Revolutionary new hard hats are ‘cool’

Experts at Qatar University have developed solar-powered air conditioned hats for construction workers operating in extreme heat.

The hats come with a built-in fan that can reduce the skin temperature of wearers by up to 10 degreees Celsius.

Dr Saud Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, professor at the College of Engineering at Qatar University, said, “This type of body-based cooling technology has been used before in US sports for training purposes in hot states, but we have now developed this innovative solution for the construction sector and we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the construction industry in hotter areas of the world.”

The solar-powered fan within the hard hat draws in hot air, which is then cooled by phase change materials, before being filtered onto the worker’s head.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – the body responsible for the development of Qatar’s World Cup stadiums – has reportedly ordered the new helmets, following intense criticism of its treatment of migrant construction workers.