ANSI Z87.1 Safety Standards: Impact Testing and Compliance

Purpose of ANSI Z87.1

ANSI Z87.1 is the American National Standard for occupational and educational eye and face protection. While ANSI Z80.1 covers dress eyewear quality, Z87.1 specifically addresses safety eyewear performance. It defines the testing methods, impact resistance levels, and marking requirements that safety eyewear must meet to protect workers from eye hazards.

This standard is referenced by OSHA regulations, making it effectively mandatory for workplace eye protection in the United States.

Impact Protection Levels

ANSI Z87.1 defines two levels of impact protection, each with distinct testing methods:

Basic Impact (Z87)

Basic impact protects against low-energy hazards such as dust, minor particles, and light impacts. The test method for lenses:

• A 1-inch (25.4mm) steel ball weighing approximately 2.4 ounces is dropped from 50 inches onto the lens
• The lens must not fracture, crack, or allow the ball to contact the eye area

Basic impact eyewear is marked with "Z87" (without the plus sign).

High Impact (Z87+)

High impact protects against high-velocity projectiles and more forceful impacts. The testing is significantly more demanding:

• A 1/4-inch (6.35mm) steel ball is fired at the lens at 150 feet per second
• The lens must not fracture, crack, or allow the ball to contact the eye area
• The frame is also tested separately to ensure it does not deform and expose the eye

High impact eyewear is marked with "Z87+" (with the plus sign).

The Assembly Rating Principle

One of the most important concepts in ANSI Z87.1 is that the complete assembly (frame + lenses combined) receives its rating based on the lowest-rated component:

• Z87+ lenses in a Z87+ frame = High-impact assembly (Z87+)
• Z87+ lenses in a Z87 frame = Basic-impact assembly only (Z87)
• Z87 lenses in a Z87+ frame = Basic-impact assembly only (Z87)
• Z87 lenses in a Z87 frame = Basic-impact assembly (Z87)

Both components must individually meet the high-impact standard for the complete eyewear system to carry the high-impact rating. This is because a high-impact lens is useless if the frame fails and exposes the eye to the projectile.

Marking Requirements

ANSI Z87.1 mandates specific markings on each component:

Lens Markings

• "Z87" or "Z87+": Impact rating
• Manufacturer's mark: Logo or identifier of the lens manufacturer
• Optional suffixes: "V" for photochromic, "S" for special tint

Frame Markings

• "Z87" or "Z87+": Impact rating
• Manufacturer's name or logo
• Size markings

Markings are typically found on the inside of the temple, on the lens surface, and sometimes on the bridge. Without proper markings, the eyewear cannot be verified as ANSI-compliant, regardless of the materials used.

Beyond Impact: Other Protection Categories

ANSI Z87.1 also addresses protection against non-impact hazards:

Prescription Safety Eyewear

Prescription safety lenses must meet the same impact requirements as non-prescription safety lenses. The prescription does not exempt the lens from any testing requirement. Key considerations:

• Polycarbonate is the most common material for prescription safety lenses due to its superior impact resistance
• Trivex is an alternative that offers better optical quality with comparable impact resistance
• Minimum thickness: ANSI Z87.1 specifies minimum lens thickness requirements for safety lenses, which may exceed what the prescription requires optically
• Power tolerances: Safety lenses have slightly different power tolerances than dress eyewear (ANSI Z87.1 vs. Z80.1)

Key Takeaways

• ANSI Z87.1 covers safety eyewear; Z80.1 covers dress eyewear
• Basic impact (Z87) uses a drop ball test; high impact (Z87+) uses a high-velocity projectile test
• The assembly rating equals the lowest-rated component
• Both lenses AND frame must be Z87+ for the assembly to be rated high-impact
• Markings on both lenses and frame must be present for compliance verification
• Prescription safety lenses must meet the same standards as non-prescription safety lenses