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Welding tents protect people from harmful ultraviolet radiation produced during welding. They must comply with safety regulations, be non-combustible, and allow for ventilation. Different colors absorb different frequencies of radiation and sparks can start a fire, so they must be flame retardant and allow for fumes to escape.
Welding tents are shields, treated to absorb ultraviolet radiation, that can be installed around a welding workstation to protect people in the area. Most forms of welding produce a bright flash of light that can be harmful to workers and bystanders. Short-term dangers include eye burns, while long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation produced during welding can cause cancer. While a safe welder should always wear the proper face shield and safety goggles when working, bystanders and others working nearby may not always have the same protection. That’s why welding tents are important.
Welding curtains must be manufactured and used in compliance with local or regional safety requirements. In the United States, their use is required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 29 CFR, Part 1910.252(b)(2)(iii). Regardless of where welding tents are used, they must protect workers and others in the area from ultraviolet radiation, be non-combustible or flame retardant, and not restrict ventilation.
While welding tents can be installed permanently, many of them are portable, allowing people to configure their workspaces based on the job at hand. Some curtains are designed to hang from a rod on rings, like a shower curtain, so they can be opened or closed as needed. Another type of blind is a weld screen, made of ultraviolet-resistant material that is stretched over a metal or plastic frame. Welding shields often have wheels to allow them to be moved around easily.
The color of the curtain material matters; different colors absorb different frequencies of radiation and blue light. For example, yellow curtains are suitable for low amperage welding, while green curtains are suitable for medium amperage welding. A well-stocked shop will have screening material available for each type of welding performed there. Most screening material is transparent, allowing workers to see their surroundings.
Welding produces hot sparks and metal debris that can start a fire. This is why the material of a welding tent must be flame retardant. They must also be set up in such a way as not to limit emergency exit routes in the event of a fire.
When hanging or arranging welding tents, always leave enough space underneath for fumes to escape from the work area and for clean air to enter. Welding curtains must also be designed to fit together or overlap, preventing radiation leakage in corners and areas where two screens meet. Welding curtains should be at least large enough to shield the area where the welding is being done.
