Side-by-side comparison of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003 and ... - US Safety

Side-by-side comparison of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003 and ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 

Introduction 

The ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 standard is developed by the Z87 Committee on Eye and Face Protection, which is an accredited committee 

operating under the procedures established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). As Secretariat of the committee, 

ISEA is responsible for the administrative functions of the committee. The committee’s membership, consisting of a crossrepresentation 

of various stakeholder interests (producers, users, government agencies, technical and professional organizations, 

testing laboratories) serves as the final approval body for the standard. The public is invited to review the standard at the same time 

as it is being considered for approval by the Z87 committee. 

There are challenges in providing a true side-by-side comparison of the two editions given that the 2010 edition represents a 

dramatic change in the way the document is organized. The 2003 version and its predecessors were organized based on protector 

type (spectacles, goggle, faceshields and welding helmets). Each protector type had its own chapter in the standard, leading to 

significant repetition of content despite the fact that performance tests, optical properties and markings were the same regardless of 

the protector type. 

During the development of the 2010 edition, the Z87 Committee reorganized the document such that it focuses on demonstrating 

protection against a given hazard, placing more emphasis on selecting a protector based on its protective properties and less on its 

configuration type. This hazard-based approach mirrors accepted international eye and face protection standards and is seen as 

more useful to the employer in choosing the appropriate eyewear for the worker. 

As part of this emphasis of selection based on hazards, the 2010 edition includes performance testing and product markings for 

workplace hazards including impact, droplet and splash, optical radiation, dust, fine dust and mist. General requirements for all 

protector types are applied to assess optical qualities, minimum robustness (drop ball impact), ignition, corrosion resistance, and 

minimum coverage. It is noted that there are some performance assessments that are unique (either in test execution or pass-fail 

criteria or both) to a specific protector configuration, such as welding devices or prescription safety eyewear. The 2010 standard 

defines the number of samples to be tested when assessing the protector’s ability to meet applicable performance criteria. 

Despite the change in appearance and addition of testing based on hazards, it is believed that the products complying with 

ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 are at least as protective as those meeting the editions cited in OSHA regulations. A comparison of the 

product performance aspects is noted below: 

Prepared under the direction of the Eye and Face Protection Group of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), secretariat to ANSI/ISEA Z87.1

ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003/2010 Comparison – page 2 

General – Optical and Physical (for all protector types or individual configurations, as noted) 

OPTICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Criteria ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003 ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010 Notes/Rationale 

Optical Quality 

Criteria for individual 

protectors. See: 

Section 7.4.3.1 

Section 7.5.3 

Section 8.4.1 

Section 9.4.1 

Section 10.5.1 

Section 5.1.1 (criteria) 

Section 9.1 (test method) 

No change. 

2003 version included criteria 

and method in same section. 

2010 version separates them 

out for consistency in 

standard’s organization. 

Luminous Transmission 

(clear lenses) 




Section 7.5.4 

Section 8.4.6 

Section 8.5.2 

Section 9.4.5 




Table 1 



No change. 

Haze 




Section 8.4.5 

Section 9.4.4 




No change.



Refractive Power, 

Astigmatism – Plano 




Section 8.4.3 





Table 1 

No change. 

All tolerances have been 

consolidated into a single 

table. 

Resolving Power – Plano 




Section 8.4.4 

Section 9.4.3 





Table 1 

No change. 

. 

Prism and Prism Imbalance - 

Plano 




Section 8.4.2 

Section 9.4.2 





Table 2 

No change. 

All tolerances have been 


table. 

Refractive Power, 

Astigmatism, Prism and Prism 

Imbalance,– Prescription 

Section 7.5.3 Section 5.1.5 No change. 

Reference test method 

updated to reflect more 

current version.


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 


Minimum Lens Thickness 


protectors: 

Section 7.3.2 




Section 5.3, Table 3 (criteria) 

No change. 

Drop-Ball Impact Resistance 



Section 7.3.1 

Section 7.4.1 

Section 7.5.1 







Applies part of the “basic 

impact” lens test from 2003 

version to a full assembly as 

an indicator of minimum 

overall robustness and is 

universally applied rather than 

being protector dependent. 

