What Does Z87 Mean on Safety Glasses?

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If you are in the market for a new pair of safety glasses, you are lucky in that there is a long list of features and attributes that you can choose from. On the Rx-Safety website, you can use the available filtering options to find the best safety glasses. When looking for safety glasses, you may consistently come across different types of markings on the glasses. For instance, whether you are shopping in-person or online, you may see a “Z87” marking. This isn’t just for decoration. Instead, Z87 signals that this particular pair of safety glasses have passed stringent safety standards.

It is helpful to understand what it is and what it signifies the Z87 mark. Doing so will help you make the most informed decision when purchasing your next pair of safety glasses. This article will explain what Z87 means.

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ANSI and the Z87 Standard

To truly understand what Z87 means, we need to take a step back. Safety glasses are extremely important tools when working or playing in challenging conditions. Whether you are in a hazardous environment failing to protect your eyes can lead to serious eye problems—including blindness.

Our safety glasses are designed to protect your eyes from injury. While there are stylish safety glasses, the priority is always to protect your eyes in the most challenging situations.

Nevertheless, not all safety glasses are made alike. Several decades ago, eyewear professionals discovered that there were inconsistencies in whether safety glasses were truly “safe” or not. To address this problem, they agreed on voluntary standards that would objectively judge the safety of safety glasses. These standards are promulgated by a private, nonprofit organization called the American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”).

The ANSI standards are the most widely respected. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration uses ANSI standards to determine whether employers are complying with OSHA standards in the workplace.

What different Z87 Marks Mean

To be clear, there isn’t one universal standard that ANSI determines for safety glasses. There are several different standards that slightly vary in factors like impact resistance.

This is where Z87 comes in. Z87 is one of the standards for ANSI eye protection. It lets you know that your safety glasses have passed a series of stringent tests. Which examines the durability and impact-resistance of your safety glasses. In this discussion, we are technically speaking about the Z87.1 standard.

It defines occupational and educational eye and faces protection. Since 2003, the Z87.1 standard has been updated twice (the revisions occurred in 2010 and 2015). The revisions focused on product performance and attempted to harmonize these ANSI standards with other international eyewear standards.

The Z87.1 standard has testing criteria for frames and lenses for two levels of performance: basic impact and high impact. Any pair of glasses meeting the Z87.1 standard must undergo intensive testing. Some of the tests include exposure to non-ionizing radiation and chemicals and durability to flammables and corrosion.

While basic impact presents you with a standard level of eye protection. The high impact means that your glasses pass an additional series of tests. In other words, signaling their durability and functionality in stressful conditions. So, if a pair of safety glasses are ANSI Z87.1, it means that the glasses passed a “high mass” test.

In this test, a 500-gram pointed weight is dropped from five feet onto the lenses of the safety glasses. The goal is to see whether the lens or glasses will shatter or break when exposed to this external force.

So ultimately, let’s return to the Z87 marking on a pair of safety glasses. The safety glasses Z87 certified, have a “Z87” marking on the inside arm of the glasses. This means that these safety glasses passed the Z87.1 standard.

If you see a plus sign next to Z87, however, which means that your glasses are impact-rated. As discussed above, impact-rated safety glasses must pass an additional series of safety tests. This gives you even more confidence that your safety glasses will protect your eyes in dangerous conditions.

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Z87 / Z87.1*

Safety eyewear certified with basic impact rating

* Z87.1 compliant eye protection is marked with Z87

Z87+

Safety eyewear certified with high impact rating

Z87-2

Prescription safety eyewear certified with basic impact rating

Z87-2+

Prescription safety eyewear certified with high impact rating

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Why This Matters

You may be asking yourself: why does any of this matter? There are several reasons.

First, the ANSI Z87.1 standard can give you the confidence that your pair of safety glasses can undergo massive stress. So you can focus on the work in front of you. Instead of worrying about whether your safety glasses will hold up in challenging conditions.

Along with this peace of mind, you may come across a situation where your employer demands that your glasses are Z87 certified. If your job requires you to work in environments with flying dust or debris, for instance, OSHA regulations require that your employer supply safety glasses. As described in OSHA regulations, these safety glasses must meet certain ANSI standards, and if they don’t, your employer may be subject to sanctions from OSHA.

Worker Using Angle Grinder in Factory and throwing sparks OSHA regulations don’t require your employer to purchase new prescription glasses for employees, however. If you wear prescription glasses in your everyday life, your employer must give you goggles “that allow corrective lenses to be placed behind the goggle lenses or that employees can wear over their eyeglasses.”

However, if you want to purchase and wear your own prescription safety glasses, you should be able to do so—provided that they comply with the relevant ANSI standard. In most cases, this is ANSI Z87.1, but you will want to ensure that you are meeting the standard before purchasing your new pair of prescription safety glasses.

You may come across a situation where your employer demands that your glasses are Z87 certified. Attention, in some situations OSHA requires that your employer supply safety glasses. In other words, if your job requires you to work in environments with flying dust or debris. Please, see what is described in OSHA regulation, “These safety glasses must meet certain ANSI standards, and if they don’t, your employer may be subject to sanctions from OSHA”.

Lens replacement for safety glasses

At RX Safety, we understand that maintaining the integrity of your safety glasses is crucial for your eye protection needs. Whether your lenses have incurred damage, developed scratches, or your prescription has changed, our lens replacement service is here to help you keep your safety eyewear in optimal condition.

Our Lens Replacement Service offers a seamless and cost-effective solution for your safety glasses. With a straightforward process, we make it easy for you to upgrade your lenses while keeping your trusty frames. Here’s what you need to know:

How to get lens replacement

1. Fill in the form available here

Complete the available form with all your desired lens details, and then place it in your shopping cart.

2. Describe the frame

Indicate the make, model, and color of the frame you are sending for lens replacement.

make sure to describe any relevant information about the frame you are sending

3. SELECT lens type, material, color, and coatings

Customize your lenses by selecting your lens type – single vision, bifocal and progressive -, material, lens color, and special coatings.

personalize your lenses according to your preferences and needs

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4. ADD YOUR PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION

Now it is the time to upload or fill your prescription information. You’re done! The rest is with us. We will work on your prescription safety glasses and deliver to your address.

ADD YOUR PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION

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The Advantages of Safety Glasses Replacement Lenses

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ansi Z87 best sellers

Ultimately, we hope that you understood what Z87 is. As also why you may see a Z87 marking on your next pair of safety glasses. Once again, Z87 signals that your pair of safety glasses meet several rigorous standards for your eye health.

In other words, the Z87 standard provides an objective look at a pair of safety glasses that you are considering. If you are looking for a pair of safety glasses, make sure they are Z87 certified.

At Rx-Safety, we are proud to offer an extensive inventory of safety glasses and prescription safety glasses. All our safety glasses are Z87 certified. So will be easy to find the best fit for your needs.

And if you have any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are happy to further discuss Z87 and answer any questions that you may have.

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