ANSI Ratings Explained: What Z87+ Actually Means

Plenty of glasses get called “safety glasses.” Some look tough. Some say “impact resistant.” Some have a product page covered in safety language.

None of that tells you what happens when a chunk of metal, concrete, or wood comes flying at your face.

What Z87+ Actually Tells You

ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 is the U.S. consensus standard covering occupational eye and face protection. The current edition is ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2025, which sets performance, testing, and marking requirements for protective eyewear.

The part most workers care about is the +.

Under ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 marking guidance, that plus sign identifies impact-rated protection. In plain English, the eyewear has to meet defined impact requirements instead of somebody just deciding the frame looks sturdy enough for work.

That matters around grinders, drills, saws, masonry work, chisels, sanders, riveting, and other jobs that can send fragments, chips, dirt, or particles toward your eyes. OSHA specifically lists those kinds of tasks as impact hazards.

Your Eyes Aren’t Only Exposed From the Front

A straight-on hit is only part of the problem.

Debris bounces. Chips ricochet. Somebody working next to you can send crap toward your face from an angle you weren’t watching.

That’s why side protection matters. OSHA requires eye protection that provides side protection when there’s a hazard from flying objects. Depending on the protector, that can come from its design or acceptable side shields.

Regular sunglasses can cover the front of your eyes and still leave a nice open lane around the sides.

Not great when the grinder doesn’t care which direction you’re looking.

Z87+ Does Not Mean “Good for Everything"

This is where people get themselves in trouble.

Impact protection is impact protection. It doesn’t automatically mean the same pair is appropriate for chemical splash, fine dust, welding radiation, molten metal, or every other hazard on a jobsite.

ANSI/ISEA uses additional markings for specific protections such as splash, dust, and optical radiation. OSHA also calls for different types of protection depending on the hazard, including goggles for certain chemical and dust exposures and properly shaded protection for welding.

So don’t treat Z87+ like a magic shield.

Match the eyewear to the actual job.

“Safety” Written on the Box Isn’t a Rating

Here’s another one worth checking.

ANSI does not certify PPE products. ISEA specifically warns buyers about claims such as “ANSI Certified” because ANSI doesn’t approve, test, or certify individual safety glasses. ISEA recommends checking the standard, revision year, manufacturer, testing, and conformance documentation when a claim looks questionable.

So if a brand calls a pair “work glasses,” “heavy duty,” or “safety inspired” but gets real vague about the actual standard, pay attention.

Safety isn’t a vibe.

Check the Mark Before You Trust the Pair

Bomber doesn’t claim every pair it sells is safety rated. Its FAQ says the safety models are the styles identified as part of the safety line, and those products meet ANSI Z87+ requirements and carry safety markings on the frames and lenses.

That’s how it should work. You shouldn’t have to guess whether the pair on your face is meant for actual impact hazards.

When the job involves flying debris, check the marking. Check the coverage. Make sure the protection matches what can actually hit you.

Because “looks tough” won’t mean much once something leaves the grinder.