Eye and face protection products are regulated by a range of standards that set out safety, performance and testing requirements. In Europe, the main standard is EN 166, with other related standards addressing specific risks such as UV exposure, welding, or sunglare. Standards from other countries, including the USA and Australia/New Zealand, are also widely referenced. Here's an overview of the most relevant global standards and what they mean.
EN 166 – Personal Eye Protection: Specifications
This is the core European standard for personal eye protection, covering most workplace applications. It includes:
Design and material requirements
Performance and optical tests
Product markings and instructions for use
EN 166 testing is divided into:
Basic requirements: Includes optical class testing and robustness.
Particular requirements: For protection against impacts, liquids, and radiation.
Optional requirements: For features like anti-fog, anti-scratch, and infrared resistance.
Products are marked on the lens (ocular) and frame with a combination of numbers and letters indicating properties like optical class, impact resistance, UV protection, and any special features.
EN 170 – Ultraviolet Filters
Specifies UV protection levels for lenses. Lenses are marked with a scale number, such as:
2-1.2: Basic UV protection
2C-1.2 or 3-1.2: UV protection with enhanced colour recognition
EN 172 – Sunglare Filters for Industrial Use
Defines protection against bright sunlight, commonly for outdoor use:
Code 5: Sunglare filters (no infrared protection)
Code 6: Sunglare filters with infrared protection
Scale numbers (e.g. 5-2.5) indicate the lens shade level
EN 175 – Welding and Allied Processes
Covers face and eye protection for welding. It includes testing for:
Impact resistance, flame resistance, and coverage
Compatibility with welding filters (see EN 169 and EN 379)
Markings include standard number, manufacturer, field of use, and weight
EN 169 – Filters for Welding and Related Techniques
Focuses on welding lens filters. Lenses are marked with shade numbers, e.g.:
4–7: Gas welding
10–16: Arc welding or cutting
Higher numbers mean darker shades and lower light transmittance.
EN 379 – Automatic Welding Filters
Applies to auto-darkening filters used in welding. Key requirements include:
Transmittance in light and dark states
Switching time between states
Markings include shade range, optical class, and manufacturer
EN 1731 – Mesh Eye and Face Protectors
For mesh-type protection, usually used with browguards or helmets. Tests include:
Coverage area and mechanical strength
Markings for robustness (S) or low energy impact (F)
Some requirements refer back to EN 166
GS-ET-29 – Face Shields for Electrical Work
Supplementary to EN 166, this standard applies to arc protection face shields:
Assesses arc resistance and light transmittance
Face shields are marked by transmittance and arc protection class
ANSI Z87.1 – American Standard for Eye and Face Protection
Defines safety standards for occupational and educational use in the USA:
Covers protection from impacts, chemical splashes, and radiation
Includes testing, marking, maintenance, and proper selection
AS/NZS 1337.1 – Eye and Face Protectors (Australia/New Zealand)
Applies to general occupational eye protection in Australia and New Zealand:
Protects against dust, splash, molten metal, and gas exposure
Excludes mesh protectors, which are covered in AS/NZS 1337.2
AS/NZS 1337.2 – Mesh Eye and Face Protectors
Focuses on mesh protectors used in occupational environments:
Tests include impact and transmittance
Complements AS/NZS 1337.1 for specific applications
Summary:
EN 166 is the main European standard for all eye protection
Additional EN standards focus on UV (EN 170), sunglare (EN 172), welding (EN 169, EN 175, EN 379), and mesh (EN 1731)
Eye protection is marked with numbers and letters to show its protective features
GS-ET-29 covers face shields for arc protection in electrical work
International standards include ANSI Z87.1 (USA) and AS/NZS 1337 series (Australia/New Zealand)
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