The safety glasses industry is a world of its own within the massive eyewear market. It’s filled with cryptic markings, endless acronyms and technical jargon that can make even seasoned pros do a double-take.
Thankfully, most of those brand-specific codes and industry buzzwords have little to do with how protective your glasses actually are.
But there are two markings that do matter—and you’ll want to understand them: Z87 and Z87+.
What Does the Z87 or Z87+ Marking On a Pair of Safety Glasses Mean?
The Z87 and Z87+ markings on safety glasses ensure this type of protective equipment can withstand high-velocity impacts.
For protective eyewear to be marked with a Z87 or Z87+ marking, they are put through rigorous testing to ensure they’ll protect your eyes in the case of a projectile or other foreign matter striking your safety glasses at high velocities.
What’s the Difference Between Z87 and Z87+?
If you've ever noticed safety glasses labeled with either Z87 or Z87+, you might be wondering—what’s the difference?
Both markings come from the ANSI Z87.1 safety standard, but they represent different levels of impact protection. Z87 indicates basic impact resistance. Glasses with this marking have passed a single drop ball test, where a steel ball is dropped from about 50 inches onto the lens. To pass, the lenses and frames must remain intact—no cracks, no shattering.
Z87+, on the other hand, means the glasses have passed a much more rigorous set of tests designed to simulate high-risk work environments.
In addition to the basic drop ball test of standard ANSI Z87 testing, Z87+ glasses must withstand:
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High-mass impact: A heavy, blunt object is dropped to simulate impacts from tools or equipment.
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High-velocity impact: A small projectile is fired at high speed to mimic flying debris.
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Penetration resistance (dart test): A sharp, pointed object is dropped to see if it can puncture the lens.
To earn the Z87+ rating, frames and lenses must hold up under all of these extreme conditions—without cracking, shattering, or allowing the lens to dislodge or strike the wearer’s eye.
In addition to impact testing, both Z87 and Z87+ safety glasses must meet strict optical clarity requirements. Lenses are evaluated across at least ten optical tests to ensure they don’t distort your vision. These tests check for issues like haze, light transmission, refraction, and image shift—because protection isn’t helpful if you can’t see clearly.
What Does ANSI Do for Safety Glasses?
The rigorous testing protocols that safety glasses need to pass to have a Z87 or Z87+ marking are written by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This non-profit organization helps ensure the uniform quality and standards of safety for personal protective equipment.
The requirements safety glasses must meet to be marked with a Z87 or Z87+ mark fall under the Z87.1 section (Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices) of the ANSI standards.
Where Does OSHA Fit In?
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) can't actually enforce the standards it writes. In fact, conforming to ANSI’s standards is completely voluntary. So, why do safety eyewear manufacturers follow the ANSI standards at all?
Enter: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This branch of the Department of Labor enforces ANSI’s standards and helps ensure the relative safety of workers in the United States.
Even though conformity to ANSI’s standards is voluntary, it can easily become mandatory, and commonly does, through OSHA. This is via a process called “incorporation by reference,” which basically means that OSHA can point to an ANSI standard and mandate that it’s followed. Through incorporation by reference, ANSI’s standards often become law, enforced by OSHA.
Still, some manufacturers of safety glasses simply do not follow the testing protocols of ANSI’s Z87 standards–yet claim their products are ANSI certified. Section 2.3.5 of the ANSI’s Z87.1 standard reads, “The protector manufacturer shall provide test results to the purchaser upon request.” This means that, if in doubt, you can request confirmation that the safety glasses you’re considering have, in fact, been tested to the ANSI Z87.1 safety standards.
Why Should You Care About Z87 or Z87+ Markings?
Eyewear that is not safety rated typically will not protect against forceful impacts, and can leave your eyesight at risk when the unexpected happens. Whether you’re on a jobsite, working around the house or otherwise putting your eyesight at risk, it’s important to protect it with ANSI Z87 glasses.
Edge started with a vision to protect yours. Never content with the status quo, our restless imagination and determination to disrupt an industry drives us to create truly unique safety glasses. Visit our collection of Z87 sunglasses, ANSI safety glasses and military eyewear to learn more or shop today.