Eye protection standards explained
Eye and face protection products are covered by a number of European (EN) and national standards. Currently the main European standard for personal eye protection is EN 166. A number of other EN standards cover different lens types and applications, including sunglare filters, welding protection and mesh eye and face protectors. American and Australian/New Zealand standards are also widely applied to eye protection.
Read on to learn more about global performance, testing and safety standards for eye protection products.
EN 166 – Personal eye protection. Specifications
As the main specification for personal eye protectors, the majority of workplace eye and face protection products are covered by this standard. This standard sets out requirements relating to design and materials, performance features and options, marking and user instructions. Separate standards cover additional features and product types including specifications for UV filters, mesh eye and face protector and welding protection.
EN 166 testing requirements are divided into basic, particular and optional. Basic requirements relating to all eye protectors include several tests to determine the optical class of the lens. The higher the optical class the less distortion to vision with optical class 1 lenses being appropriate for continuous wear. Basic requirements also include testing of the complete eye protector such as, for robustness and resistance to ignition. Particular requirements are given for eye protectors to which they are appropriate – which includes protection against high speed particles (impact), protection against liquid droplets or splashes and protection against optical radiation – referring to additional standards mentioned above where appropriate. Optional requirements cover more specialised features such as lens anti-scratch and anti-fogging properties, impact properties at extremes of temperature and infrared protection.
Eye and face protectors are marked on the ocular (lens) and frame according to their properties and fields of use. Markings include numbers and letters appearing in a certain order to denote properties such as optical class, impact rating, UV protection, and any other type of protection offered or features held by the eye protector. Additionally products show the standard number manufacturer’s trademark and are supplied with comprehensive instructions detailing the meaning of all markings.
EN 170 – Personal eye-protection. Ultraviolet filters. Transmittance requirements and recommended use
This standard covers UV protection and is additional to EN 166, the main standard for personal eye protectors. Requirements are given for light transmittance, with additional stipulations for oculars with enhanced colour recognition.
Scale numbers, made up of a code number and a shade number separated by a hyphen, are used to show the ultraviolet radiation protection offered by an eye protector. A clear lens with UV protection is marked 2-1.2 – with ‘2’ being the code number, and ‘1.2’ representing the lens shade. Enhanced colour recognition adds a ‘C’ to the code number (or alternatively becomes a ‘3’ in some products) so the same lens with enhanced colour recognition properties would be marked 2C-1.2 or 3-1.2.
EN 172 – Specification for sunglare filters used in personal eye-protectors for industrial use
The EN 172 standard covers sunglare filters for industrial use and is additional to EN 166, the main standard for personal eye protection. Requirements are given for permissible light transmittance, divided into scale numbers beginning ‘5’ for oculars without infrared protection and scale numbers beginning ‘6’ for oculars with infrared protection, with an additional requirement for filters within a set range of scale numbers for recognition of signal lights to ensure safe use while driving.
Scale numbers, made up of a code number and a shade number separated by a hyphen, are used to show the protection offered by the lens. Code numbers 5 & 6 are used for lenses meeting EN 172 with and without infrared protection respectively. Shade numbers range from 1.1 – 4.1, with shades 1.1 – 3.1 having to meet the recognition of signal lights requirement. A common smoke lens with no infrared protection would be marked 5-2.5 – with ‘5’ being the code number and ‘2.5’ representing the lens shade. This scale number also falls within the range for recognition of signal lights and is therefore safe to use while driving.
EN 175 – Personal protection. Equipment for eye and face protection during welding and allied processes.
This standard covers equipment for eye and face protection during welding and allied processes. Requirements are given for eye and face protectors designed to incorporate protective filters complying with EN 169, Personal eye-protection – Filters for welding and related techniques. Transmittance requirements and recommended use or EN 379, Personal eye-protection – Automatic welding filters.
Testing and assessment includes general requirements such as coverage area, resistance to ignition and hot penetration, light attenuation, and electrical insulation. Requirements are also given for protectors with special characteristics, such as protection against high speed particles and molten metals and hot solids, and stability to water immersion. Welding shields are marked with the standard number, manufacturer’s trademark, field(s) of use, and mass (in grams).
EN 169 – Personal eye-protection. Filters for welding and related techniques. Transmittance requirements and recommended use
This standard specifies the transmittance requirements for lenses intended for use in welding and related techniques. Other requirements for the ocular are given in EN 166, and in EN 175 for the frame or mounting.
Welding oculars are marked with a scale or shade number, the majority of which are in single digit format. Shades appropriate for gas welding range from 4-7, with lenses for certain cutting processes up to shade number 16 with a maximum of just 0.000061% luminous transmittance. The standard also sets out shade numbers applicable to different uses.
EN 379 – Personal eye-protection. Automatic welding filters
This standard sets out requirements for automatic welding filters and makes reference to EN 166, the main standard for personal eye protection, and EN 175, eye and face protection during welding and allied processes. Requirements cover transmittance and viewing area, as well as measuring the time taken to switch between shades and manual control of the dark shade.
Automatic welding filters are marked with the neutral, lightest, and darkest shades, optical class, manufacturer’s trademark and the standard number. The standard also sets out shade numbers applicable to different uses.
EN 1731 – Personal eye protection. Mesh eye and face protectors.
The EN 1731 standard gives requirements for mesh eye and face protectors, covering browguard-mounted faceshield products and helmet-mounted versions. Some clauses refer to EN 166, the main standard for personal eye protection. Testing and assessment includes coverage area, resistance to corrosion and ignition, luminous transmittance, and robustness. Protection against high speed particles is included as an optional requirement.
Mesh eye and face protectors are marked with the standard number, manufacturer’s trademark, and symbol of mechanical strength – for example ‘S’ for robustness, or ‘F’ for protection against high speed particles – low energy impact.
GS-ET-29 – Principles of testing and certification of face shields for electrical work
This supplementary standard sets out requirements for faceshields worn by electricians during work in which a risk of a fault arc exists and applies in addition to EN 166, the main standard for personal eye protection. Requirements are given for light transmittance and arc testing. Faceshields are given two classes, for light transmittance and fault arc resistance, which are marked on the product along with relevant EN 166 markings.
ANSI Z87. 1 – The American National Standards Institute standard of Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices
This American national standard sets out criteria related to the description, general requirements, testing, marking, selection, care, and use of protectors to minimise or prevent injuries from such hazards as impact, non-ionising radiation and chemical type injuries in occupational and educational environments including, but not limited to, machinery operations, material welding and cutting, chemical handling, and assembly operations.
AS/NZS 1337.1 – Personal eye protection. Part 1: Eye and face protectors for occupational applications
This Australian and New Zealand standard specifies minimum requirements for non-prescription eye and face protectors and associated oculars. They are designed to provide protection for the eyes and face against common occupational hazards such as flying particles and fragments, dusts, liquid splash and molten metals, harmful gases, vapours and aerosols. A separate standard, AS/NZS 1337.2, applies for mesh eye and face protectors.
AS/NZS 1337.2 – Personal eye protection. Part 2: Mesh eye and face protectors for occupational applications
This Australian and New Zealand standard specifies minimum requirements for mesh eye and face protectors. Testing requirements include light transmittance and impact protection. A separate standard, AS/NZS 1337.1, applies for general eye and face protectors to protect against risks such as liquid splash, molten metal, hot solids risks, electrical hazards, ultraviolet and infra-red radiation.
International Consultant
2 年I have heard that the EN 166 is no longer valid. Here in Brazil we are doing the project to move from ANSI to ISO standards. I am the coordinator for eye and face protection for Brazilian standards and it is good to have your point of view about it. Thank You!