PPE for Demolition: What You Actually Need & Why It Matters

Sep 03, 2025

Demolition PPE includes hard hats, respirators, goggles, gloves, steel-toe boots, and fall gear. This equipment is what stands between you and concrete dust in your lungs, rebar through your boot, or a ten-foot fall that ends your week (or worse).

Must-have PPE for demolition:

Hard hat (with chin strap)
Safety goggles + face shield
Earplugs or earmuffs
Respirator (P100 filters)
Cut-resistant gloves
Steel-toe, anti-slip boots
Flame-resistant, hi-vis clothing
Full-body harness (for heights)

If you’re tired of PPE that fits like trash bags and smells like regret, that’s where Armed American Supply steps in. We make high-vis gear that’s breathable, durable, and funny enough to keep morale up while you’re eating dust.

Keep reading, we’ll show you what gear you need, why it matters, and how to stay protected without suiting up like you’re in a hazmat training video.

Task-Based PPE: What to Wear for Specific Demo Jobs

Concrete Demolition

When you're busting up concrete, you're kicking up one of the most dangerous substances on a jobsite, silica dust. That stuff doesn’t just irritate your lungs, it scars them for life.

What to wear: A tight-seal respirator with P100 filters, safety goggles, anti-vibration gloves, steel-toe boots with grippy soles, and ear protection.
Pro Tip: Wet-cutting or misting can help keep dust down; skip this and you’re basically asking for silicosis by 40.

Interior Demo (Bathrooms, Kitchens, Basements)

These spaces may seem “safer,” but they come with their own brand of chaos, mold, mildew, rusted metal, and tight quarters full of hidden wires.

What to wear: Eye and face protection, lightweight gloves with good dexterity, and a pump sprayer to dampen dust before breaking drywall. Add a half-mask respirator if you’re dealing with old paint or tile adhesives.

High-Rise or Structural Demo

Anything above ground level adds height, instability, and wind to the equation, and all of it can go south real fast.

What to wear: Full-body safety harness, lifelines, lanyards, and helmets with chin straps. PPE must be fall-rated and OSHA-approved; no shortcuts. If you’re not clipped in, you’re one misstep from a stretcher.

Moldy or Water-Damaged Structures

You’re not just dealing with soft rot, you’re breathing in spores, bacteria, and whatever’s growing behind that soaked drywall.

What to wear: Disposable coveralls, waterproof boot covers, and a full-face respirator. Don’t mess around with mold; it’s not worth your lungs or your lawsuit.

Maintenance & Replacement: Don’t Wear Junk on a Demo Site

When to Replace Your Gear

If your gloves are frayed, your helmet’s got a dent, or your respirator filter smells like last week’s demo dust, you’re gambling with your safety. PPE has a shelf life, and job sites don’t play nice with worn-out gear.

Here’s your quick-hit visual inspection checklist:

Gloves: Cuts, tears, or loose threads? Toss ‘em.
Helmets: Cracks, UV fading, or compromised suspension? Time for a new one.
Boots: Worn tread or exposed steel toe? You're one slip away from a busted ankle.
Respirators: Filter dates expired or breathing feels off? Change it now.

Don’t wait until your equipment fails mid-task. Demolition moves fast; your gear should keep up or get out.

Cleaning and Storage Tips

If you’re tossing your gloves in the bed of your truck and letting your hard hat roll around next to your coffee thermos, you’re doing it wrong.

Hang it. Store it. Clean it.

Your PPE isn’t indestructible, and grit will wear it down faster than a grinder on drywall.

Helmets and goggles: Wipe them down daily; sweat and dust weaken plastic.
Gloves and vests: Shake out the dirt, hang to dry.
Respirator filters: Track usage and replace based on hours and exposure, not just the date on the box.

Bottom line? Treat your gear like it’s got your back, because it does.

Don’t Gamble With Demo, Gear Up Right

Demolition doesn’t offer second chances. Your PPE is your first, and sometimes only, line of defense between a solid day’s work and a hospital visit. Whether you’re ripping out concrete, knocking down walls, or gutting old kitchens, the right gear is key.

But here’s the good news. Staying safe doesn’t mean looking like a safety poster from 1987.

With the right gear, you can protect yourself and bring some attitude to the job. That’s where Armed American Supply comes in; we make high-vis gear that’s tough, breathable, and built for laughs.

Because we know that a good shirt can get you through a rough shift, one side-eye smirk at a time.

So if you’re ready to show up, gear up, and stand out, check out our high-vis collection. Made for real crews who get dirty, get loud, and get the job done right.