1 in. ball 

2.4 oz. 

50 in. drop 

Flammability 



Section 7.6 

Section 8.6 

Section 9.6 

Section 10.6 


Replaced with ignition test. 

(see below) 

Not representative of realistic 

use as it measured resistance 

to material igniting from 

contact with hot metal rather 

than the unlikely event that 

the device will be in flames. 

Ignition test (as noted below) 

replicate more realistic 

assessment for protectors.



Ignition None. Section 5.2.3 (criteria) 

Section 9.7 (test) 

New. 

Corrosion Resistance 



Section 7.7 

Section 8.7 

Section 9.7 

Section 10.7 




No change. 

Cleanability 



Section 7.8 

Section 8.8 

Section 9.8 

Section 10.8 


Deleted. 

Assessment seen as too 

subjective to be useful. 

Manufacturers’ instructions 

tend to include cleaning 

instructions that will not 

compromise the device. 

Minimum Coverage None. Section 5.2.5 (criteria) Assures that little-to-none of 

the soft tissue within the 

wearer’s orbital socket is 

exposed to flying particles.


OTHER REQUIREMENTS (configuration specific) 


Ventilation, goggles Section 8.9 

Section 8.9.1 

Section 8.9.2 

Section 5.5.1 



Language specifies 

orientation of protector 

(maximum open position) 

when tested to other methods 

Screen windows and screen 

lenses 

Transmittance (non lens 

area), welding protectors 

Section 9.5 Section 5.5.2 No change. 



Section 8.10 



Section 5.5.3.1 (criteria) 


Language clarifies area of 

evaluation (that which 

exposes itself forward). 

Light Tightness, welding 

protectors 





No change. 

Frames for replaceable or 

removable lenses 

Section 5.5.4 

New. Language reflects 

movement toward completedevice 

testing as required by 

the 2010 edition. 

Respiratory protection, 



Section 11.2 

Section 11.3 

Section 11.4 

Section 11.5 

Section 5.5.5 

No change.



Replaceable Lenses, goggles 

and welding 

helmets/handshields 



Section 8.11 

Section 10.10 



Section 5.6.1 

Section 5.6.2 

No change. 

Aftermarket Components Section 5.7 New. 

Requires that non-original 

equipment manufacturers of 

devices that are represented 

as an “accessory” to 

protectors perform testing to 

assure that such accessory 

does not compromise the 

integrity of the Z87 protector. 

Also assures that replacement 

lenses, claimed as compatible 

with various frames, meet the 

standard in all combinations. 

These put structure and 

requirements on the growing 

number of “universal” 

accessory and replacement 

parts being offered.


Assessments for Hazard-Based Protectors 

IMPACT RATED (referred to as high-impact in 2003 standard) 


Frames and Shells Section 7.2 Section 6.1.2 2010 version requires that 

plano spectacles are to be 

tested as complete devices 

and allows prescription 

spectacles to be tested with a 

representative test lens 

Testing extended to frames 

and shells encompass testing 

of welding helmets. 

Lateral (side coverage) None. Section 6.1.3 (criteria) 

Section 9.10.1 (test method) 

2010 standard now requires 

lateral coverage for impact 

rated protectors. Inclusion is 

consistent with other 

international product 

standards. 

Assessment criteria and test 

method written to 

accommodate spectacles 

designed to be tested on the 

smaller headform.



High Mass 

High Velocity 



Section 7.2.1 

Section 7.4.2.1.1 










Section 7.2.2 

Section 7.4.2.1.2 













Table 5 

No change in pass/fail criteria. 

Test method language 

clarifies designated test height 

(50 in.) and changed the 

spherical radius of the missile 

from 1mm (2003) to 

3.175mm (2010) revision to 

provide a more “blunt” impact. 

Includes language to 

accommodate prescription 

lens carriers. 


Velocities have been 


table. 

Assessment criteria and test 

method written to 

accommodate spectacles 

designed to be tested on the 

smaller headform. 

