http://www.cganet.com

It must be constructed and situated so as to:

1. Prevent entry of contaminated air into the air-supply system.
2. Minimize moisture content so that the dew point at 1 atmosphere pressure is 10 degrees F (5.56 C) below the ambient temperature.
3. Have suitable in-line air-purifying sorbent beds and filters to further ensure breathing air quality. Sorbent beds and filters shall be maintained and replaced or refurbished periodically following the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Have a tag containing the most recent change date and the signature of the person authorized by the employer to perform the change. The tag shall be maintained at the compressor.

Reference: 29CFR1910.134(i)(5)

For supplied air systems that are not oil-lubricated (such as with Bullard Free Air Pumps), the employer shall ensure that carbon monoxide levels in the breathing air do not exceed 10ppm. Reference: 29CFR1910.134(i)(6) For supplied air systems with oil-lubricated compressors the employer shall use a high-temperature or carbon monoxide alarm, or both, to monitor carbon monoxide levels. If only high-temperature alarms are used, the air supply shall be monitored at intervals sufficient to prevent carbon monoxide in the breathing air from exceeding 10 ppm. Reference: 29CFR1910.134(i)(7)

Recommended (in order of preference)

• Stainless steel
• Black iron or cold rolled steel
• ABS plastic
• Copper (lead-free solder)

Not Recommended

• PVC (this may be used on hte inlet side of a Free-Air® Pump only)
• Galvanized steel

Contact Bullard regarding pipe size recommended depending on length of the run.

• TRI Environmental (multiple locations)
  www.airtesting.com
• Atlantic Environmental, New Jersey
  www.atlenv.com
• Oatachem Laboratories, Utah
  www.datachem.com

Night vision and thermal imaging are two completely different technologies. Both have their place in law enforcement operations. Night vision depends upon ... read more

TACSIGHT is designed specifically for law enforcement, with user-friendliness and simple reliable operations in mind. One button for power on / off, and one button to manage display brightness, are all it takes. Other cameras require much more user input, which can be dangerous in high-stress, high-risk situations. ... read more

YES! Be sure to check out the wealth of information located on the following two pages:
http://www.bullard.com/Tacsight/resources/grantfunding.shtml
http://www.bullard.com/Thermalimager/Get_funding/

YES! There are many applications that have withstood the test of case law and have therefore been accepted as sound, defensible uses of thermal imaging in law enforcement. Further details can be found through the Law Enforcement Thermographer’s Association (L.E.T.A.)

No. In 1992, officers conducted surveillance on the house of a suspected marijuana grower (Danny Kyllo) and based upon the abnormal heat signatures coming from the house, entered, found a grow operation, and arrested Kyllo. ... read more

Training is absolutely necessary before use of a thermal imager in case applications. The reason is to be able to demonstrate to the courts ... read more

Many more! The Law Enforcement Thermographer’s Association (L.E.T.A.) have a list of several approved applications, including the following. ... read more