Safety Glasses Frequently Asked Questions
Safety Glasses Questions
What is the Law?
- The current standard is ANSI Z87.1-2003. It is required by OSHA for all safety eyewear. There are two categories of protection involved in this standard – Basic Impact and High Impact.
- High Impact eyewear has a Z87+ marked on the frame and/or lens. Eyewear that meets Z87+ has gone through more rigorous high mass and high velocity impact testing. This eyewear also offers greater side coverage than the previous ANSI requirement. High Impact eyewear is the only type of eyewear we carry.
- Basic Impact eyewear has a Z87 marked on the frame and/or lens. Basic Impact eyewear features mainly glass lenses. They have less impact and penetration protection. We do not carry Basic Impact eyewear.
What Are Safety Glasses Lenses Made Of?
What Are My Choices for Lens Coating?
- Hardcoated Lenses provide scratch resistance to polycarbonate, which typically scratches very easily without such protection. Most of the safety glasses in our catalog fall into this category. Some brands have trade names for these coatings, such as Crews Duramass and Uvex Ultradura.
- Anti-Fog Coated Lenses are ideal for workers performing in extremely hot, cold or humid conditions. The coating prevents fogging of the safety glasses, which can lead to a reduced field of vision. Some brands have names for these coatings, such as Uvex Uvextreme, AO Safety DX and Willson Fog-Ban.
- Uncoated Lenses are common among styles intended to be used by visitors to a facility, or other short-term applications. The only advantage they offer is lower cost.
What Lens Colors Are Available?
- Clear Lens – Use indoors, outdoors in below normal light conditions, or where true color recognition is required. 90% Visual Light Transmission (VLT).
- Grey/Brown Lens – Use outdoors or where there is above average available light. Also called Smoke or Espresso. 15% VLT.
- Amber Lens – Use in below normal light conditions or where enhanced contrast is desirable. 90% VLT.
- Indoor/Outdoor Lens – Use when working both indoors and outdoors throughout the day. Indoor/Outdoor Lenses provide true color recognition. 50% VLT.
- Mirrored Lens – Use outdoors or where there is above average available light. A Mirrored coating is added to provide enhanced style. 15% VLT.
- Light Blue Lens – Use during work applications with high levels of sodium vapor lighting and glare. The blue lens counteracts the effect of this yellow lighting to reduce eye strain. Also called Infinity Blue and SCT Blue. 55% VLT.
- Vermillion Lens – Use to reduce glare and provide true color perception during indoor applications. Lenses enhance contrast, though not as much as Amber Lenses. 55% VLT.
- Welding Lenses – Shade 2.0 lens is used for welding-related operations such as torch soldering or welder’s helper applications. VLT is 35% and absorption on infrared light is 85%. Shade 3.0 can be used for certain brazing or cutting applications. VLT is 15% and absorption on infrared light is 91%. Shade 5.0 is used in certain torch soldering, torch brazing or cutting applications. VLT is 2% and absorption on infrared light is 97.5%.
- Polarized Lenses – No specific color, but this is a lens which reduces reflective glare (off water, snow, roadways, etc.).
How Do I Know That My Safety Glasses Meet ANSI Z87.1-2003?
- The frame will have a Z87+ stamp right on the frame.
Will Safety Glasses Protect Against Chemical Splash?
- No. Safety glasses are only intended for protection from flying debris and are not OSHA approved for any type of chemical splash protection.
Can I Buy Prescription Safety Glasses?
- Yes. Prescription safety glasses are available. Call or send us an email to find out more.
What Are The Different Brands of Safety Glasses?
Top
Safety Goggles Questions
What Are My Venting Options for Goggles
- Indirect Vent goggles protect against chemical liquids and dusts. These are the only goggles that can be used for protection from chemical splashes. These goggles are the most versatile and somewhat breathable.
- Direct Vent goggles offer maximum airflow, but are only approved for particulate protection during jobs such as grinding, cutting, dusty applications, etc.
- Non-Vent goggles offer the best protection against liquids and dusts, but they do not breathe at all. Conney no longer stocks these goggles.
Top
Face Shields Questions
What Types of Faceshields are Available?
- Polycarbonate – Read here for benefits
- PETG – Compared to polycarbonate, PETG is less expensive and more chemical-resistant, but less impact resistant. PETG offers poor scratch resistance.
- Propionate – Compared to polycarbonate, Propionate is less expensive and more chemical-resistant, but less impact resistant.
- Acetate – Compared to polycarbonate, Acetate is about the same price and more chemical-resistant, but less impact resistant.
- Steel Screen Mesh or Wire Mesh – Mesh is very breathable and durable for flying debris. Mesh is not appropriate for any chemical splash or fine dust. It is most commonly used by landscapers, foresters, agriculture, saw mills, etc.
Will a Face Shield Provide Adequate Eye Protection?
- Faceshields are classified as secondary eye protection and must be worn with safety glasses or goggles in all situations.
Top
Welding Helmets Questions
What Do I Need to Know About the Categories of Light and Welding Lenses?
- Ultraviolet (UV) Light – All polycarbonate lenses will minimally block 99% of up to 385 nanometers (nm) of UV light. Exposure to UV light over time, can cause cataracts.
- Visible Light Visible light is the only light you see. The visible light spectrum is always in the same order of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. The visible light scale is 400-700 nm.
- Infrared (IR) Light Is the larger wavelengths on the upper portion of the light spectrum, greater than 700 nm.
- Typical workplace exposure to IR occurs from either welding or lasers
- When welding, you must use a shaded lens
- Conney has Shade 2 (light green) to Shade 14 (dark green) lenses available
- Shade 5 is commonly used for torch cutting and oxy-acetylene welding
- Shade 10 is the minimum for most arc welding and mig/tig welding jobs
- Shade 5 is darkest lens allowed in a safety glass before needing full facial protection to prevent burning skin
- Laser safety glasses require specific customer information before ordering. Talk to us about your needs.
What Are The Different Brands of Welding Helmets?
Top
