What is Z87+? Guide to High-Impact Safety Eyewear for Retailers

What is Z87+? Decoding High-Impact Safety Standards for Your Inventory

In the world of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), a single symbol can determine whether a pair of glasses is suitable for a high-risk construction site or merely for basic lab work. For eyewear wholesalers and retailers, understanding the nuances of safety certifications is not just about compliance—it is about liability and trust (The article includes an appendix at the end: Quick Reference Table of Key Test Parameters).

Workplace hazards are constantly evolving. Machining workshops are filled with metal fragments flying at hundreds of feet per second; chemical laboratories face threats of corrosive liquid splashes; and construction sites are chaotic environments where blunt force impacts coexist with sharp penetration risks. The ANSI Z87.1 standard is the engineering benchmark established to categorize and mitigate these diverse threats. For supply-side enterprises, deeply understanding the physics behind the “Z87+” mark—why a lens must not shatter when struck by a steel ball traveling at 150 ft/s (approx. 165 km/h)—is the fundamental guarantee for building brand authority, mitigating liability risks, and ensuring end-user safety.

If you are sourcing protective eyewear, you have likely encountered the marking Z87+. But what is Z87+? Is it different from the standard Z87?

As a source factory specializing in ODM and OEM eyewear, LBAshades deals with these standards daily. We don’t just read the manuals; we engineer our products to survive the tests. In this guide, we will dive deep into the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 standard, explaining the rigorous testing behind the “+” mark and why stocking Z87+ eyewear is non-negotiable for serious safety suppliers.

The Core Definition: What is Z87+?

At its simplest level, Z87+ indicates that a piece of eyewear has passed “High-Impact” testing requirements.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), in conjunction with the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), publishes the Z87.1 standard. The latest version, ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020, strictly categorizes protectors into two distinct levels based on impact resistance:

1. Z87 (Basic Impact): Protection against optical radiation and basic physical hazards.

2. Z87+ (High Impact): Protection against high-velocity and high-mass projectiles.

For your customers working in machining, grinding, or construction, a standard Z87 frame is often insufficient. They need the ballistic-level protection that only Z87+ provides.

ANSI Z87.1 vs. Z87+: The Crucial Differences

Many buyers mistakenly believe that “Z87” covers everything. This misconception can be dangerous. According to the official standard, the markings tell the whole story.

1. Z87 (Basic Impact)

Eyewear marked simply with “Z87” (without the plus) has passed the Drop Ball Test.

• The Test: A 25.4 mm (1 inch) steel ball weighing 68g is dropped from a height of 127 cm (50 inches) onto the lens.

• The Result: If the lens does not fracture, it passes.

• Use Case: This is adequate for light manufacturing or laboratories where the risk involves chemical splashes or light debris, but not high-speed projectiles.

• Physics Analysis:

2. Z87+ (High Impact)

This is the gold standard. To earn the “+” mark, the eyewear must survive the basic Drop Ball test plus two far more aggressive tests: High Mass Impact and High Velocity Impact.

Pro Tip for Wholesalers: If your clients supply heavy industry or construction firms, you must ensure your wholesale safety glasses carry the Z87+ mark on both the lens and the frame/housing.

Inside the Laboratory: The Rigorous Testing for Z87+

To truly answer “what is Z87+?”, we must look at the destructive testing we perform during the manufacturing process. The 2020 standard is unforgiving.

The High Mass Impact Test

This test simulates a heavy tool or object falling on a worker’s face.

• The Projectile: A pointed steel missile weighing 500 g (17.6 oz).

• The Method: It is dropped from 127 cm (50 inches) directly onto the lens and frame mounted on a headform.

• Pass Criteria: No parts can detach from the inner surface, the lens cannot fracture, and the lens must remain in the frame.
• Physics Analysis:

PE = 0.5 kg × 9.81 m/s² × 1.27m ≈ 6.23 J

The High Velocity Impact Test

This is the “ballistic” simulation, designed to mimic shrapnel or grinding sparks.

