What are the safety glasses international standards?

23 September, 2024

Author: NINGBO TOPRISE SECURITY PRODUCTS CO.,LTD

The international standard for safety glasses ensures that the glasses provide appropriate protection in different working environments. The following are the main international standards and their requirements.

ANSI Z87.1 (US standard)

Full name: ANSI Z87.1-2020, published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Shock resistance test: divided into two categories.
Basic shock and high impact. High-impact testing involves high-speed, heavy impact testing, requiring safety glasses that can withstand the impact of a steel ball at approximately 150 feet per second without breaking or affecting vision.
Protection category: including protective liquid, flying debris, chemicals, heat, etc.
Optical requirements: Ensure consistent transmittance to prevent distortion or distortion of vision.
UV protection: UV filtration with 100% protection is required.
Major certification bodies: Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek, and other independent third-party laboratories.

EN 166 (European Standard)

Full name: EN 166:2001 is the European Union standard for personal protective equipment.

Optical performance: divided into four categories to ensure light transmittance and field of view without distortion. Optical class 1 indicates continuous use.
Mechanical strength: four grades: F (low energy impact), B (medium energy impact), A (high energy impact), T (impact resistance at extreme temperatures).
Protective liquids and particles: marked with different symbols, representing spatter, dust, molten metal, and other protective properties.
Major certification bodies: Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek, and other independent third-party laboratories.

CSA Z94.3 (Canadian Standard)

Full name: CSA Z94.3-2020 from the Canadian Standards Association.

Impact protection: Similar to ANSI, high-speed impact testing is required to verify that the glasses are effectively protected in industrial environments.
Protective field of view: Ensure wide field of view coverage to prevent side splashes from entering the eye.
Chemical splash resistance: Penetration testing of chemical liquids is required, especially in laboratory settings.
Major certification body: Certification bodies include the CSA Group (Canadian Standards Association) and independent bodies such as QAI and Intertek.

AS/NZS 1337.1 (Australia/New Zealand Standard)

Full name: AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 is the standard for industrial protective eyewear.

Impact testingincludes high-energy impact testing to ensure that the glasses will not break when protected against large impact forces.
Extreme temperature testing: Glasses must be protected against high or low temperatures.
Optical requirements: There are clear provisions for optical clarity and protective coatings, including anti-fog coatings and UV protection.
Major certification bodies: SAI Global, TUV SUD, and other qualified testing and certification bodies.

Other requirements and features:

Scratch resistance: Most standards require a scratch-resistant coating for lenses to improve durability, especially ANSI Z87.1 and EN 166.
Marking requirements: Each pair of certified safety glasses shall be marked with a sign that they comply with this standard. For example, EN 166 standard eyeglasses will be labeled EN 166, indicating the level of protection.

How do I choose the right standard?

The selection criteria should be based on the specific requirements of the working environment.

For example:

Industrial environments (heavy machinery, construction): Glasses that meet ANSI Z87.1 or CSA Z94.3 standards should be preferred to ensure impact resistance.
Laboratory and chemical environments: Choose EN 166 or AS/NZS 1337-certified glasses to protect against liquid and chemical spatter.
Extreme temperatures or outdoor environments: Preference is given to glasses with UV protection and impact resistance to extreme temperatures, such as those compliant with AS/NZS 1337.

Conclusion

Each standard has its own specific workplace to adapt to, so it is crucial to choose the right standard based on the specific risks and needs at work.