Safety glasses & face protection
Eyes are among our most precious, but also most vulnerable senses. Unfortunately, eye accidents occur regularly every year causing permanent damage such as loss of vision. It is not without reason that eye and face protection is one of the most important means of personal protection.
Hazards to the eyes and face in the industry:
- Mechanical hazards: small and large dust particles, shocks
- Thermal hazards: hot liquids, molten metal, flames
- Chemical and biological hazards: splashes of acids, solvents, lye, infected blood
- Radiation hazards: ultraviolet, infrared, visible light, laser
- Electrical hazards: direct contact, electric arcs in the event of an electrical short circuit
Different types of eye and face protection
- Safety glasses
- Wide view goggles
- Fit-over glasses
- Face shields
- Accessories & eyewash bottles
Marking Safety glasses & face protection
Safety glasses with or without correction lenses must be examined and certified by an independent laboratory. Based on this examination the performance of the equipment may be disclosed based on the criteria of guideline EN 166. All markings on both lenses and frames must be permanently and clearly legible. The frame and lens are marked separately. Unless they form a whole, then the marking is applied to the frame. The marking of the frame must include the CE symbol and the identity of the manufacturer (Logo or brand name). If glasses refer to an EN standard, the EN standard number is mandatory with the various symbols of the field of application and the mechanical resistance according to tests requested by the manufacturer.
The basic standards
- EN166 Guarantee of minimum resistance for protection against common risks (falling to the ground, photoaging, exposure to heat, corrosion, etc.)
- EN167 Optical test methods.
- EN168 Non-optical test methods
Standards type of use
The type of use of the product and the corresponding standard are identified by a code (domain of use) in the lens marking
- EN169 Filters for welding work.
- EN170 Filters for ultraviolet (code 2 or 3).
- EN171 Filters for infrared (code 4)
- EN172 Protective sunlight filters for industrial use (code 5 or 6)
- EN175 Equipment for welding works (presence of the EN175 marking on the product).
- EN207 Laser safety glasses (code LB1 to LB10)
- EN208 Laser adjustment glasses (code R1 to R5)
- EN379 Specification regarding welding filters (marking EN379 on the filter).
Lens & frame marking
The marking of the lenses must include:
Level number for filtering lenses (code).
- 2 or 3: Ultra Violet UV Filter (EN 170)
- 4: Infrared IR Filter (EN 171)
- 5 or 6: Sunlight filter (EN 172)
- C: Color perception unchanged (Can be in combination)
Protection class
This class determines the filtering degree of visible light (1.2 to 6)
The manufacturer's identification (logo or marking recommended by the manufacturer)
This may be a logo or text that identifies the manufacturer.
Examples:
- Crown logo Bollé
- MSA Logo of MSA
- 3M from 3M
- W of Uvex
Optical class symbols:
- 1. Continuous work - permanent wearing.
- 2. Periodic work - periodic wearing.
- 3. Occasional work where permanent wearing is not necessary.
Symbols of the scope:
- 8. Short circuits
- 9. Molten metals and hot solids.
Mechanical resistance symbols: Mandatory indication on the frame and lens.
- S. Reinforced durability; offers resistance to a ball of 22 mm and 43 g falling from a height of 1.30 m at 5.1 m/s.
- F. Weak impact; offers resistance to a ball of 6 mm and 0.86 g that hits at 45 m/s.
- B. Medium impact; offers resistance to a ball of 6 mm and 0.86 g that hits at 120 m/s.
- A. Major impact; offers resistance to a ball of 6 mm and 0.86 g that hits at 190 m/s.
- T. The letter T; immediately after the mechanical resistance symbol allows use in environments where particles are projected at high speed and extreme temperatures.
Mention on the lens only.
- K. Resistance to surface damage by small particles (optional).
- N. Condensation resistance (optional).
The marking of the frames must include the following
The marking of the frame must include the CE symbol and the identity of the manufacturer (logo or brand name). If the glasses refer to an EN standard, the EN standard number is mandatory with the various symbols of the field of application and the mechanical resistance according to the tests requested by the manufacturer.
Symbols of the field of application: Only indicated on the frame (chemical protection).
- 3. Droplets (wide view goggles) or projections (face shields) of liquids.
- 4. Coarse projection particles > 5 microns.
- 5. Gas and small dust particles < 5 microns.
Mandatory marking on the frame and lens.
- 8. Short circuits.
- 9. Molten metals and hot solids.
Mechanical resistance symbols: Mandatory indication on the frame and lens.
- S. Reinforced durability; offers resistance to a ball of 22 mm and 43 g falling from a height of 1.30 m at 5.1 m/s
- F. Weak impact; offers resistance to a ball of 6 mm and 0.86 g that hits at 45 m/s
- B. Medium impact; offers resistance to a ball of 6 mm and 0.86 g that hits at 120 m/s
Lens properties
Lens materials
The two main materials of safety glasses are mineral glass (thermally hardened or chemically hardened) or special plastic (polycarbonate or cellulose acetate).
- Mineral glasses are very suitable for very dusty environments where scratch resistance or attack by certain chemicals are of decisive importance. They are less sensitive to scratches, have good impact resistance, but are relatively heavy and sensitive to burn-in from welding and grinding sparks.
- Plastic lenses are usable in almost all working environments. They are made of polycarbonate (PC) or cellulose acetate (AC).
- Polycarbonate (PC) lenses are particularly impact-resistant and lightweight. PC lenses are always provided with a scratch-resistant layer as standard, but are much less suitable for working with aggressive chemicals.
- Cellulose acetate (AC) lenses have good scratch resistance and are particularly well suited for work with chemicals
Lens colors
Different lens colors have different applications and provide different protection against impact and light hazards.
| Lens color | Protection against | Applications | EN Standards |
| Colorless Clear PC | Impact and UV | Mechanical work (Good visibility) | EN 166 and EN 169 |
| Yellow (Amber) | Impact, UV and blue light | Surface inspection, hunting, mechanical work | EN 166 and EN 169 |
| Orange | Impact, UV and blue light | Surface inspection, medical treatment, mechanical work | EN 166 and EN 169 |
| Tinted | Impact, UV, blue light, bright light | Outdoor work, mechanical work in blinding light, recreation | EN 166 and EN 172 |
| Indoor-outdoor (I/O) | Impact, UV and blinding light | Forklift, mechanical work (indoor/outdoor) | EN 166 and EN 172 |
| Mirror (Silver, Red, Blue) | Impact, scratches, UV light, sunlight and bright rays due to reflection of harmful light rays | Outdoor work, mechanical work in blinding light, recreation | EN 166 and |