Eye Protection Standards

[Adolf Hamster]

I seem to remember when I bought the very expensive Bolle goggles some very impressive claims as to protection EN166 T   at 275M/S (A .22 LR rimfire bullet I believe travels at around 1100 feet per second) ballistic protection also ANSI Z87 so standards do exist that far surpass our requirements. Its all about the letters and numbers that tell you the level of protection. I might take a Bolle lens and shoot it at the rifle club just for the hell of it!

i recall seeing a yank doing a similar test, he shot a pair with a .22 handgun and whilst the bullet didn't penetrate they were deformed sufficiently you'd likely have lost the eye, but i suppose in that situation i'd rather lose my eye than my brain.

 

[Rogerborg]

Who thinks we should have clearly marked AIRSOFT suitable eye protection

To answer the original question, I'd like there to be a standard that closely matches airsoft limits, but it would have to be around 3.5J to cover the Eurolunies who run around with 550fps or even higher snipers. EN 166F is too low, 166 B is excessive.

Do I think there will be one?  No, not a chance.  It's too small a market and nobody's going to champion it or queue up to pay for testing.

Do I think that eventually EN 166 B and full seal will be mandatory at some or all sites in the UK?  Yes, eventually.  It's all fun and games until someone literally loses and eye, a site gets sued for failing in their duty of care to enforce suitable eye protection, and insurers (I can't imagine there are many underwriters) mandate it.

 

[gasman]

I thought this might be of interest,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIvgdalqiBU

or even better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZoLv-MMQTo

 

[Lozart]

Z87.1 alone is not the standard for paintball.

Never said it was. Read the rest of the quoted text, ASTM F1776 is the standard that covers paintball eye protection.

 

[Rogerborg]

ASTM F1776 is the standard that covers paintball eye protection

Hmm, so it is.  I guess there could be a similar one for airsoft.  Although I still reckon it'll take someone losing an eye to make it happen.

 

[Tommikka]

Never said it was. Read the rest of the quoted text, ASTM F1776 is the standard that covers paintball eye protection.

The additional text in the quote was hidden!

 

[kasaran]

didnt want to start a thread.  but do you reckon the supposed 'military grade' stuff you can get of army surplus would survive a bb?  im thinking along the lines of

https://grey-shop.ru/6b50-ratnik-goggles

 

[Tommikka]

didnt want to start a thread.  but do you reckon the supposed 'military grade' stuff you can get of army surplus would survive a bb?  im thinking along the lines of

https://grey-shop.ru/6b50-ratnik-goggles

Only if they have the equivalent impact rating

Espesically be wary if they are ‘supposed military grade’

 

[Immortal]

If they say military grade with the STANAG 2920 safety standard then apparently that should take upto 7.5 joules.

 

[Rogerborg]

If they say military grade with the STANAG 2920 safety standard then apparently that should take upto 7.5 joules.

Pretty sure that Russia isn't in NATO.

Making allowances for translation, they're implying that they're 3mm polycarb.  If so, they will massively exceed what most players are using, and will stop anything pewed at you.

I stress the "if" there.

 

[Immortal]

Pretty sure that Russia isn't in NATO.

I bet SMERSH are in there somewhere being sneaky :lol:

 

[jcheeseright]

Pretty sure that Russia isn't in NATO.

Making allowances for translation, they're implying that they're 3mm polycarb.  If so, they will massively exceed what most players are using, and will stop anything pewed at you.

I stress the "if" there.

Agreed, if they're 3mm polycarbonate they'll happily stop shrapnel from a grenade.  BBs are no problem, even at a bajillion FPS. 

 

[gasman]

if these are cheap enough then buy them and get a sniper buddy to shoot them at close range if they are good enough for that then your good to go should not even mark them!

 

[Skara]

People are responsible for what they buy.

Wanna go cheap? Fine by me, just accept the consequences  you'll then learn the lesson

I've used a €10 mesh mask for years and it is still 100% fine, but after seeing a mate getting bb shards in his eyes (through the mesh) I decided that it just wasn't worth..

Ballistic glasses are expensive and they fog up, but nothing's ever coming through the lens, not even in a million years.

It's fun though, as people spend £1000 for guns and plate carriers but refuse to pay for the single most important piece of gear.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

It's fun though, as people spend £1000 for guns and plate carriers but refuse to pay for the single most important piece of gear.

Its like this in any hobby, the one that airsoft vaping and rc have in common is spending hundreds on kit and nice lipo batteries then chucking them on a £5 ebay special charger

 

[gasman]

People are responsible for what they buy.

Wanna go cheap? Fine by me, just accept the consequences  you'll then learn the lesson

I've used a €10 mesh mask for years and it is still 100% fine, but after seeing a mate getting bb shards in his eyes (through the mesh) I decided that it just wasn't worth..

Ballistic glasses are expensive and they fog up, but nothing's ever coming through the lens, not even in a million years.

It's fun though, as people spend £1000 for guns and plate carriers but refuse to pay for the single most important piece of gear.

I wholeheartedly agree with this but I still would hate to be the one that took his eye out during a game so lets encourage the idiots to buy better protection!

Oh its also why we don't use Nuprol BBs