Understanding ANSI Z87.1 High Velocity Standards

ANSI Z87.1 is a set of standards for protective eyewear, including prescription and non-prescription glasses, goggles, face shields, and welding helmets. The standard is maintained by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is used by manufacturers to ensure that their products meet certain performance and safety requirements.

The test for ANSI Z87.1 involves a series of laboratory tests that simulate real-world conditions to determine the safety and performance of the eyewear. Some of the tests include:

1. Impact resistance: This test measures the ability of the eyewear to resist impact from a specified object, such as a steel ball or a weight. The eyewear is subjected to a series of impacts to determine if it can withstand the forces without causing injury to the user.

2. High-mass impact resistance: This test measures the ability of the eyewear to resist impact from a larger, heavier object, such as a hammer or a boulder. The eyewear is subjected to a series of impacts to determine if it can withstand the forces without causing injury to the user.

3. High-velocity impact resistance: This test measures the ability of the eyewear to resist impact from a high-speed object, such as a bullet or a projectile. The eyewear is subjected to a series of impacts to determine if it can withstand the forces without causing injury to the user.

4. Lens retention: This test measures the ability of the eyewear to hold the lenses securely in place in the event of an impact. The eyewear is subjected to a series of tests to determine if the lenses will stay in place or if they will fall out, potentially causing injury to the user.

5. Optical clarity: This test measures the clarity of the lenses and determines if they meet the standards for visual acuity and clarity.

6. Coverage: This test measures the coverage provided by the eyewear, including the size of the lenses and the distance between the lenses and the eyes. The eyewear is subjected to a series of tests to determine if it provides adequate coverage and protection to the eyes.

Once the eyewear has passed all of the tests, it can be certified as compliant with ANSI Z87.1 and labeled as such. The eyewear must be re-tested periodically to ensure that it continues to meet the standards.

Frame and lens must withstand the impact of a 6.35 mm steel ball fired at 164,6 km/h. The lens must remain in the frame and is not to shatter. The frame must remain intact as well.  

All our eyewear is ANSI tested.

Wiley X Sunglasses are available from BellGear in South Africa