European Standards Personal Protective Equipement

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall mean any device or appliance designed to be worn or held by an individual for protection against one or more health and safety hazards, as
well as any accessory or ensemble designed to protect an individual.
The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are divided into three categories:

I category
PPE models of simple design where the designer assumes the user can himself assess
the level of protection provided against the minimal risks concerned the effects of
which, when they are gradual, can be safely identified by the user in good time.
II category
PPE that do not belong to the other two
categories.

III category
PPE of complex design intended to protect against mortal danger or against dangers
that may seriously and irreversibly harm the health.

The standard EN166 recalls some of the other regulations that help define the requirements that the PPE must meet:

U - EN166 FT CE

N CE
N CE 2-3 U 1 FT K
2-3 U 1 FT K

LENS MARKING IDENTIFICATION

2-3 U 1 FT KN
Scale number Manufacturer Optical Class Mechanical Optional
(code number + shade number) resistance requirement

FRAME MARKING IDENTIFICATION

U EN166 FT
Manufacturer Standard Mechanical
resistance

CE
0068
-1.2
BT 2C
459
166 3 8 CE
U EN K N 006
BT 9
2U1
2C-1.

2C-1.2 U 1 BT 9 K N 0068 CE U EN166 3 4 5 9 BT 2C-1.2 0068 CE

LENS MARKING IDENTIFICATION

2C-1.2 U 1 BT 9 KN 0068
Scale number Manufacturer Optical Class Mechanical Field of use Optional Notified body
(code number + shade number) resistance requirement

FRAME MARKING IDENTIFICATION

U EN166 3459 BT 2C-1.2 0068
Manufacturer Standard Field of use Mechanical Highest scale number Notified body
resistance allowed
 Meanings of the EN marking
PPE of II°and III° categories shall be tested and certified by an official Notified Body.
The product certification which confirms the compliance to the requirements included in the PPE directive 89/686/EEC is based on the following European standards:
EN166 – Personal eye-protection specifications
EN175 – Equipment for eye and face protection during welding and allied processes

EN166 recalls additional standards which specifies the requirements as a function of PPE typology and field of use:
EN165 – Vocabulary
EN167 – Optical test methods EN171 – Infra-red (IR) ray filters
EN168 – Non-optical test methods EN172 – Sunglare filters for industrial use
EN169 – Filter for welding and related techniques EN1731 – Mesh eye and face protectors
EN170 – Ultra-violet (UV) ray filters EN 379 – Specification for automatic welding filters

SCALE NUMBER
Code Number Shade number and typical lens colours VLT range
none Welding 1.2 Clear 100% - 74.4%
2 Ultraviolet (UV) 1.7 In/Out, yellow, clear mirrored, UVR 58.1% - 43.2%
2C o 3 UV with good colour recognition 2.5 Brown, smoke 29.1% - 17.8%
4 Infra-red (IR) 3.1 G15, smoke mirrored 17.8% - 8.0%
5 Sunglare filter without infra-red specification 3,4,5,...11 Welding -
6 Sunglare filter with infra-red specification

OPTICAL CLASS
Optical Class Spherical refractive power Astigmatic refractive power Difference in prismatic refractive power
m-1 m-1 horizontal horizontal vertical
base out base in
1 ± 0.06 0.06 0.75 0.25 0.25
2 ± 0.12 0.12 1 0.25 0.25
3 +0.12 / -0.25 0.25 1 0.25 0.25

PROTECTION AGAINST HIGHT SPEED PARTICLES

Mechanical resistance Impact level Maximum Diameter Grams Lens material Eyewear Goggles Face shields
speed
190 m/s
A (T) High energy impact Polycarbonate •
684 km/h
120 m/s
B (T) Medium energy impact ø 6 mm 0,86 gr Polycarbonate • •
432 km/h
45 m/s
F (T) Low energy impact Polycarbonate, acetate • • •
162 km/h
5,1 m/s
S Increased robusteness ø 22 mm 43 gr CR39, Toughened glass • • •
18,36 km/h
(T) if the impact letter (F, B or A) is followed by the letter T, then the frame protects against impact at extreme temperatures (-5°/ + 55°C)

OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
K Resistance to surface damage by fine particles
N Resistance to fogging of oculars
T Protection against high speed particles at extreme temperatures
H Frame suitable for small head
R Enhanced reflectance

FIELD OF USE
SYMBOL DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION OF THE FIELD OF USE EYEWEAR GOGGLES FACE SHIELD
Unspecified mechanical hazards and hazards arising from
No symbol Basic use • • •
ultraviolet, visible, infra-red and solar radiation
3 Liquids Liquids (droplets or splashes) • •
4 Large dust particles Dust with a particle size > 5 µm •
Gases, vapours, sprays, smoke and dust with a particle size
5 Gas and fine dust particles •
< 5 µm
8 Short circuit electric arc Electrical arc due to a short circuit in electrical equipment •
9 Molten metals and hot solids Splashes of molten metal and penetration of hot solids • •