• The Projectile: A 6.35 mm (0.25 inch) steel ball.

• The Speed: This varies by device type:

  • Spectacles (Glasses): Shot at 45.7 m/s (150 ft/s) ≈ 165 km/h.

  • Goggles: Shot at 76.2 m/s (250 ft/s) ≈ 274 km/h.

  • Face Shields: Shot at 91.4 m/s (300 ft/s) ≈ 329 km/h.

• The Challenge: The eyewear must stop the steel ball without the lens touching the eye or shattering.
• Kinetic Energy Analysis:

                  For Spectacles: 

KE = 0.5 × 0.00104 kg × (45.7 m/s²) ≈ 1.09 J

                  For Face Shields:

KE = 0.5 × 0.00104 kg × (91.4 m/s²) ≈ 4.34 J

The Penetration Test (Lens Only)

A weighted needle (44.2 g) is dropped from 127 cm. To pass, the needle must not penetrate the lens.

Decoding the Markings: A Guide for Your Inventory

When you order custom protective eyewear from us, we ensure the markings are compliant and legible. Here is how to read the codes on a Z87+ approved product, based on Table 3 of the ANSI standard:

Note: For prescription (Rx) safety frames, you might see markings like Z87-2+, indicating impact-rated prescription carriers.

Choosing the Right Inventory for Your Market

As a retailer, you need a mix of products to satisfy different industries. Here is how to map the Z87+ standard to your purchasing strategy:

1. Construction & Mechanical Work

• Requirement: Z87+ (High Impact) is mandatory.

• Hazards: Chipping, grinding, machining, masonry work, and riveting.

• Recommendation: Stock wraparound spectacles with side shields. The standard specifically notes that impact-rated protectors must provide continuous lateral (side) coverage.

2. Chemical Handling & Laboratories

• Requirement: Z87+ combined with D3 (Splash) or D4 (Dust) ratings.

• Hazards: Liquid splashes, acid handling, and degreasing.

• Recommendation: Indirect ventilation goggles are best here to prevent fluid ingress while maintaining impact safety.

3. Welding & Cutting

• Requirement: Z87+ combined with W (Welding) shade markings.

• Hazards: Optical radiation and high heat.

• Recommendation: Welding helmets or goggles. Note that the standard requires these to also be tested for thermal stability and switching index (for auto-darkening filters).

Why Source Z87+ Eyewear from a Factory Direct?

Understanding “what is Z87+” is only half the battle; procuring consistent, compliant quality is the other. Many intermediaries label products without understanding the engineering behind the polymer density or frame geometry required to pass a 150 ft/s impact test.

At LBAshades, we offer distinct advantages for your supply chain:

• One-Stop ODM & OEM Services: We can design custom molds that meet Z87+ requirements while featuring your brand’s unique aesthetic.

• Rigorous In-House Testing: We don’t guess. We verify. Our production lines are calibrated to meet the physical requirements of ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020, ensuring corrosion resistance, ignition resistance, and optical clarity.

• Abundant Stock: Need standard clear or tinted safety glasses immediately? We maintain ample inventory of certified styles ready for shipment.

• Cost Efficiency: By cutting out the middleman, you get premium polycarbonate impact-rated eyewear at factory prices, allowing you higher margins.

Conclusion

Safety is not an area for compromise. When your customers ask, “What is Z87+?“, you can now tell them with confidence: it is the assurance that their eyesight is protected against high-mass and high-velocity hazards.

Stocking verified Z87+ eyewear establishes your brand as a reliable authority in the safety market. Whether you need rugged construction glasses or sleek, impact-rated protective specs, we have the manufacturing capability to deliver.

Ready to upgrade your safety eyewear inventory? Explore our catalog of Z87+ certified safety glasses or contact our engineering team today to start your custom OEM project.