About American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates development and use of voluntary consensus standards in the United States and represents the needs and views of U.S. stakeholders in standardization forums around the globe.The Institute oversees creation, promulgation and use of thousands of international norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution, and many more. ANSI is actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards - including globally-recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems.ANSI facilitates the development of American National Standards (ANS) by accrediting the procedures of standards developing organizations (SDOs). These groups work cooperatively to develop voluntary national consensus standards. Accreditation by ANSI signifies that the procedures used by the standards body in connection with the development of American National Standards meet the Institute's essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process.ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ANSI is also a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).Regionally, the Institute is the U.S. member of the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) and the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT). ANSI is also a member of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) and via the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), a member of the Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC).
American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection (ANSI)
This is the fifth revision of the standard that provides performance and testing requirements for industrial helmets, commonly known as hard hats. It is a revision of ANSI Z89.1-1997, which established the types and classes of protective helmets, depending on the type of hazard encountered. The 1997 version included specifications for helmets designed to offer protection from lateral impact, or top-only impact, giving employers and users the flexibility to specify the helmet that best meets the needs of their specific workplace.
Industrial head protective helmets meeting the requirements of the 2003 standard are classified as Type I for top protection or Type II for lateral impact protection. Both types are tested for impact attenuation and penetration resistance. Type II helmet performance requirements include criteria for impact energy attenuation from impacts from the front, back and sides as well as the top; off-center penetration resistance, and chin strap retention.
The three classes indicate the helmets electrical insulation rating, unchanged from 1997:
Class E (electrical) are tested to withstand 20,000 volts;
Class G (general) helmets are tested at 2200 volts; and
Class C (conductive) provide no electrical protection.
Changes in this revision of the standard are minor compared to the 1997 version. Redundancy in the previous test methods has been eliminated, with only the most severe anvil test retained. In an effort to recognize state-of-the-art materials performance and technology, some physical requirements for helmet components that did not provide added user value, or limited design or performance, were removed.
Industrial head protective helmets meeting the requirements of the 2003 standard are classified as Type I for top protection or Type II for lateral impact protection. Both types are tested for impact attenuation and penetration resistance. Type II helmet performance requirements include criteria for impact energy attenuation from impacts from the front, back and sides as well as the top; off-center penetration resistance, and chin strap retention.
The three classes indicate the helmets electrical insulation rating, unchanged from 1997:
Class E (electrical) are tested to withstand 20,000 volts;
Class G (general) helmets are tested at 2200 volts; and
Class C (conductive) provide no electrical protection.
Changes in this revision of the standard are minor compared to the 1997 version. Redundancy in the previous test methods has been eliminated, with only the most severe anvil test retained. In an effort to recognize state-of-the-art materials performance and technology, some physical requirements for helmet components that did not provide added user value, or limited design or performance, were removed.
OSHA Standard Number - 1910.133 Welding Shades Information and Color Guide:
Protecting welders eyes from the light given off during most welding processes is a serious concern, since the light produced during these processes can be as bright as the sun itself. OSHA outlines the criteria required for employers and also offers some helpful advice in choosing the appropriate filter for your welding operation:
The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses equipment with filter lenses that have a shade number appropriate for the work being performed for protection from injurious light radiation. The following is a listing of appropriate shade numbers for various operations.
Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
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Operations Electrode Size 1/32 in. Arc Current Protective
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Shielded metal
arc welding Less than 3 ......... Less than 60 ... 7
3-5 ................. 60-160 ......... 8
5-8 ................. 160-250 ........ 10
More than 8 ......... 250-550 ........ 11
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Gas metal arc
welding and
flux cored
arc welding
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Gas Tungsten
arc welding
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Air carbon (Light) ............. less than 500 .. 10
Arc cutting (Heavy) ............. 500-1000 ....... 11
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Plasma arc welding less than 20 ... 6
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Plasma arc (light)(**) ......... less than 300 .. 8
cutting (medium)(**) ........ 300-400 ........ 9
(heavy)(**) ......... 400-800 ........ 10
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Torch brazing
Torch soldering
Carbon arc welding ................ 14
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Filter Lenses for Protection Against Radiant Energy
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Operations Plate thickness-inches Plate thickness-mm Protective
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Gas Welding:
Light Under 1/8 ............ Under 3.2 ......... 4
Medium 1/8 to 1/2 ........... 3.2 to 12.7 ....... 5
Heavy Over 1/2 ............. Over 12.7 ......... 6
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Oxygen cutting:
Light Under 1 .............. Under 25 .......... 3
Medium 1 to 6 ............... 25 to 150 ......... 4
Heavy Over 6 ............... Over 150 .......... 5
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Footnote(*) As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the weld zone. Then go to a lighter shade which gives sufficient view of the weld zone without going below the minimum. In oxyfuel gas welding or cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible light of the (spectrum) operation.
Footnote(**) These values apply where the actual arc is clearly seen. Experience has shown that lighter filters may be used when the arc is hidden by the workpiece.
Lens Color Guide for Safety Glasses
Lens colors are task-specific. The type of your application and environment should determine what type of lens you are using. As a general rule, lenses are based on color wheel opposites. Blue and Yellow are opposites so Blue lens absorbs yellow lights, while Yellow lens absorb blue lights. Green and Red are opposites as well. So, Green lens will absorb red lights, and Red lens will absorb green lights.
Lens colors are task-specific. The type of your application and environment should determine what type of lens you are using. As a general rule, lenses are based on color wheel opposites. Blue and Yellow are opposites so Blue lens absorbs yellow lights, while Yellow lens absorb blue lights. Green and Red are opposites as well. So, Green lens will absorb red lights, and Red lens will absorb green lights.
| Lens Color | Application | Benefits |
| Clear | Indoor | Impact protection |
| Gray | Outdoors to protect against light & glare eye strain | Enhances color recognition |
| I/O | Clear lens w/mirror coating, same as gray. Will allow more visible light through the lens for indoor/outdoor use | Reduces glare from artificial light sources |
| Gold, Blue, Silver Mirror | Outdoor to prevent eyestrain from light | Mirror “reflects” light, minimizing glare, and light that passes through the lens |
| Dark Green | General Purpose | Protects from glare and UV rays |
| Brown/Espresso | Outdoors to prevent eyestrain and fatigue | Meets color traffic signal recognition requirments |
| Vermilion | Indoor inspection | Enhances color contrast for optimal color recognition |
| Amber | Low light environments for maximum contrast enhancement | Blocks blue portion of visible spectrum, creating maximum contrast enhancement |
| SCT | Uvex’s Spectrum Control Technology lens | Absorbs radiant energy (light) into the polycarbonate lens. |
