Eye protection for those of us with glasses

[L473ncy]

If you're wondering: EN 167:2001 is the directive for the test methods for the EU while EN166 is the marking standards and nomenclature. I can't seem to find EN167 though (well I did but the website wants like 70 quid for it.....).

I know with the ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard it's tested by "shooting" 1/4" steel balls at the lenses at various velocities (I assume that's diameter here, so I get approx .1341 cm^3 for volume).

Taking the velocity and weight of a steel ball (assume 100% pure steel) the density is about 7.8 g/cm3 so about 1.05g for a 1/4" steel ball.

So doing the math for the joule conversion of that steel ball being shot at 250 ft/s it comes out to roughly 3.03J. Definitely less than the energies that we see in Canada. At 500 FPS with .20's you're only sitting at 2.31J, and most of the time it'll be under 420 FPS or 1.63J.

Anyways, if the EU test is done by shooting a 6mm steel ball at the glasses (going with the test method you've posted in this thread) then 6mm is slightly under 1/4" (.236 inches to be exact). Don't fret that it's a smaller/lighter projectile you still need to factor in speed. At 120m/s you're looking at 394 FPS according to my calculations. So by my calculations a .86g 6mm steel ball flying at 394 FPS will exert 6.17J of energy. For your goggles to survive a 6.17J strike you're totally good since the ANSI standard is only surviving a 3.03J strike.

NOTE HOWEVER THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN PLAY WITH THOSE GOGGLES AT A PAINTBALL FIELD YOU MUST USE ASTM (OR SIMILARILY RATED) GOGGLES/MASK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCAL SITE RULES!

As you know insurance companies are looking for any way to not pay out and if it's established that players were not wearing ASTM rated PB goggles (in fact these are rated to 11Joules so I'm told) then that's enough proof that they don't need to pay since the field owner did not follow the insurance stipulations to the letter. Even if players were wearing MIL standard goggles that can stop a .22 at 550 FPS (and that's way more than 11Joules if you do the math) the insurance company will still argue that it doesn't need to pay out.

PS: If I've started to spell things with an "s" instead of a "z" or use the words chips (for fries), flat, quid, nutter or any of those words... yeah it's probably because I've been here for close to 7 months now.

EDIT: The only thing you need to worry about is the Bioval BBBMAX "CLEAR" BB's (silica). The standard opaque/Biodegradable ones AFAIK are good to go just like any other standard airsoft BB.

[Cifyra]

Originally Posted by L473ncy

If you're wondering: EN 167:2001 is the directive for the test methods for the EU while EN166 is the marking standards and nomenclature. I can't seem to find EN167 though (well I did but the website wants like 70 quid for it.....).

I know with the ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard it's tested by "shooting" 1/4" steel balls at the lenses at various velocities (I assume that's diameter here, so I get approx .1341 cm^3 for volume).

Taking the velocity and weight of a steel ball (assume 100% pure steel) the density is about 7.8 g/cm3 so about 1.05g for a 1/4" steel ball.

So doing the math for the joule conversion of that steel ball being shot at 250 ft/s it comes out to roughly 3.03J. Definitely less than the energies that we see in Canada. At 500 FPS with .20's you're only sitting at 2.31J, and most of the time it'll be under 420 FPS or 1.63J.

Anyways, if the EU test is done by shooting a 6mm steel ball at the glasses (going with the test method you've posted in this thread) then 6mm is slightly under 1/4" (.236 inches to be exact). Don't fret that it's a smaller/lighter projectile you still need to factor in speed. At 120m/s you're looking at 394 FPS according to my calculations. So by my calculations a .86g 6mm steel ball flying at 394 FPS will exert 6.17J of energy. For your goggles to survive a 6.17J strike you're totally good since the ANSI standard is only surviving a 3.03J strike.

NOTE HOWEVER THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN PLAY WITH THOSE GOGGLES AT A PAINTBALL FIELD YOU MUST USE ASTM (OR SIMILARILY RATED) GOGGLES/MASK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCAL SITE RULES!

As you know insurance companies are looking for any way to not pay out and if it's established that players were not wearing ASTM rated PB goggles (in fact these are rated to 11Joules so I'm told) then that's enough proof that they don't need to pay since the field owner did not follow the insurance stipulations to the letter. Even if players were wearing MIL standard goggles that can stop a .22 at 550 FPS (and that's way more than 11Joules if you do the math) the insurance company will still argue that it doesn't need to pay out.

PS: If I've started to spell things with an "s" instead of a "z" or use the words chips (for fries), flat, quid, nutter or any of those words... yeah it's probably because I've been here for close to 7 months now.

EDIT: The only thing you need to worry about is the Bioval BBBMAX "CLEAR" BB's (silica). The standard opaque/Biodegradable ones AFAIK are good to go just like any other standard airsoft BB.

Thanks for the calculations. Although I'll invest in a paintball mask just in case I need to go to a game at a paintball field, I'm glad my goggles are safe enough for other fields. And if someone complains that they are not ANSI Z87.1-2003 rated, I'd just slip on my paintball mask. And I also guess everybody reading this thread now knows who I am when I wear those goggles with my Chinese BDU at games.

[Cobrajr122]

They don't have to be ANSI or CSA anything, as long as they are equivalent or better.

Construction workers, or anybody that has a requirement for safety boots(this example applies to other equipment as well) do this all the time. They are given the ANSI/CSA standars from which to buy, so they just have to prove that what they did buy is, equivalent or better.

[SteelToe]

You can easily solve the fogging issue with a simple spray on liquid. Go to the dollar store and you may find a small spray bottle that has anti-fog in it. I remember this being sold by the buckets at the motor show to prevent the fogging inside the car. Spray it on and wipe. It will last for about a day or two but long enough to let you play.

Alternatively, you can use a very diluted (small drops) of handwash or soap you can find and wipe it on the surface. Wipe with dry cloth or damp to remove any haze. The soap film will repell any moisture from attaching to the surface.

[kaiu]

Originally Posted by Iskaryot

Ok, I admit I don't know anything about the legality of airsoft or the insurance policies of airsoft fields. But in Europe, you'd be able to wear those in an airsoft match, unless the field requires a full paintball mask.

My question is, does the CE apply to airsoft in North America?

It all depends on the host, or field's insurance policies.

It would be better to test your own lenses before playing to confirm they won't break or shatter.

Probably test at 400 fps with 0.2g bbs on full auto like this:
YouTube - Arena Industries Ver.2 Goggle 6mm BB impact test

(Many games you will find up to 430 fps so it isn't something insane like the 600+ fps test in that video which only caused a blemish anyways)

Chances are if it is 787.1 rated they may still dent, and you would probably want back up replacement lenses too.