Blueye Exceeds U.S. Mil-Spec Standards
There are three standards currently used to test the effectiveness of ballistic eyewear. These include a U.S. civilian standard (ANSI Z87.1 – 2010), a U.S. military standard (MIL-PRF-31013), and a European standard (EN166, 169, 170 & 172).
The U.S. civilian standard for protective eyewear was revised in 2010. The previous version from 2003 was organized by the type of protector. The Z87.1-2010 version is organized by the type of hazard such as droplet and splash, impact, optical radiation, dust, fine dust, and mist. Also, the 2003 version specified that protective products be marked as providing “Basic” or “High Impact” protection. In the Z87.1-2010 standard, there is no longer a distinction between levels of ballistic protection. Products are either non-impact or impact protectors. Products marked as impact protectors must pass all high-impact testing requirements and are marked as “Z87+”. Non-impact protectors are those which do not pass all high-impact testing requirements and are therefore marked only with “Z87” (no “+” sign).
The U.S. military standard requires (at a minimum) that ballistic eyewear can always withstand a 0.15 caliber, 5.8 grain, T37 shaped projectile at a velocity of 640 to 660 feet per second (approximately 3.8¬†mm 0.376 g at a velocity of 195 ‚Äì 201¬†m/s). For testing, the velocity of the projectile must be verified using sound or optical chronograph methods. The eyewear is put on an Alderson 50th percentile male headform. A 0.002¬†inch thick aluminum foil “witness sheet” is placed behind the area of impact. This sheet shows whether any small pieces penetrate or come off of the eyewear during the test. The eyewear being tested is hit one time straight on slightly toward the outside of the center of the lens. The eyewear fails the test if the aluminum foil witness sheet is punctured or if the eyewear is cracked.
In addition to ballistic performance, the U.S. military standard includes requirements for optical clarity, protection from UV rays, fit, chemical resistance, and environmental stability (properties won’t be changed by exposure to a range of temperatures or levels of humidity).
The European EN166 standard identifies four levels of ballistic protection. “Increased robustness” (marked S) can withstand a 22¬†mm steel ball weighing 43 g dropped onto the lens from a height of .38 meters (15¬†inches). “Low energy impact” (marked F) can withstand a 6mm steel ball weighing 0.86 g and traveling at least 45¬†m/s at the time of impact. “Medium energy impact” (marked B) must be able to protect from a 6¬†mm 0.86 g steel ball with an impact velocity of 120¬†m/s. “High energy impact” (marked A) must be able to protect from a 6¬†mm 0.86 g steel ball with an impact velocity of 190¬†m/s.
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