Hazmat
Get full-body coverage when working with chemicals and contaminants by wearing a hazmat suit. We carry popular brands and styles like Dupont Tyvek and PIP. For instance, the HazMat Coverall Tyvek Suits are our most popular suits for professionals and those working on home improvements. Materials for this disposable apparel vary depending on the type of chemical or organic compound resistance protection you're looking for. Pair your hazmat suit with a respirator for further protection. You can view our biohazard suit product line below. Some are individual and some are sold by the case.
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What are the different types of hazmat suits?
In the United States, hazmat protective clothing can have one of four different ratings depending on the protection that they provide. Level A provides the greatest protection for wearers, and level D the lowest. Each level of protection has its uses, so don’t assume that the lowest level is bad or not worth it. In fact, if you don’t need the maximum level of protection, the lower-level suits tend to be lighter, thinner, and easier to work in. The following are general guidelines, and your combination of protective equipment should be based on your job description and site circumstances.
Level A protection is for when the greatest exposure risk exists, and the greatest level of protection is required. Examples of this level of hazmat protective equipment include positive pressure, full facepiece self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units, or positive pressure supplied air respirators with escape SCBA; enclosed chemical- and vapor-protective suit; inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, and disposable protective suit, gloves, and boots over top.
Level B protection is for situations requiring more respiratory protection than skin protection, such as worksites where the atmospheric vapor or gas levels aren’t high enough to justify level A protection. Positive pressure, full facepiece SCBA or positive-pressure supplied air respirators are seen here, along with inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, face shields, hooded chemical resistant clothing, coveralls, and outer chemical-resistant boots.
Level C protection is needed when there’s a known concentration, and the type of airborne substances and the criteria for air purifying respirators is met. This level of equipment includes full-face air purifying respirators, inner and outer chemical-resistant gloves, a hard hat, escape mask, and disposable chemical-resistant outer boots.
Level D protection is enough for situations with no contamination risks, no risk of being splashed or immersed in liquids, and likely no radioactive chemicals. Here you’ll see gloves, coveralls, safety glasses, face shields, and chemical-resistant, steel-toe boots or shoes.
What is hazmat protection?
Hazmat protection refers to the ability of a garment or other piece of PPE to protect the wearer against hazardous substances or materials. However, this is a broad term because different suits will protect against different hazards and degrees of hazards, which means that the suits will require different materials, seam configurations, and garment designs and features. The type of protection you need will depend on your industry and job description, which will point you in the direction of a specific suit. In general, hazmat protection can refer to hazards such as chemicals, biological agents, nuclear materials, fire, and high temperatures. Hazmat protection can protect against dust, gases, vapors, splashes, or sparks from fires.
Are hazmat suits reusable?
That depends on two things: the suit and the hazards on the job. For DIYers and other civilian consumers, the hazard suits needed are generally single-use and disposable, and it would be really inconvenient to try cleaning and reusing a disposable suit. Suits that can be cleaned, decontaminated, and reused are going to be more professional and more expensive to purchase and clean. Always read the user guide for any piece of PPE, but for hazmat suits, keep an eye out for whether your suit can be reused and how to properly prepare it if you can.
What type of hazmat suit should be used for radiation?
Hazmat suits designed to protect against radiation might have radiation shielding in the lining, but in general, they’re designed to prevent or minimize direct contact with or inhalation of radioactive materials. They’re also designed to wear in affected areas and then removed and disposed of, eliminating the danger of long-term exposure as well as contamination. More body coverage is better when it comes to radiation, so these suits will have hooded coveralls. They should be accompanied by respirators, goggles, gloves, footwear, and other pieces of PPE.