Testing includes fewer impact 

sites, in 30° increments and 

defines the area of where the 

impact must occur at each 

test point. 

Includes language to 

accommodate prescription 

lens carriers.



Penetration 



Section 7.3.3 

Section 7.4.2.1.3 











Assessed only for impactrated 

protectors. 

Test method section has been 

updated to specify that new 

needle must be used for each 

drop and specifies the 

diameter from the center of 

the eye drop zone.


OPTICAL RADIATION 


Autodarkening Welding Filter 

(ADF) Lenses 

Section 10.12,1 and 10.12.2 

and 10.12.3 (criteria) 


Table 1 



Table 6 

Requires testing in lightest 

and darkest designated 

states, not each designated 

state. 

Table number references are 

changed, but spectral 

requirements for shades are 

unchanged. 

Switching Index (ADF) 



Table 3 



Table 11 

Clarifies that switching is 

measured from the light to 

dark state. 

Occlusion 





Table number references are 

changed, but switching 

speeds are unchanged. 

No change. 

Optical Radiation Filters 

---Special Purpose 

Lenses/Filters 

Specific descriptions: 





Section 10.11 (marking) 

Table 2 

Section 3 (definition) 

Table 10 (special purpose 

lenses transmittance) 

No change. “S” marking still 

applies.



Optical Radiation 

---Variable Tint Lenses 




No change. “V” marking still 

applies. 

Optical Radiation Filters 

---Clear and Filter 


protectors with filter lenses: 


Section 7.5.4 

Section 8.4.6 

Section 8.5.2 

Section 9.4.5 




Table 1 

Sections 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 

(criteria) except visible light 

filters 

Section 7.1.4 (criteria for light 

filters) 


except visible light filters 

Spectral transmittance 

categories/requirements 

expanded to allow matching 

and selection of filters for 

radiation hazards in greater 

specificity than previous 

edition. Such is noted by the 

prefix markings for individual 

filters as noted below: 

Table 6 (welding filter 

transmittance) 

No change to spectral 

requirements. Added “W” 

prefix to shade markings to 

assist user in identifying 

specific filter that might be 

appropriate for hazard.



Table 7 (ultraviolet filter 


Table 8 (infrared filter 


Added ultraviolet filtration 

Scale numbers 2 through 6 

and added “U” prefix to 

indicate scale. This is to 

assist user in identifying 

specific filter that might be 

appropriate for hazard. 

Added infrared filtration Scale 

numbers 1.3 through 10 and 

added “R” prefix to indicate 

scale. This is to assist user in 

identifying specific filter that 

might be appropriate for 

hazard. 


Table 9 (visible light filter 


Incorporates reference to 

ANSI Z80.3-2008 standard to 

include requirements for color 

recognition that go with these 

filters. 

Added visible light filtration 

Scale numbers 1.3 through 10 

and added “L” prefix to 

indicate scale. This is to assist 

user in identifying specific 

filter that might be appropriate 

for hazard.



Transmittance categories for 

face shield windows 



Designation of light, medium 

and dark faceshield no longer 

called out. The ranges for 

these previous designations 

are covered, in part, by Table 

9 for visible light filters. Such 

table was included in concert 

with the addition of tables for 

UV and IR lenses. 

Variations in Luminous 

Transmittance 

Note (3) to Table 1 Section 7.1.5 (criteria) No change. 

Transmittance of Housings – 

Goggles 

Transmittance of Housings – 

Faceshields 





New. Related to expanded 

optical radiation categories. 

New. Related to expanded 

optical radiation categories.


DROPLET, SPLASH, DUST HAZARDS 


Droplet and Splash Not included. Section 8.1 (criteria) 


Dust Not included. Section 8.1 (criteria) 


Fine Dust Not included. Section 8.1 (criteria) 


Incorporation of test in 

consistent with other accepted 

international eye and face 

protection standards. 

Compliant products bear 

marking “D3” to assist users 

in identifying specific 

protectors that might be 



















appropriate for hazard.

Side-by-side comparison of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2003 and ... - US Safety

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