0 items in your basket
Total £ 0.00 EX VAT
Multi Process Welders
MIG Torches
TIG Torches
Welding Helmets
Welding Gloves & Clothing
MMA Electrodes
MIG Wire
Shop 55,000 Products
SERVICEDEPT.
RAPID BLOG
FEEDBACK
HIRE
Answers for buyers choosing and looking after Bluetooth-enabled auto-darkening welding helmets, including those used with a powered air system.
Welding fume is a health risk, and the HSE says that for arc welding a powered or supplied air respirator is the preferred option, ideally one that combines respiratory, eye and face protection with an assigned protection factor of at least 20. A helmet designed to work with a powered air unit gives you that combined protection in one piece of kit.Tight-fitting masks can become uncomfortable, and people then loosen or remove them. A powered system blows filtered air across the face, which many welders find easier to wear for a full shift. Check the unit's data plate and manual to confirm it suits the helmet you choose.
It depends on the work. The HSE points out that particulate filters do not protect against the gases that are present in welding fume. Depending on the process, the material and any coatings, your risk assessment may call for a combined filter that also deals with gases or vapours.Always use the filter types and breathing tube that the powered unit's maker approves for your helmet, as mixing parts can invalidate the protection. If you are unsure which filter your work needs, our team can help you choose, but the final decision should rest on your risk assessment and the maker's instructions.
Reusable respiratory protective equipment needs regular thorough examination and, where appropriate, testing, carried out by properly trained people following the maker's instructions. The HSE's guidance on respiratory protective equipment says this should be monthly, or every three months if the equipment is used less often, with records of examinations, tests and repairs kept.This is separate from the quick check you do yourself before each use. Your employer or safety adviser should set the programme from the maker's instructions and your risk assessment, and worn hoses, seals and filters should be replaced promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled examination.
On helmets with Bluetooth, a smartphone app can usually let you change settings such as shade, sensitivity and delay without taking the helmet off, check battery status and sometimes save groups of settings for different jobs. Some designs can also link to the welding power source so the lens reacts before the arc is struck.Features differ between makers and software versions, so read the manual to see what your helmet and app support. Always confirm that the shade you have set is suitable for the process and current before you strike an arc.
