What ANSI Z87+ Actually Means
You’ve probably seen Z87+ stamped on a pair of safety glasses and never thought twice about it.
Fair enough. Most safety markings look like something cooked up for a compliance spreadsheet. But this one actually tells you something useful about what’s sitting between your eyeballs and whatever comes flying off the grinder.
Z87+ Isn’t Just Another Random Stamp
ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 is the American standard covering occupational and educational eye and face protection. The current edition is ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2025. It sets requirements around testing, performance, markings, coverage, and other stuff protective eyewear has to handle. (The ANSI Blog)
The important part here is the plus sign.
A Z87 marking identifies eyewear that meets the applicable requirements of the standard. A Z87+ marking indicates impact-rated protection, with the plus identifying the higher impact classification. OSHA’s own eye-protection selection guidance lists Z87+ markings for impact-rated protective eyewear used around hazards like flying fragments, chips, particles, sand, and dirt. (The ANSI Blog)
That little “+” is doing more work than it looks like.
What Does the Impact Rating Actually Tell You
Z87+ eyewear has to meet defined impact performance requirements under the ANSI standard.
That matters when you’re doing the kind of work where stuff doesn’t always stay where it’s supposed to. Grinding, machining, masonry, riveting, sanding, drilling, or anything else that can send debris toward your face all create impact hazards OSHA specifically calls out. (OSHA)
The point isn’t that Z87+ glasses are indestructible.
It means somebody actually tested the protective eyewear against a recognized performance standard instead of a manufacturer just slapping “tough” on the packaging and calling it good.
There’s a pretty big difference.
What Z87+ Does NOT Mean
Here’s where people get tripped up.
Z87+ doesn’t mean one pair of glasses protects you from every hazard on the job.
ANSI uses different markings for different types of protection. For example, the current standard includes separate markings for splash and droplets, dust, fine dust, UV filtering, infrared filtering, welding filters, anti-fog performance, and other applications. (The ANSI Blog)
OSHA makes the same point from the practical side. Your eye protection has to match the hazard you’re actually dealing with, whether that’s flying particles, molten metal, chemicals, vapors, or harmful light radiation. (OSHA)
So if you’re dealing with chemical splash, fine dust, welding arcs, or another specific exposure, seeing Z87+ alone doesn’t mean you’re automatically covered.
Use the right gear for the damn job.
Why the Marking Matters More Than Cheap Shades
Regular sunglasses can look sturdy. They can have thick lenses, chunky frames, and all the usual “work-ready” styling.
None of that tells you they’ve passed an impact standard.
That’s the dumb part about judging protective eyewear by looks. You don’t find out how much the lens or frame can actually take by squeezing it in the store.
With properly marked protective eyewear, you’ve at least got a performance requirement behind the claim.
Check the Stamp Before You Trust the Glasses
Bomber’s whole approach is pretty simple: safety eyewear shouldn’t have to look like bulky shop goggles just to do its job. The brand voice has always been about protection that works without the corporate safety-catalog vibe, including ANSI Z87+ rated options.
So when you’re looking at Bomber gear, or any safety eyewear, check the actual rating that applies to that pair and make sure it matches the work you’re doing.
Because “looks tough” isn’t a safety standard.
Z87+ means the impact protection has actually been put to the test.
That’s a better bet for your eyes than guessing.
