The eyes account for up to 80% of all our sensory information. Thus, it is of the utmost priority to protect them at all times. As a result, Safety glasses and goggles are compulsory in many factories and manufacturing sites. But how well do they protect our eyes?
What requirements do EN166 cover?
To answer “what does EN166 mean,” we may start from the requirements EN166 covers. All EN166 safety glasses and goggles allowed for resell in the EU must comply with the European Standard EN166 rule. If a pair of glasses is EN166 certified, it is deemed to protect you from hazards that may cause damage to your eyes. To meet this high certification level, the specific piece of eyewear must pass a series of tests which includes a variety field of tests, from resistance to UV light, resistance to aging, resistance to corrosion, a wide range of robustness tests, and resistance to high temperatures.
The main function of eye-protectors is to avoid the eyes from following risks, such as different levels impacts, optical radiations, molten metals, and hot solids, droplets and splashed, dust, gasses, and short circuit electric arc. There have three types of protectors that are common to use based on the above risks: spectacles, goggles, and face shields.
What does EN166 marking tell?
To fully clarify “what does en166 mean,” we will describe what EN166 marking tells in the following. The EN166 norm makes the marking of both the lenses and the frame obligatory. Which can help users to learn the protective range of the device and choose the suitable one.
The impact resistance level of safety eyewear is one of the common questions for users. You can check the marking on the lens, frame, or temples as follows:
- Symbol S: The glasses shall resist the impact of a 22 mm nominal diameter steel ball, 43 g minimum mass, with a speed of 5.1 m/s (16.73 ft/s) to the device.
- Symbol F/B/A: Based on difference eye protectors request low, medium, and high energy to provide protection shall resist the impact of a 6 mm nominal diameter steel ball, 0.86 g minimum mass, with three speeds of 45 m/s (147.67 ft/s), 120 m/s (393.70 ft/s), and 190 m/s (623.36 ft/s), to the device. See the table below.
The second common question is lens quality. Optical class refers to the level of quality of the glass, mostly means comfort and manufacturing precision.
- Optical class 1: refers to continuous work. It is seen as the best quality you can get.
- Optical class 2: are made for intermittent work, a good compromise for non-professional use.
- Optical class 3: are made for occasional work only, it is the lowest optical quality.
The symbols also include optional performances such as:
- 3: Resistance to liquids, mostly droplets, and projections.
- 4: Resistance to large dust particles with a size superior to 5 microns.
- 5: Resistance to gases and fine dust particles, it can block particles as small as 5 microns.
- 8: Resistance to short-circuit electric arc.
- 9: Resistance to projections of molten metal and hot solids.
- T: (F-B- A) Mechanical resistance to extreme temperatures, ranging from -5 ° C, up to + 55 ° C.
- N: Superior resistance to fogging on the lens.
- K: Resistance to surface deterioration by fine particles (also called anti-scratch).
You can read the inscriptions off the side of the lens and on the side of the frame. These should look as follows:
All glasses that are marked as EN166 approved are extremely durable and this mark should provide you with peace of mind in knowing that your eyes are protected while you are at work or play.
We hope the description above covers all you want to know about “what does en166 mean,” and we do recommend reading more safety glasses standard articles down below to learn more.
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