ANSI Z87.1 vs EN ISO 16321: U.S. and European Safety Eyewear Standards Explained

Greatland
Mar 3
2 min read

ANSI Z87.1 is the safety eyewear standard used in the United States, while EN ISO 16321 is the current standard used in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

EN166 was the previous European standard but has now been replaced by EN ISO 16321 under updated PPE regulations. For companies targeting European markets, obtaining both CE and UKCA certification is typically recommended.

ANSI Z87.1 – United States Standard

Region: United StatesRegulatory reference: OSHACertification model: Self-declaration

ANSI Z87.1 regulates occupational eye protection in the U.S. and defines performance requirements for industrial safety eyewear.

Key features include:

High mass impact testing
High velocity impact testing
Optical clarity classification
Marking system: Z87 / Z87+

ANSI operates under a self-certification system. Manufacturers may conduct internal testing or use third-party laboratories, but formal government-issued type approval is not required.

EN ISO 16321 – European Union & United Kingdom

Region: European Union and United KingdomRegulatory basis: PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425Certification model: Mandatory third-party type examination

EN ISO 16321 is the current European standard for personal eye and face protection and replaces the former EN166 framework.

Core requirements include:

Defined mechanical strength classifications
Optical performance categories
Impact resistance testing
Mandatory third-party certification
CE marking (EU)
UKCA marking (UK)

Unlike ANSI, EN ISO 16321 requires formal type examination before products can legally be placed on the EU or UK market.

EN166 – Legacy European Standard

EN166 was the previous European safety eyewear standard.

EN166 has now been superseded by EN ISO 16321. While legacy certifications may still reference EN166, new certifications follow the updated ISO-based framework.

Certification and Testing Support

The certification process for safety eyewear typically includes:

Technical documentation preparation
Impact and optical performance testing
Third-party type examination (for EN ISO 16321)
Conformity marking and documentation issuance

We assist clients in coordinating laboratory testing and third-party certification processes for both ANSI Z87.1 and EN ISO 16321 requirements, supporting efficient documentation preparation and compliance alignment for international markets.